Legendary gambler Nick Dandolos entered history under several nicknames. Due to his nationality, he was called "The Greek." Incredible victories forced contemporaries to recognize him as the "King of Gamblers." Philosophical education and craps skills led to the nickname "Aristotle of Don't Pass Line."
The article will tell you about Nick "The Greek" Dandolos.
The Bourgeois Youth
Nick was born in 1883 on the Greek island of Crete, which at that time was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. He was lucky to be born into a wealthy family. His parents were traders and could afford a decent education for their son. They forced him to read a lot and learn foreign languages.
Nick was first enrolled in the Smyrna Evangelical College, where his father and mother came from. Dandolos became a bachelor of philosophy.
In 1902, he was sent to continue his studies in the United States. The boy didn't need the money, as his moneyed grandfather provided him a weekly allowance of one hundred and fifty dollars, a considerable sum for the time.
Grandfather saw his grandson as a successful businessman, but Nick decided otherwise. At first, he settled in Chicago but moved to Montreal, Canada, over time. There he began his career as a professional gambler.
Life Is a Game
In Montreal, Nick became interested in betting on the races, turning a hobby into a source of impressive earnings. In total, he won at the racetrack about half a million dollars. Jockey Phil Musgrave helped him to achieve significant success as he was the one who introduced Dandolos to various tricks of the riders.
Soon after they met, they were suspected of collaboration (most likely, reasonably). The friends decided to part ways to avoid trouble with the law.
Nick returned to Chicago, where he played dice and cards. At first, Dandolos was unsuccessful. He failed, having lost all his money. But they were not just wasted. The bitter experience brought Nick back to the ground and made him stronger. That's when he crossed the line between amateurs and professionals.
I play for the risk, not for the money. A trout fisherman fishes for sport, not for meat. This attitude creates mystery in the mind of the opposition. Nobody wants to put a mystery out of action. They want to see how it comes out.
He has become a local casino attraction. As soon as he appeared in the club, a crowd of spectators gathered around him. Particularly impressive was how Nick played craps, often tearing applause from the audience. In addition, he improved his skills in poker and did not forget about the races.
Worldwide Fame
By continuing to play horse racing, craps, and poker, Dandolos was constantly improving his skills. He soon became a recognized expert, considered one of the best players, first in the United States and then worldwide.
The only difference between a winner and a loser is character.
Nick traveled a lot across America, attending every casino on the way. He was seen in New York, Illinois, New Orleans, and other cities and states. Of course, he couldn't ignore Nevada.
When Nick first came to Las Vegas, He was overwhelmed by the variety of opportunities that opened up for him in the "Sin City." However, he was in no hurry to rush thoughtlessly into the whirlpool of the gambling industry. Before risking money in a new casino, Dandolos carefully studied the rules, odds of winning, and other nuances.
The next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing.
His attitude to the gameplay, great experience, and professional skills allowed him to succeed often and win huge sums. However, fortune was not always on his side. Occasionally, he lost a lot of money.
The Johnny Moss Story
In 1949, Nick the Greek clashed with the famous player Johnny Moss at the card table. With the support of Benny Binion, they agreed to arrange a long marathon in front of a large audience. It was held in the heads-up format, that is, one-on-one.
For five months, Nick and johnny played every known variety of poker. The protracted tournament ended sadly for Dandolos. He lost more than two million dollars.
As legend has it, the emaciated Greek admitted his defeat with a phrase that has become a poker classic:
Mr. Moss, I'm gonna have to let you go.
They say that thanks to their marathon, the idea of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) was born.
We should note that some researchers are skeptical about this story. For example, in the book Showgirl Stories, Steve Fischer writes that Dandolos and moss did not play against each other. Supposedly even Benny Binyon didn't want to tell about it, citing memory lapses. The Newspapers, which often wrote about Nick the Greek, also had no publications about the tournament. In addition, Fischer was confused by other inaccuracies, which you can read about in his Showgirl Stories.
Nick the Greek's Favorite Game
Now, the Faro card game is somewhat forgotten. You will hardly see it at casinos; only experts and gambling enthusiasts know its rules. But in the old days, it was trendy.
Nick adored Faro and, on occasion, preferred this game. Once, he persuaded film producer Carl Laemmle to become his sponsor during a long tournament in Faro. He agreed, relying on Dandolos's skill, and allocated the required amount.
However, fortune again turned against Nick, and he lost all the money.
Meeting Einstein
As the popular myth goes, Nick had a chance to talk to Albert Einstein. Supposedly the famous physicist came to Las Vegas, and some "big cheese" asked Dandolos to acquaint him with the city's best clubs and main attractions. This story is described in the book Gambling Secrets of Nick The Greek.
They say that Albert did not attract too much attention. Nick called him "Little Al from Princeton." He also told everyone that Einstein controlled the entire state of New Jersey, so they should fear him.
Skeptics claim that this is no more than one of the many urban legends of Las Vegas. There's no evidence that Dandolos knew Einstein. The story is based only on the fact that they visited the city simultaneously.
But it is known that Nick met with physicist Richard Feynman, as described in the autobiographical book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
The Nobel laureate recalled how Dandolos told him about the rules that helped him win. According to the physicist, Nick focused on mathematical calculations and knowledge of the layouts of all gambling. This enabled him to defeat opponents who were influenced by superstition and prejudice.
End of Life
In his later years, Dandolos was impoverished and on the verge of bankruptcy, but he did not give up gambling. He was often seen at poker tournaments with minimal stakes. When people asked him if he, a former high roller, was interested in playing small, he invariably replied that the process was more important than money.
Remember this: The house doesn't beat the player. It just gives him the opportunity to beat himself.
Nick Dandolos died on Christmas of 1966. He was buried in California. Many friends and fans of his talent gathered to say goodbye to "The Greek."
Nick the Greek's Legacy
After Nick's death, several well-known newspapers and magazines devoted extensive articles to him, thanks to which even people not interested in casinos, poker, and betting knew about him.
In 1979, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
These two books about the life of Annie are considered to be the best:
- Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek by Ted Thackrey,
- Nick the Greek by Mark Petrakis.
In addition, he is mentioned in numerous books about gambling, biographies, and memoirs of famous people.
Interesting Facts about Nick the Greek Dandolos
Let's remember some exciting stories and memories of the legendary players that will help to make an impression on him.
- They say he spent at least twenty million dollars on charity.
- He was also remembered with gratitude by waiters and other service sector representatives, whom "The Greek" generously tipped.
- By conservative estimates, Nick had won and lost at least half a billion dollars in his lifetime.
- The Greek claimed to have climbed from the bottom seventy-three times.
- It is believed that the famous mafia guy Caifano got in prison after dealing with Nick's debtor. Once Dandolos shamed the most Frank Costello, the legendary mafia boss. He offered to bet him half a million, but Frankie was scared. The New York Times even wrote about it.
Let's not forget that researchers do not confirm many stories about Nick the Greek.
Benny Binyon knew "The Greek" well, but he admitted that he did not fully understand Him:
He was the strangest character I've ever met. No one ever knew where his money came from. Then he ran out of money. A guy once beat him at a poker game for about half a million. The money was in a chest in his room, which wasn't even locked.
Conclusion
The Greek lived an exciting life overgrown with numerous legends after his death. Millions of dollars had passed through his hands, but money was a means to him, not the goal. Perhaps that's why they were easy for him to get them and let go.
His place in the history of gambling was a more critical achievement for Nick Dandolos than big winnings.