1983 Super Bowl of Poker
Encyclopedia
The Super Bowl of Poker was the second most prestigious poker tournament in the world during the 1980s. While the World Series of Poker
was already drawing larger crowds as more and more amateurs sought it out, the SBOP "was an affair limited almost exclusively to pros and hard-core amateurs."
Prior to 1979, the only high dollar tournament a person could enter was the WSOP. 1972 WSOP Main Event Champion and outspoken ambassador for poker, Amarillo Slim
saw this as an opportunity. "The World Series of Poker was so successful that everybody wanted more than one tournament," he said. Slim called upon his connections and friendships with poker's elite to start a new tournament in the February 1979. Slim modelled his SBOP after the WSOP with several events and a $10,000 Texas Hold'em Main Event.
One of the principal differences between the WSOP and the SBOP was the prize structure. The WSOP's prize structure was flat ensuring more people received smaller pieces of the prize pool. The SBOP typically used a 60-30-10 payout structure. In other words, only the first three places received money and generally in the ratio of 60% to first place, 30% to second place, and 10% to third. This payment schedule predominated the SBOP for the first 5 years of the event, but as the event grew the number of payouts increased while keeping the payout schedule top heavy.
rs made it to the cash in various tournaments at the SBOP. Jack Strauss lost to two time World Series of Poker bracelet
winner Hans Lund
in the SBOP Main Event. Berry Johnston
would finish third in one event while Bobby Baldwin
would make it to two cashes. Billy Baxter
, who would later gain fame for suing the IRS in Baxter v United States, also made it to the cash in one event. Sarge Ferris
, an almost forgotten member of the Poker Hall of Fame, won the No Limit 2-7 Lowball.
The 1983, tournament also witnessed Gabe Kaplan
from Welcome Back, Kotter
win another SBOP tournament. When Welcome Back, Kotter went off the air in 1979, its lead character started a career in poker. During the early 1980s, Kaplan's success, particularly at the SBOP, led him to be considered among poker's elite. Kaplan made money in two events and won one.
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
was already drawing larger crowds as more and more amateurs sought it out, the SBOP "was an affair limited almost exclusively to pros and hard-core amateurs."
Prior to 1979, the only high dollar tournament a person could enter was the WSOP. 1972 WSOP Main Event Champion and outspoken ambassador for poker, Amarillo Slim
Amarillo Slim
Thomas Austin Preston, Jr. , known as Amarillo Slim, is an American professional gambler known for his poker skills and proposition bets...
saw this as an opportunity. "The World Series of Poker was so successful that everybody wanted more than one tournament," he said. Slim called upon his connections and friendships with poker's elite to start a new tournament in the February 1979. Slim modelled his SBOP after the WSOP with several events and a $10,000 Texas Hold'em Main Event.
One of the principal differences between the WSOP and the SBOP was the prize structure. The WSOP's prize structure was flat ensuring more people received smaller pieces of the prize pool. The SBOP typically used a 60-30-10 payout structure. In other words, only the first three places received money and generally in the ratio of 60% to first place, 30% to second place, and 10% to third. This payment schedule predominated the SBOP for the first 5 years of the event, but as the event grew the number of payouts increased while keeping the payout schedule top heavy.
1983 Tournament
In 1983, X Poker Hall of FamePoker Hall of Fame
The Poker Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional poker playing in the United States. Founded and located in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was created in 1979 by Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, to preserve the names and legacies of the world's greatest poker players and to serve...
rs made it to the cash in various tournaments at the SBOP. Jack Strauss lost to two time World Series of Poker bracelet
World Series of Poker bracelet
The World Series of Poker bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win. Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP. Even if the victory occurred before 1976, WSOP championships are now counted as "bracelets". ...
winner Hans Lund
Hans Lund
Hans J. "Tuna" Lund was an American professional poker player, based in Sparks, Nevada, who won two World Series of Poker bracelets, and was the runner-up at the 1990 WSOP Main Event.-Poker Career:...
in the SBOP Main Event. Berry Johnston
Berry Johnston
Berry Enfield Johnston is an American professional poker player. He is best known as the 1986 World Champion, but he has also won four other bracelets at the World Series of Poker in addition to cashes and wins in many other tournaments throughout his career.- Poker career :Johnston won the 1986...
would finish third in one event while Bobby Baldwin
Bobby Baldwin
Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker player, off-road racer and casino executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time....
would make it to two cashes. Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter (poker player)
William E. Baxter, Jr. is an American professional poker player and sports bettor. He has won numerous tournament titles in his career as a professional poker player, including seven World Series of Poker bracelets....
, who would later gain fame for suing the IRS in Baxter v United States, also made it to the cash in one event. Sarge Ferris
Sarge Ferris
Fred Bernard "Sarge" Ferris was an American professional poker player who won a World Series of Poker bracelet in deuce-to-seven draw.Ferris won his bracelet at the 1980 World Series of Poker, winning $150,000...
, an almost forgotten member of the Poker Hall of Fame, won the No Limit 2-7 Lowball.
The 1983, tournament also witnessed Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
from Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter was an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta.It originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975 to June 8, 1979.-Premise:...
win another SBOP tournament. When Welcome Back, Kotter went off the air in 1979, its lead character started a career in poker. During the early 1980s, Kaplan's success, particularly at the SBOP, led him to be considered among poker's elite. Kaplan made money in two events and won one.
Key
| * | Elected to the Poker Hall of Fame Poker Hall of Fame The Poker Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional poker playing in the United States. Founded and located in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was created in 1979 by Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, to preserve the names and legacies of the world's greatest poker players and to serve... . |
| † | Denotes player who is deceased. |
| Place | The place in which people finish. |
| Name | The name of the player |
| Prize (US$) | Event prize prize money |
Event 1: $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em
- Number of buy-ins: 42
- Total prize pool: $502,500
- Number of payouts: 7
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Hans Lund Hans Lund Hans J. "Tuna" Lund was an American professional poker player, based in Sparks, Nevada, who won two World Series of Poker bracelets, and was the runner-up at the 1990 WSOP Main Event.-Poker Career:... |
$275,000 |
| 2nd | Jack Straus Jack Straus Jack Straus was an American professional poker player. He is best known for winning the poker world championship in 1982.... * |
$62,500 |
| 3rd | Al Either | $55,000 |
| 4th | Gary Lundberg | $27,500 |
| 5th | Junior Whited | $27,500 |
| 6th | Ron Fielder | $27,500 |
| 7th | Fred Davis | $27,500 |
Event 2: Ace-to-Five Lowball
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: Unknown
- Number of payouts: 1
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Gabe Kaplan Gabe Kaplan Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York... |
Unknown |
Event 3: $ 500 Limit Hold'em
- Number of buy-ins: 144
- Total prize pool: $72,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | J. C. Pearson J. C. Pearson (poker player) J. C. Pearson is a professional poker player originally from Tennessee who won a bracelet at the World Series of Poker. He is a brother of 1973 World Series of Poker Champion Puggy Pearson.Pearson born and raised in Tennessee and was one of nine siblings... |
$43,200 |
| 1st | Dale Roback | $21,600 |
| 1st | Art Youngblood | $7,200 |
Event 4: $ 1,000 A-5 Lowball
- Number of buy-ins: 35
- Total prize pool: $35,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jack Niles | $21,000 |
| 2nd | Gabe Kaplan Gabe Kaplan Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York... |
$10,500 |
| 3rd | Bob Brooks | $3,500 |
Event 5: $ 500 Limit Seven Card Stud
- Number of buy-ins: 78
- Total prize pool: $39,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Don Williams Don Williams (poker player) Don Williams is an American poker player.Williams has won three bracelets at the World Series of Poker , and has cashed in many other WSOP events including the Main Event.... |
$23,400 |
| 2nd | Elaine Booth | $11,700 |
| 3rd | Jeff Yass | $3,900 |
Event 6: $ 1,000 Limit Hold'em
- Number of buy-ins: 78
- Total prize pool: $39,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Gary Lundgren | $34,500 |
| 2nd | Eddie Schwettman | $17,400 |
| 3rd | Norman Solomon | $5,800 |
Event 7: $ 5,000 Limit Seven Card Stud
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: $116,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Deacon Smith | $66,000 |
| 2nd | Ken Flaton | $33,000 |
| 3rd | Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker player, off-road racer and casino executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time.... * |
$17,000 |
Event 8: $ 5,000 Limit A-5 Lowball
- Number of buy-ins: 18
- Total prize pool: $90,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dick Carson | $48,000 |
| 2nd | Billy Baxter Billy Baxter (poker player) William E. Baxter, Jr. is an American professional poker player and sports bettor. He has won numerous tournament titles in his career as a professional poker player, including seven World Series of Poker bracelets.... * |
$24,000 |
| 3rd | Perry Green | $18,000 |
Event 9: $ 1,000 Limit A-5 Lowball
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: $21,200
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | David Baxter David Baxter (poker player) David Baxter was an American poker player from Corpus Christi, Texas, who won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker.-Poker:Baxter first cashed in the WSOP in 1980 in a no limit hold'em event. He won his first bracelet in 1983 in the $1,500 no limit hold'em event, winning $145,500... |
$13,000 |
| 2nd | George Roumanis | $6,900 |
| 3rd | Robert Turner | $2,300 |
Event 10: No Limit 2-7 Lowball
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: $120,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sarge Ferris Sarge Ferris Fred Bernard "Sarge" Ferris was an American professional poker player who won a World Series of Poker bracelet in deuce-to-seven draw.Ferris won his bracelet at the 1980 World Series of Poker, winning $150,000... * |
$72,000 |
| 2nd | Sam Nassi | $36,000 |
| 3rd | Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker player, off-road racer and casino executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time.... * |
$12,000 |
Event 11: $ 500 Limit Omaha
- Number of buy-ins: 42
- Total prize pool: $21,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Billy Thomas | $12,600 |
| 2nd | Tim Tang | $6,300 |
| 3rd | Berry Johnston Berry Johnston Berry Enfield Johnston is an American professional poker player. He is best known as the 1986 World Champion, but he has also won four other bracelets at the World Series of Poker in addition to cashes and wins in many other tournaments throughout his career.- Poker career :Johnston won the 1986... * |
$2,100 |
Event 11: $ 500 Limit Hold'em
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: $77,750
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eddie Schwettman | $46,500 |
| 2nd | Ray Cooke | $2,350 |
| 3rd | Jack McClelland | $7,750 |
Event 12: $ 2,500 Limit Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
- Number of buy-ins: Unknown
- Total prize pool: $60,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tom Cress | $36,000 |
| 2nd | Austin Squatty | $18,000 |
| 3rd | Chris Rochelle | $7,750 |
Event 1: 1983 Super Bowl of Poker $1,000 No Limit Hold'em
- Number of buy-ins: 128
- Total prize pool: $128,000
- Number of payouts: 3
- Reference:
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Curtis Skinner | $80,000 |
| 2nd | Jim Waltenberg | $32,000 |
| 3rd | Austin Squatty | $16,000 |