Amarillo Slim Preston: The World's Greatest Gambler
Never one to be modest when he could brag about himself, Amarillo Slim Preston has declared himself, “The World’s Greatest Gambler.” And then in his autobiography, Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, he goes on to prove it. Sonovagun! He took $300,000 from Willie Nelson at backgammon in a televised event. He beat Minnesota Fats at pool using a broom. He beat Evil Knievel at golf using a carpenter’s hammer. He beat tennis hustler Bobby Riggs at his game using a frying pan and in 1972 he won the World Series of Poker. If you ever want to hear Slim talk about himself, - his very favorite pastime - pull up a chair, take off your watch, cancel all your appointments, and sit back. It’ll take awhile. Slim was born in Arkansas but says his parents soon saw the error of their ways and moved to the Texas panhandle town of Amarillo. He found pool hustling to his liking as a teenager. He went into the service, made a fortune in the black market, got out of the service, found he liked the service better, reenlisted, and made another fortune in the black market. He has successfully avoided having a regular job ever since. After the service he found poker to his liking and teamed up with a couple buddies who would also become legends in the gambling field: Doyle Brunson, the “Godfather of Poker,” and Sailor Roberts. They pooled their money and “rode the white line,” driving across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, looking for high stakes poker game. They found them and prospered. It was time to take on Vegas. However, Vegas took them on. The three were soon busted and retreated, tails between their legs, back to Texas. Not for long, however. They had so much confidence in their poker skills that it was only a matter of rebuilding their bankroll. They built it back up, tackled Vegas again, and this time, they were on top of Sin City. Each of the three went on to World Series of Poker wins, with Doyle Brunson taking the top crown twice. Like most gamblers, Slim will take a shot at most anything. Unlike most gamblers, however, Slim knows how to develop an edge in advance. And if you have an edge in advance, as casinos do, you’ll prosper as casinos do. For example, Slim once placed three sugar cubes on a table, pointed to some flies buzzing around the ceiling and made a bet as to which cube a fly would land on. Wanna bet on that one? The sucker who did didn’t realize that if you wet the middle cube first, the scent that is released would attract the fly. He was playing in a poker tournament in the guest house of the King of Morocco. There were a number of camels waiting outside. Slim made a bet that he could ride a camel through the palace. Again, there is always a sucker around who says it can’t be done. Along came Slim, on a camel, right through the living room. You gotta love a gambler with a sense of humor! Fortunately, in his book, Slim leaves us with a few helpful hints: First, bet on the underdogs. Most people bet on the favorites and most people are wrong. Second, if you are going to make a bet, you need to know something someone else doesn’t (remember the fly story). Third, don’t bet with your heart. Take emotions out of the gamble. Now 78 years old, Slim is still playing, betting, and winning. (c) 2006 Murphy James
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