When you think of the Wild West, you might picture cowboys, saloons, and shootouts. But amidst the dust and tumbleweeds, there was a woman who defied expectations and made her mark on the frontier.
Alice Ivers Duffield Tubbs Huckert was a Wild West icon and, more notably, recognized as one of the greatest female poker players in the world. Born February 17, 1851 in Devonshire, England, she emigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 12. She attended a boarding school in Virginia to become a “refined” lady, but Ivers had other motives in mind for how she wanted to live her life.
After her husband’s death, Alice turned to gambling as a way to support her family. She moved to Silver City, New Mexico, and quickly became one of the most successful poker players in the area. Alice was a shrewd player who never let her emotions get the best of her. She was known for her calm demeanor and her ability to read her opponents’ tells. She became so successful, sometimes winning $6,000/night, that she was able to pay off all of her husband’s debts and provide for her children.