Bill Smith (poker player)

Bill Smith (died 1997) was a professional poker player who won the 1985 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Poker career

Smith was a staple at the World Series of Poker during the 1980s. He was involved in three final tables of the main event. At the 1981 and 1986 WSOP he placed 5th, but at the 1985 World Series of Poker he won the bracelet, and $700,000. His total tournament winnings exceeded $1,000,000.^[1] His three cashes at the WSOP accounted for $788,800 of his lifetime winnings.^[2]

Smith would often play professional poker tournaments drunk. By all accounts, he was an alcoholic.^[3][4]

According to fellow poker player T.J. Cloutier, Smith did not play well when he was sober and when he was totally drunk. “Bill was the tightest player you'd ever played in your life when he was sober. And when he was halfway drunk, he was the best player I'd ever played with. No one could read opponents’ hands better than half- drunk Smith. But when he got past that halfway mark, he was the worst player I'd ever played with.” ^[5]

The year he won the main event, he entered the final day's play sober and just sat there while he warmed up. After he started drinking, he accumulated a huge pile of chips by well-timed aggressive play. He had so many chips once he was totally drunk that good luck led him to victory.^[6]

World Series of Poker Bracelets

Death

Smith died in 1997.

References

1. ↑ Hendon Mob tournament results
2. ↑ World Series of Poker Earnings, worldseriesofpoker.com
3. ↑
4. ↑
5. ↑
6. ↑ Smith, Dana. "Interview with T. J. Cloutier". pokerpages.com. Advanced Global Applications, LLC. Retrieved 2008-09-24.