50 ICONIC Quotes from Famous Poker Players

A standard poker game can involve a lot of table talk. Most of it is utter nonsense, but occasionally someone comes out with something immediately memorable and totally iconic. The best quotes about poker often take on a life of their own and are repeated long after the original authors have passed away.

A mix of one-liners comprising elements of wisdom, wit, inspiration and downright savage insults, here are 50 classic quotes from famous and professional poker players over the years.

Fifty Classic Poker Quotes 

1. Doyle Brunson 

A legend on the poker circuit, Brunson played professionally for over 50 years, winning millions in prize money and more than a few accolades, including two World Series of Poker Main Event bracelets. He is also the author of the Super/System, arguably the most famous book on poker ever written. 

Classic Quote: "May the flop be with you."

2. Al Alvarez

A British poet and bestselling author who found writing so dull he tried to liven up his life by climbing mountains, boxing and playing poker. 

Classic Quote: "Poker is generally thought to be America’s second most popular after-dark activity. Sex is good they say, but poker lasts longer."

3. Sammy Farha

A professional poker player best known for winning three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and finishing in the runner-up position at the 2003 main event. 
Classic Quote: "Just play every hand; you can’t miss them all."

4. Phil Hellmuth

As of 2022, Hellmuth holds the record for winning the highest number of World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, with sixteen. He is also the winner of the 1989 WSOP Main Event, and is considered one of the greatest tournament players of all time. 

Classic Quote: "Honey, they forgot one thing: I can dodge bullets baby!"

5. Chip Reese

Reese is remembered as one of the best high-stakes cash game players of all time. He also won three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and was the youngest player ever inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. 

Classic Quote: "I had to make a choice between being a lawyer or a professional gambler. I chose the more honorable of the two." 

6. Benny Binion

Only an occasional poker player, Binion is famous for being the owner of Binion's Horseshoe Casino, creating the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and being a trailblazer in the industry. 

Classic Quote: "Trust everyone, but always cut the cards."

7. Mike Matusow

A prolific trash talker at the poker tables, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow has also won four World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and the 2005 WSOP Tournament of Champions. 

Classic Quote: "The kiddie game is down the street."

8. Tom McEvoy

A poker professional best known for winning the 1983 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. 

Classic Quote: "No-limit hold'em is hours of boredom followed by moments of sheer terror."

9. Dan Reed

A poker pro with multiple cashes in live poker games during the early 2000s. 

Classic Quote: "You will show your poker greatness by the hands you fold, not the hands you play." 

10. Chuck Thompson

A poker pro with a career stretching across nearly four decades, Thompson has won over $800,000 in prize money. 

Classic Quote: "If you always start with the worse hand, you never have a bad beat story to tell."

11. Oklahoma Johnny Hale 

Oklahoma Johnny Hale made the final table in seven World Series of Poker (WSOP) events during the 1980s; however, he is best known for being a highly acclaimed poker celebrity and pioneer of the game. 

Classic Quote: "I never saw a poker player's money that I did not like."

12. Julius Weintraub

Weintraub spent four decades as one of the most colorful and famous gaming figures in Las Vegas. During this time, he also undertook extensive charity work in Vegas and New York. 

Classic Quote: "The guy who invented poker was bright, but the guy who invented the chip was a genius." 

13. Michael Gersitz

An online poker player who owns the website Poker101.net and writes poker-related articles and editorials. 

Classic Quote: "Don't get mad that you lost; get mad because you didn't win." 

14. Chris Moneymaker

Moneymaker was not the first amateur to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, but he is the most famous after gaining entry to the tournament through an online satellite game. His victory at the 2003 event was a significant factor in kicking off the poker boom of the early 2000s and catapulting the WSOP to new heights of fame.  

Classic Quote: "The beautiful thing about poker is that everybody thinks they can play."  

15. James Woods

An actor with a career spanning over 50 years and many film, theatre and television productions, Woods is also a highly successful professional poker player with over $350,000 in prize money to his name.
Classic Quote: "I'm absolutely gonna win it, because I'm ruthless. I sit at the poker table and my job is to destroy people."

16. Gus Hansen

Hansen was one of the most famous poker pros in the early 2000s after he burst onto the scene with a bold and aggressive style of play. He has won several major tournaments, including the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event, three World Poker Tour (WPT) titles and one World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet.
Classic Quote: "The object of poker is to keep your money away from Phil Ivey for as long as possible." 

17. Steven Wright

Primarily known for his work as a stand-up comedian and actor, Wright is also a keen poker player, taking part in several events over the years and winning a few thousand dollars in prize money. 

Classic Quote: "Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."

18. Jack Straus

Straus is famous for winning the 1982 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event where he made a comeback for the ages after being down to only a single chip. He is also remembered for arguably the greatest bluff of all time. After being dealt 7, 2 off suit, Straus successfully convinced his opponent to fold the winning hand through some bold table talk and deception. 

Classic Quote: "I'd bust my own grandmother if she played poker with me."  

19. Lou Krieger

Lou Krieger was a long time poker player and author of several books about the game. 

Classic Quote: "Most of the money you'll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponents." 

20. Dutch Boyd

A very successful poker pro who has won nearly $3 million in prize money, Boyd is also infamous for his website PokerSpot which shut down amid significant controversy.

Classic Quote: "Poker is a lot like sex, everyone thinks they are the best but most don't have a clue what they are doing." 

21. Jack London

Born in 1889, Jack London wrote hundreds of stories, essays, jokes and poems about things he saw and experienced. His topics included hunting gold in Alaska, drinking, smoking and playing poker in saloons on the frontier. 

Classic Quote: "Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well." 

22. John Vorhaus

A poker professional who has won over $33,000 in prize money and authored several poker books, including Killer Poker: Strategy and Tactics for Winning Poker Play. 

Classic Quote: "Don't challenge strong players; challenge weak ones, that's what they're there for."

23. Mike Sexton 

A poker pro with seventeen career cashes in World Poker Tour (WPT) events and 72 at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). 

Classic Quote: "One day a chump, the next day a champion. What a difference a day makes in tournament poker."

24. Steve Badger

A former professional poker player with eight career wins, 90 tournament cashes and a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. 
Classic Quote: "Besides lovemaking and singing in the shower, there aren't many human activities where there is a greater difference between a person's self-delusional ability and their actual ability than in poker."  

25. Stu Ungar

A legend many consider to be the greatest Texas hold 'em and gin player of all time. Ungar won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event three times and is one of only four players to win two of the titles consecutively. 

Classic Quote: "There's no one that ever beat me playing cards, the only one that ever beat me was myself."

26. Erik Seidel

One of the most successful poker players of all time in terms of prize money, with over $34 million in winnings to his name, Seidel has won nine World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and a World Poker Tour (WPT) title. 

Classic Quote: "It's weird being considered an expert at something that confuses me every single day." 

27. Nick Dandolos

Known as Nick the Greek in most circles, Dandolos was a legendary professional poker player who allegedly won tens of millions during his lifetime. He also took part in a famous six month-long, two-person heads up poker game against Johnny Moss in 1949. 

Classic Quote: "The next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing." 

28. Daniel Negreanu

Arguably the best poker player of all time, Negreanu has won six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles and won over $42 million in prize money during his career. 

Classic Quote: "Why do the pushing when the donkey will do the pulling?"

29. Max Shapiro

A pro poker player and author of poker-related articles, blogs, and magazine columns. 
Classic Quote: "I put three kids through college playing poker. Unfortunately, they weren't my kids."

30. Jon Swift

A poker pro with tournament winnings totalling over $100,000. 

Classic Quote: "I must complain the cards are ill-shuffled till I have a good hand."

31. Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott

A legendary professional poker player, Devilfish was frequently seen at televised poker games when they first started being broadcast to the public. His orange tinted prescription sunglasses, suits and gold knuckleduster rings reading "Devil" and "Fish" often attracted more attention than his poker skills. Even after his death in 2015, he is remembered as one of the best pot limit Omaha players on the circuit. 

Classic Quote: "Id swim across shark infested waters with a pork chop tied around my neck to play the best poker players in the world" 

32. Harry Demetriou

A poker pro with the nickname "The Wise Owl", Demetriou's career has spanned two decades and seen him win over $2 million in prize money. 

Classic Quote: "Long may the ignorant believe it's a game of luck."  

33. Michael Faust

A poker player better known for his quotes about the game than his skills at the tables. 

Classic Quote: "What's true of the poker game is true of life. Most people are suckers and don't realise it."

34. Shane Smith

A poker pro and author of several poker related books. 

Classic Quote: "Omaha is a game that was invented by a Sadist and is played by Masochists." 

35. Johnny Moss

Another poker legend, Johnny Moss is considered one of the best players of all time. He was the first winner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 1970, and he went on to win twice more in 1971 and 1974. Moss was also the second half of the famous heads up game against Nick "The Greek" Dandolos in 1949.

Classic Quote: "Hold 'em is to stud what chess is to checkers."  

36. Phil Gordon 

A professional poker player with 18 clashes at World Series of Poker (WSOP) events and live tournament winnings exceeding $2.7 million. Gordon has also written five books on poker and regularly contributes to poker podcasts. 

Classic Quote: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to be good at poker."

37. Johnny Chan

Chan is best known for winning the 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events. Footage of the 1988 final was used in the 1998 poker film Rounders. He was the last player to win consecutive WSOP Main Events and has achieved significant success in many poker tournaments and games during his more than four decades on the poker circuit. 

Classic Quote: "Not too many players try to bluff me. If there's going to be bluffing or stealing going on, I'm going to be the one doing it."

38. Dan Bilzerian

A businessman, social media influencer and occasional poker player, Bilzerian is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and dubious claims about his skill and success as a poker player. 

Classic Quote: "If you look at poker like a business, then I would say I'm fucking Bill Gates. Because I've won over 50 million dollars playing poker. Who the fuck else has done that?"

39. Warren Karp

A poker pro since 1997, Karp has won over $700,000 in prize money and authored a lot of poker related content. 

Classic Quote: "Forget about a chip and a chair; give me a hand and I'll stand." 

40. Jack McClelland

A legendary poker tournament director and retired player, McClelland has been involved in poker games for over 40 years. His live poker earnings are relatively low considering how long he's been playing the game, but his contribution in other areas of poker have been significant. 

Classic Quote: "To be a poker champion you must have a strong bladder." 

41. Phil Ivey

A poker pro widely regarded as the world's best all-round player. Among Ivey's many accolades are ten World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and one World Poker Tour (WPT) title. His live poker earnings are over $26 million. 

Classic Quote: "I like it when I lose so much money I can barely breathe. That's the feeling I go for. I'm addicted to that feeling.

42. Crandell Addington

An entrepreneur and poker player, Crandell Addington was one of the founders of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and a regular player in the Texas poker circuit in the 1960s. Already a self made millionaire, Addington famously played poker for decades purely out of enjoyment. He still holds the record for most final table appearances in the WSOP Main Event with seven. 

Classic Quote: "Limit poker is a science, but no-limit is an art. In limit, you are shooting at a target; in no-limit, the target comes alive and shoots back at you."

43. Anthony Holden

An English writer and critic, Holden spent a year playing poker professionally while researching his 1990 book, Big Deal: A Year as a Professional Poker Player. He is a keen poker enthusiast and has played at several World Series of Poker (WSOP) events. 

Classic Quote: "Poker may be a branch of psychological warfare, an art form or indeed a way of life, but it is also merely a game in which money is simply the means of keeping score.

44. Antonio Esfandiari

A former magician famous for his elaborate chip tricks, Esfandiari has appeared on several poker television shows, won two World Poker Tour (WPT) championships, three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and was the face of the now defunct poker site UltimatePoker.com.

Classic Quote: "Tight is not right."  

45. Amarillo Slim

Thomas Austin Preston Jr, known by his nickname Amarillo Slim on the poker circuit, was a legend whose skills as a poker player won him the 1972 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and helped him become a highly successful player during his lifetime. 

Classic Quote: "I don't play any two suited cards. I play any two non-suited cards. That way I'm drawing at two different flushes."

46. James Altucher

An entrepreneur, investor and bestselling author, Altucher once spent 365 straight nights playing poker, barely sleeping and studying videos and books on how to play during the day. He has since written about his poker experiences. 

Classic Quote: "Poker is a skill game pretending to be a chance game.

47. Mike Caro

A professional poker player, author and casino executive, Caro's success at the tables is far outweighed by his contributions to the poker industry. He has acted as a consultant to casinos and helped develop the Poker Probe, a PC program used for analyzing poker. He is also the founder of the world's first permanent poker school, Mike Caro University of Poker Gaming and Life Strategy. 

Classic Quote: "Aces are larger than life and greater than mountains." 

48. James Guill

A poker pro who played semi-professionally from 2006 to 2008 before turning most of his attention to writing poker related content for online publications. 

Classic Quote: "If a player is looking to have you fund their poker career, you need to look at why they are broke." 

49. Ben Lamb 

A retired poker player with one World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, six WSOP final tables appearances and live poker earnings exceeding $11 million. 

Classic Quote: A very good sign of a successful poker player is their ability to take a slow roll.

50. Rick Bennet

A poker pro and author of poker related books and articles.

Classic Quote: "In the long run there's no luck in poker, but the short run is longer than most people know. "