History of "Big Slick"

We were having a debate the other night in a poker game about the where the term "Big Slick" orginiated from. I searched around on the internet but found nothing. Does anyone have any ideas?

nope I couldn't find anything either

i think big slick was an old greek term used to desrible a wood ship

Here's the definition according to Mike Caro at his site.

Mike Caro: Quote:
(n phrase) In hold 'em, A-K as one's first two cards. Derives from a destructive oil spill off the Santa Barbara coast, the name arising from the more well-known name for the hand, big slick.


This was his definition for a Santa Barbara which is also A/K in the hole. Now all you need to find out is how an oil spill correlates to poker.

Yeah i dont understand that one. In what year was that quoted

In the poker variant of Texas Hold 'em, Big Slick refers to holding an ace and a king as your two hole cards. It is famously refered to Big Slick as it is a slippery hand that one can easily lose a fortune over. Usually grouped together as one of the premium hands along with Aces and Kings, but this hand is more flexible especially if suited.

Other nicknames for Big Slick include: Space Cowboy, Walking Back to Houston, Big Ugly, Santa Barabara, Ass Kicker, Machine Gun, and Big Slick in a Suit (if suited)

From Urban Dictionary

Do not know from where this name...

It was originally called 'Santa Barbara' after the oil spill. Then it became 'Big Slick', still referring to the oil spill but (maybe) just a bit cooler sounding?

Anyway, I think the name has to do with how tricky the hand can be sometimes. On one hand, if played correctly, the hand (AK) can be very profitable. Think big oil tycoons striking it rich.

At the same time, if you misplay the hand and slip up (because oil is very slippery) you can have disastrous results. Much like the oil spill in Santa Barbara, you might find yourself "leaking/spilling chips".

That's my take on it.

atlantafalcons0 said:

In the poker variant of Texas Hold 'em, Big Slick refers to holding an ace and a king as your two hole cards. It is famously refered to Big Slick as it is a slippery hand that one can easily lose a fortune over. Usually grouped together as one of the premium hands along with Aces and Kings, but this hand is more flexible especially if suited.

Other nicknames for Big Slick include: Space Cowboy, Walking Back to Houston, Big Ugly, Santa Barabara, Ass Kicker, Machine Gun, and Big Slick in a Suit (if suited)

From Urban Dictionary

Click to expand...

Anna Kournikova, Kalashnikov (AK-47), Big Ugly (offsuit, Imitating Big Slick, but "Ugly" if offsuit), Exxon Valdez (A♠ K♠ Since it has a lot of black in it), King Arthur, Korean Airlines.

This was easy to find on the net, nicknames of all hands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_playing-card_nicknames#Poker_hand_nicknames


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