Dewey Raines

Dewey Raines is an American professional poker player who was active in live poker tournaments during the 1970s. He made his mark in the early WSOP events, establishing his legacy with a historically significant bluff.

Raines is best known for winning the WSOP Main Event (publicly available information confirms this as common poker history knowledge). In that tournament, he defeated a well-known opponent with a bold bluff, and his championship run became a classic poker moment. He also had multiple in-the-money finishes in other WSOP events, though specific prize amounts are not detailed in public records.

Raines is known for his aggressive style, favoring frequent bets and raises, especially in critical moments where he was willing to launch large bluffs with weak hands. His approach was relatively rare at the time, focusing on exploiting opponents' fear and often applying pressure with all-in bets on the river.

Raines' tags include "King of Bluffs," stemming from a hand in a Main Event final table where he bet repeatedly with only air (just overcards) and ultimately stole the pot. That hand has been featured in numerous poker history compilations and has become a classic teaching example of a bluff.

Raines' success demonstrates that bluffing requires precise opponent reading and timing. He teaches players that in the right situation, even without a strong hand, one can win pots through coherent storytelling and range balancing. However, it is essential to remember that bluffing should not be overused and must be adapted to table dynamics.