Most people think that Jack Keller, the winner of the WSOP’s Main Event in 1984 got his nickname “Gentlemen” for his pleasant and considerate demeanor on and off the felt, but it was given to him by the press corps, more accurately, Gentleman Jack, while he was working at the stock market.
Born in 1942, Keller served in the United States Air Force and started his poker career soon after his discharge. He was an excellent player who loved to take risks and was considered one of the strongest players ever in the game of 7-Card Stud. He’s won three WSOP bracelets and more than $1,580,000 in tournament play at the WSOP. He took home $660,000 alone after winning the Main Event in 1984 and also won two Super Bowl of Poker Main Events; when the SBOP was considered the second most prestigious poker tournament in the world. Just 10 years later, in 1994, Jack was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, and sadly, he passed away in December of 2003 in Tunica, Mississippi.
The 1984 WSOP Main Event had 132 entrants, due in part to the new popularity of tournament poker satellites. By today’s standards that doesn’t seem like a lot of entrants, but back then it was the most the WSOP had ever had. It was also the year that boasted more amateurs than ever before, and the player who stood to benefit the most from this was probably Jesse Alto.
Alto probably has had one of the most dire stories in the history of the WSOP. He finished second to Doyle Brunson in 1976, against the now famous ten-deuce hand where Brunson hit a ten on the river to make a full house and snatch the championship from Alto. He was back two years later, but only finished fifth in 1978.
1984 looked to finally be Alto’s year as he entered the final table with the chip lead. Only three players remained; Alto, Byron “Cowboy” Wolford and Jack Keller. As the hands played out, Alto continued to raise pre-flop using his big stack to bludgeon the other players as he had been doing throughout the final table. Finally Wolford decided to take a stand and called. Alto didn’t know it, but Wolford made this call with a lowly 5-3. The flop fell: AC, KD and 9C. Clearly, Wolford had decided to steal this pot and fired in a bet which Alto called. The turn provided a scare card, the KH. Wolford threw in another big bet. Alto hesitated, but finally called. The river drew down the 2S and Wolford fired the third bullet, moving in all his chips. As Alto struggled, debating over his stronger hand, he finally threw it in and Wolford turned up his stone cold bluff.
Everyone knew that Alto was an emotional player, and Wolford was betting on Alto going full-tilt. He got his wish but unfortunately for Wolford, he was not the beneficiary of Alto’s blow up. Alto pushed all of his chips into the pot blind on the next two hands and both times Keller called and won, pushing Alto into third place.
With Alto out of the race, Keller and Wolford were able to reach a final confrontation. Keller held pocket tens to Wolford’s 6H-4H. The flop came 5D, 6S and 9C. Wolford decided to make a move pushing all in with his pair. Keller like his over-pair and called. The 8S on the turn gave Wolford some hope in the form of a few more outs, but a harmless Jack on the river made Keller the 1984 WSOP champion.
Alto returned to the final table twice more placing 6th in ’85 and 4th in ’86, making him the ultimate WSOP bridesmaid.
Great Players in Poker History 