In the mid 1980’s, women were considered no factor in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, and other than the famous rounder and professional gambler Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston, poker players rarely made headlines in the mainstream press. That all changed when Wendeen Eolis became the first woman to cash at poker’s “Big Dance.”
In the 1986 WSOP Main Event, Eolis battled some of the best players in the world, including Amarillo Slim, in a field of 141 runners. She was on her way to a 25th-place finish for a $10,000, return on her buy-in, and permanent bragging rights as the first woman in history to cash in the WSOP Main Event.
Eolis attributes her 1986 WSOP performance to a year of poker tutoring from one of the best, a “relatively” conservative game plan, and cooperative cards. She told PokerNews, “Even today, women can win more by bluffing less than men.”
, Tom McCormick faced a bet of 3,000 from a player in late position and a call by Matthew Gonzales in the hijack.
river, Tim Seidensticker bet 5,000 out of the big blind. Andreas Klatt reluctantly called and was shown the 
for kings up. Klatt glanced over at the other side of the table but couldn't beat that as Seidensticker bounced back and added some chips again.
flop and shedding neither opponent, he fired another 6,000 on the 
turn.
.
for winning trip sevens against Seidensticker's 
, which had been ahead on the turn with two pair.
on which Sinn bet 5,000. Haiduc raised to 15,000 and Sinn called all in for around 14,300.
river were both blanks and that spelled the end for Sinn.
, Madsen led out from the small blind for 11,100.
fall on the river. Madsen put out another bet, this time for 7,200, and he was met by an all-in raise from Keijzer for 21,400.
