Johnny Moss vs. Nick "The Greek" Dandolos

Benny Binnion had an idea around 1951 that would change the face of poker forever. He set up a marathon heads up cash game between the best player of the time Johnny Moss and the high stakes gambler Nick “The Greek” Dandolos as a tourist attraction. Binnion obviously loved the action and this match was the forerunner of the World Series of Poker. Dandolos was the son of wealthy parents and had made and lost millions playing dice and card games. When he was 16 he was sent to the USA with an allowance of $150 a week by his grandfather and soon won $500,000 on horse racing. He lost it all soon after. Moss was born in 1907 and was taught how to cheat in poker. He used this knowledge to beat the cheaters and profit by playing straight. He was hired by saloons in his youth to watch over games to ensure they were played fairly. He became a rounder shortly after and travelled the country looking for action.

The challenge match was a five month marathon of poker, with the two players only stopping every few days for nap breaks. It is said that whilst Moss slept during breaks Dandolos went to the casino and gambled on the craps tables. The match started in January 1951 and finished around May. Moss started the match badly due to Dandolos having a bigger bankroll which he used to beat up on Moss but he evened it up and over time took a dominating lead. During the challenge the two players played nearly every variation of poker as they battled it out. As it became clear that Moss had beaten Nick the Greek out of almost all of his bankroll Dandolos, every bit the gentleman, shook Moss by the hand and said the famous words, “Mr Moss, I have to let you go”. With that, this legendary game was over. It is said that Moss won between £2 million and £3 million in that match which by today’s standards is around £20 million. Fatigue was alleged to be a major part of Moss winning the challenge, as Nick the Greek was 24 years older than Moss.

Dandolos is a legend in the gambling world. It is said that he made and lost over $500 million in his lifetime. He is quoted as estimating that he went from rags to riches 73 times during his life. He did not have any real regard for money and towards the end of his life in 1966 played $5 draw just to keep in the action. He died on December 25th 1966. A novel about Nick’s life entitled “Nick the Greek” was published in 1978 by Harry Marks Petrakis. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979 as a charter inductee.

Moss on the other hand stayed in the limelight and at the top of the game. In the first World Series of Poker of 1970 he was elected as the champion by his peers. It is alleged that he only won after players were asked to vote for the second best player in the world, having voted for themselves when asked to vote for the best player in the world. He went on to win a total of 10 bracelets between the 1970 WSOP and the 1988 WSOP in a variety of poker variations. Had there been World Series tournaments earlier in his life he may have won many more bracelets. He was also inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979 as a charter inductee. Moss died on December 16th 1995 and will be remembered as one of the finest players from pokers modern early history, in particular for his victory in this high stakes poker marathon against Nick the Greek.

By Malcolm Clarke