Layne Flack
Layne Flack (May 18, 1969 – July 19, 2021) was an American professional poker player renowned for his aggressive style, six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet victories, and the nickname "Back-to-Back" Flack, earned by winning two consecutive events at the 1999 Legends of Poker.[1][2][3][4] Born Dee Layne Flack in Rapid City, South Dakota, he began playing poker professionally at age 24 and quickly rose to prominence with his first major victory at the 1997 Hall of Fame Poker Classic.[1] His WSOP success began in 1999 with a win in the $3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em event for $224,400, followed by back-to-back triumphs in 2002 ($2,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $303,880 and $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $268,020), two in 2003 ($2,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo for $119,260 and $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout for $120,000), and his final bracelet in 2008 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha for a career-best $577,725).[2] Over his career, Flack amassed 74 WSOP cashes and total live tournament earnings exceeding $5 million, ranking him among the top American players. He was posthumously inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2022.[1][5][6] Flack also achieved success on the World Poker Tour (WPT), capturing the 2003 WPT Invitational title in Los Angeles for $125,300 and reaching nine other WPT final tables.[3] Known in the poker community for his charismatic personality and high-stakes prowess, he resided in Montana and Nevada before settling in Las Vegas, where he passed away at his home at age 52.[7][1]Early life
Childhood in South Dakota
Layne Flack was born on May 18, 1969, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to parents Larry and Shirley (Bekken) Flack.[1] His early childhood was spent in the Black Hills region, where the family initially resided before relocating.[1] Flack's family played a key role in his formative years, instilling an early appreciation for card games through casual play with his grandparents. He learned pinochle from them during this period, which marked his initial exposure to strategic gameplay, though it remained a familial pastime rather than a serious pursuit.[8] This environment in South Dakota provided a stable, rural backdrop, but the family's move to Montana shortly after his birth shifted much of his upbringing to that state, where he spent the majority of his childhood and adolescence.[1] Details on Flack's formal education are sparse, but he returned to Sturgis, South Dakota, to complete high school around age 18 before briefly attending college in South Dakota around 1991 without finishing a degree.[1][8][9] This early interest in cards from family gatherings later influenced his path toward casino employment in Montana.[8]Introduction to cards and early jobs
Following his high school graduation in South Dakota in 1987, Flack, at around age 18, returned to Montana where he had spent much of his childhood and secured his first job as a poker dealer in small local card clubs and casinos.[10] This role marked his formal introduction to the casino environment, where he gained firsthand exposure to the rhythms and strategies of card play without any prior professional guidance.[9] His early experiences built on casual card games from childhood, such as pinochle learned from his grandparents, which had sparked an initial interest in cards among family.[11] As a dealer, Flack quickly became engrossed in the poker games unfolding at his tables, observing players' decisions and outcomes in real time, which fueled his fascination with the game's psychological and probabilistic elements.[12] He soon transitioned from dealing to participating, entering low-stakes cash games in the same Montana clubs, allowing him to test basic strategies like pot odds and bluffing in a low-pressure setting.[12] These sessions, often held in informal cardrooms attached to bars or small casinos, provided practical skill-building through trial and error, as Flack honed his reading of opponents without structured training or coaching.[9] Recognizing the potential for greater earnings on the playing side of the table compared to dealing wages, Flack began dedicating more time to poker, eventually going full-time around 1995 at age 26 after the birth of his daughter.[12] This shift allowed him to immerse himself deeper in local low-stakes environments, gradually improving his bankroll management and game selection through consistent play in home games and club tournaments across Montana towns like Bozeman.[8] By forgoing formal employment, he relied on small wins from these accessible venues to sustain himself, laying the groundwork for his later professional pursuits without relying on external mentorship at this stage.[12]Poker career
Entry into professional poker
In the early 1990s, after gaining experience as a poker dealer in Montana, Flack relocated to Reno, Nevada, around 1993 at the age of 24, initially with his then-girlfriend, to pursue poker as a full-time career.[12][13] By 1995, following the birth of his daughter Hailey in Reno, he had transitioned fully into professional play, later moving to Las Vegas by 1997 to immerse himself in the competitive poker scene.[12][14] Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Flack quickly connected with established professionals who shaped his development. He particularly impressed two-time World Series of Poker champion Johnny Chan early in his pro career, leading Chan to mentor him on advanced strategies and tournament navigation.[15] Complementing this guidance, fellow pro Ted Forrest also took Flack under his wing, offering insights into high-stakes play and game theory that honed his competitive edge.[16][17] These relationships were instrumental in refining Flack's approach during his formative years as a professional.[18] Flack's initial breakthroughs came through consistent performances in regional tournaments throughout the mid-1990s, outside major circuits like the WSOP. His first significant victory occurred in 1997 at the Hall of Fame Poker Classic $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, where he claimed the title and $67,800 in prize money.[13] The following year, he added another win at the 1998 Carnivale of Poker $540 No-Limit Hold'em tournament, earning $64,970.[13] These results, combined with cashes in mixed-game formats, solidified his emerging reputation as a versatile talent adept in No-Limit Hold'em and Omaha variants, showcasing his adaptability across poker disciplines.[19][20]World Series of Poker bracelets
Layne Flack secured six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets between 1999 and 2008, showcasing his proficiency in multiple poker formats such as pot-limit hold'em, no-limit hold'em, Omaha hi-lo split-8 or better, limit hold'em, and pot-limit Omaha. These victories contributed to his overall WSOP record of 74 cashes and $2,868,564 in earnings, underscoring his adaptability and success in high-stakes bracelet events.[21] Flack's bracelet wins spanned diverse game types, reflecting his versatile skill set. His first came in 1999 with a victory in the $3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em event, where he earned $224,400 after outlasting a field of 143 entrants. In 2002, he claimed two bracelets: the $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $303,880 and, two weeks later, the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $268,020. The following year, 2003, saw another pair of triumphs—the $2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better for $119,260 and the $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout for $120,000. Flack rounded out his collection in 2008 by winning the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys event, defeating 523 entries to claim $577,725, his career-high tournament payout at the time.[2]| Year | Event | Buy-in | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Pot-Limit Hold'em | $3,000 | $224,400 |
| 2002 | No-Limit Hold'em | $2,000 | $303,880 |
| 2002 | No-Limit Hold'em | $1,500 | $268,020 |
| 2003 | Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better | $2,500 | $119,260 |
| 2003 | Limit Hold'em Shootout | $1,500 | $120,000 |
| 2008 | Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys | $1,500 | $577,725 |