Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston, Jr. is fairly one of the biggest poker faces to ever sit on a WSOP table. Amarillo Slim as he is known across the poker community is a true cowboy always presenting himself with a cowboy hat and a unique set of ostriche boots. He is one of the legends of the game as he is worldwide known for his tendency to bet on anything he can put his mind to.

Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was born in Johnson, Arkansas back in December 31, 1928 and lived his early years in Texas, he finished high school when he was 16 and he took the decision to join the US Navy, Amarillo travelled overseas and kept busy primarilly by reading books about sports events, upon his return to the US, Amarillo met Doyle Brunson, and they soon bonded and partnered in travelling across the near area playing poker and making money.

For a total of six years Amarillo Slim and Brunson played off a common bankroll, they shared knowledge, traits and tricks of the game; and soon became well known road gamblers in the state of Texas. In Super System 2 which is one of Brunson’s books the poker legend states “We got to the point where we gambled on anything you can really think of; golf, tennis, basketball, pool, sports betting, just about everything. As long as we thought we had some sort of edge, we’d bet. And we made money.”

Amarillo has called himself the greatest gambler ever to live on this earth, as he has a strong reputation for gambling on anything he can put his eyes on. There is a legend that says that Amarillo wagered $1 million, that he could manage to hit a golf ball over a mile. He is said to have won the bet as the golf ball found its way on a frozen lake which helped it slide, consequently leading Amarillo to winning the bet.

Amarillo Slim is married, he and his wife have been together for approximately 50 years and they have three children and seven grandchildren. His legendary win on the 1972 WSOP was what made him famous as it invited him to a number of TV shows including 60 minutes, Tell the Truth, Good Morning America and others which made his legend popular.

Together with his dear friend Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim is one of the only poker players of his time that currently play at the World Series of Poker. Slim holds four WSOP bracelets, including 1990 Pot Limit Omaha, 1985 Pot Limit Omaha, 1974 No Limit Hold’em, and the Championship title in 1972.

In 2000, he finished second to Phil Ivey in the Pot Limit Omaha event missing his fifth bracelet by one spot. 1992 was the year when Slim found his seat on the Poker Hall of Fame.

Notable Quotes:

“Look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up, because you’re the sucker.”