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Johnny Moss Real Name: John Moss, the First WSOP Champion He/Him
Johnny Moss → John Moss
Johnny Moss's real name is John Moss.
- Known as
- Johnny Moss
- Real name
- John Moss
- Also known as
- Johnny Moss; The Grand Old Man of Poker
- Section
- Texas Road Gamblers
- Category
- Poker Players
Quick answer
Johnny Moss was born John Moss on May 14, 1907, in Marshall, Texas, and died December 16, 1995. Known as "The Grand Old Man of Poker," he was voted the first WSOP champion in 1970, won the Main Event again in 1971 and 1974, won nine WSOP bracelets and was in the first Poker Hall of Fame class in 1979.
Real name and nickname
"Johnny" is simply a short form of John. The Hendon Mob lists him as John Moss. His 1950 book How to Win at Poker came out under the name "John Moss." His nickname, "The Grand Old Man of Poker," reflects that he was the elder of the Texas rounders. He was a generation older than Brunson and Slim.
On the road
Moss grew up in Dallas. As a teenager he was hired to watch for cheats in local games, and he learned the game while doing it. He married Virgie Ann Mouser in 1926 and spent decades as a road gambler, following the oil-boom games. In the 1950s he based himself in Odessa, home to one of the biggest games in Texas (Johnny Hughes, Famous Gamblers, Poker History, and Texas Stories). He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945.
Legend: Moss vs. Nick the Greek. The famous story says Benny Binion arranged a months-long public heads-up match between Moss and Nick "the Greek" Dandolos at the Horseshoe in 1949. The story ends with Dandolos saying, "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go." Treat it as legend. Writer Steve Fischer pointed out that the Horseshoe didn't exist yet in 1949. Jack Binion told PokerNews in 2017 that the two did play in 1949, but privately at the Flamingo, not as a public marathon.
Career highlights
- 1970 WSOP champion, voted best all-around player by his peers. The story that everyone first voted for himself is often told but may be apocryphal.
- Main Event champion in 1971 and 1974. Stu Ungar is the only other three-time winner.
- 9 WSOP bracelets (1970–1988). His 1988 Ace-to-Five Draw win at age 81 is widely reported as a record for the oldest bracelet winner. We haven't confirmed this in a primary source; check it before publishing.
- One of the first Poker Hall of Fame inductees in 1979
- Runner-up to Puggy Pearson in the 1973 Main Event
- Played every WSOP from 1970 through 1995
More Texas road gamblers
This profile is part of Texas Road Gamblers, our guide to the rounders of the old Texas Circuit. Only Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim and Sailor Roberts traveled together as one bankroll partnership; the others played the same circuit separately.
FAQ
What was Johnny Moss's real name?
John Moss. "Johnny" was a familiar form of his name.
Did Johnny Moss really beat Nick the Greek?
The marathon match is mostly legend. Jack Binion says a private game took place at the Flamingo in 1949, not the public Horseshoe marathon from the popular story.
How many WSOP Main Events did Johnny Moss win?
Three: 1970 (by vote), 1971 and 1974.