Poker Alice – Famous Frontier Gambler
“At my age, I suppose I should be knitting. But I would rather play poker with five or six ‘experts’ than eat.”
– Alice Ivers Tubbs; aka Poker Alice
In the annals of the American Old West, few figures loom as large and captivating as Alice Ivers Tubbs, more widely recognized by her moniker, Poker Alice. She stands as perhaps the most celebrated female poker player of that era, a woman who navigated the rough-and-tumble world of frontier gambling with a unique blend of skill, style, and unwavering self-assurance. Her life, a tapestry woven with high-stakes games, unexpected romances, and a touch of infamy, offers a compelling glimpse into a bygone era.
Alice Ivers’ journey began far from the dusty saloons of the American West. She was born on February 17, 1851, in Devonshire, England. Her father, a conservative schoolmaster, instilled in her a foundation of education and discipline. When Alice was still a young girl, the family embarked on a transatlantic voyage, seeking new opportunities in the United States. Their initial destination was Virginia, where Alice was enrolled in an elite boarding school, receiving the kind of refined education typically reserved for young ladies of privilege. This cultivated background would later stand in stark contrast to the rugged environment where she would make her name. In her teenage years, the family again relocated, this time drawn by the allure of the Silver Rush to Leadville, Colorado, a booming mining town nestled high in the Rocky Mountains. This move would prove to be the catalyst that transformed Alice Ivers into the legendary Poker Alice.
Leadville, in its heyday, was a melting pot of ambition, opportunity, and vice. The town pulsed with the energy of prospectors, businessmen, and gamblers, all seeking their fortunes in the silver mines. It was here that Alice met Frank Duffield, a mining engineer who would become her first husband. Their marriage, when Alice was 20, marked the beginning of her immersion into the world of gambling. Frank was an enthusiastic player, frequenting the numerous gambling halls that dotted Leadville. Rather than remaining isolated at home, Alice accompanied him, drawn by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Initially, she observed the games from behind her husband, quietly studying the intricacies of poker and faro. However, it wasn’t long before her sharp intellect and keen observational skills allowed her to grasp the nuances of the games. She soon joined the players, quickly demonstrating a remarkable aptitude for both poker and faro, much to the surprise and, at times, dismay of her male counterparts. The foundations of Poker Alice’s reputation were being laid.
Tragedy struck a few years into their marriage when Frank, working as a mining engineer, was killed in an explosion. This sudden loss left Alice widowed and without a clear path forward. Her education provided a potential avenue – teaching – but Leadville, despite its thriving population of approximately 35,000 residents, lacked a formal school. The few other employment opportunities available to women in a mining camp held little appeal for Alice. Faced with limited options, she made a bold decision: she would leverage her gambling skills to earn a living. While poker was her preferred game, she also mastered dealing and playing faro, quickly becoming sought after as both a player and a dealer. At this time, Alice possessed a striking beauty – a petite woman standing at 5’4" with captivating blue eyes and flowing brown hair. In an environment where "ladies" were often associated with less-than-reputable establishments, Alice, with her refined demeanor and fashionable attire, was a rare and welcome sight in the gambling halls. She soon began her travels throughout the West.
As Alice traveled from one mining camp to another, her reputation as a skilled and stylish gambler grew, and she earned the enduring nickname "Poker Alice." In addition to playing, she frequently worked as a dealer in various cities across Colorado, including Alamosa, Central City, Georgetown, and Trinidad. Over time, her image evolved. While she continued to don fashionable, frilly dresses, she also adopted the habit of smoking large black cigars, a practice considered unconventional for women of the time. Despite her immersion in the world of gambling, Alice remained steadfast in her religious beliefs, refusing to gamble on Sundays. She also carried a .38 revolver, a practical necessity in the often-lawless frontier towns, and was not afraid to use it to defend herself. Her growing reputation attracted men looking for a challenge, and she was readily welcomed in gambling halls because her presence drew crowds and boosted business.
Alice’s success extended beyond Colorado. She ventured to Silver City, New Mexico, where she famously "broke the bank" at the Gold Dust Gambling House, amassing a substantial $6,000. After a significant win, she often made trips to New York City to replenish her wardrobe with the latest fashions, demonstrating her commitment to maintaining her stylish appearance even in the rugged West.
Returning to Colorado, Alice found herself in Creede, where she worked as a dealer in Bob Ford’s saloon. This was the same Bob Ford who had gained notoriety for killing Jesse James, adding another layer of intrigue to Alice’s already fascinating life.
Around 1890, Alice arrived in Deadwood, South Dakota, a town synonymous with the Wild West. It was here that she encountered Warren G. Tubbs, a housepainter from Sturgis who supplemented his income as a dealer and gambler. Despite Alice’s consistent victories over him at the gaming tables, Tubbs was captivated by her. Their relationship blossomed outside the gambling halls, and on one occasion, when a drunken miner threatened Tubbs with a knife, Alice demonstrated her unwavering loyalty by drawing her .38 and shooting the man in the arm. Tubbs and Alice eventually married and would have seven children. Tubbs, a painter by trade, and Alice’s gambling profits supported the family. The couple eventually left Deadwood and homesteaded a ranch near Sturgis on the Moreau River.
During this period, Alice significantly reduced her time in gaming houses, dedicating herself to the demands of ranch life and raising her children. She later said the time spent on the ranch was some of the happiest days of her life. But Alice was destined to be luckier at cards than at love. When Tubbs was diagnosed with tuberculosis, she devoted herself to his care, determined to nurse him back to health. However, Tubbs succumbed to pneumonia in the winter of 1910. Alice, displaying her characteristic resilience, loaded his body into a horse-drawn wagon and transported him to Sturgis for burial. Legend has it that she had to pawn her wedding ring to cover the funeral expenses and then returned to the gambling parlors to win back her treasured possession.
Following Tubbs’ death, Alice faced the necessity of earning a living once again. She hired George Huckert to manage the homestead and moved to Sturgis to support herself. Huckert, who had become enamored with Alice, repeatedly proposed marriage. Alice eventually accepted, famously stating, "I owed him so much in back wages; I figured it would be cheaper to marry him than pay him off. So I did." However, this marriage was short-lived, as Alice was widowed again when Huckert died in 1913.
During Prohibition, Alice opened a saloon called "Poker’s Palace" between Sturgis and Fort Meade, offering gambling, liquor, and the services of "women" to her clientele. One night, a drunken soldier caused a disturbance, vandalizing the furniture and creating chaos. Alice responded by drawing her .38 and shooting the man. She was arrested and jailed while awaiting trial, during which she calmly smoked cigars and read the Bible. She was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, but her saloon was shut down in the process.
In her later years, Alice’s beauty and fashionable gowns faded, replaced by men’s clothing and a life of continued gambling. She was occasionally featured at events, such as the Diamond Jubilee in Omaha, Nebraska, as a living embodiment of the frontier spirit. It was during this time that she famously quipped, "At my age, I suppose I should be knitting. But I would rather play poker with five or six ‘experts’ than eat." Poker Alice was known for her sharp wit.
She continued to operate a "house" of ill-repute in Sturgis, facing frequent arrests for drunkenness and maintaining a disorderly house. Despite paying her fines, she persisted in running the business until she was eventually arrested for repeated convictions of operating a brothel and sentenced to prison. However, the governor, recognizing her age and perhaps her legendary status, pardoned Alice, who was then 75 years old.
At the age of 79, Alice underwent a gallbladder operation in Rapid City, but complications arose, leading to her death on February 27, 1930. She was buried at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. Poker Alice left behind a storied legacy.
Throughout her life, Alice claimed to have won over $250,000 at the gaming tables and maintained that she never cheated. One of her favorite sayings encapsulated her approach to gambling and life: "Praise the Lord and place your bets. I’ll take your money with no regrets." The tale of Poker Alice is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and undeniable charisma of a woman who dared to carve her own path in the often unforgiving landscape of the American Old West.