Is the Palazzo Corpi Poker Game Story Real? Yes. The Palazzo Corpi poker game story refers to an oft-cited incident in which U.S. ambassador John George Alexander Leishman bet members of Congress during a poker night that, if he won, they would reimburse him for buying the Istanbul building that housed the U.S. mission. He won the hand, the U.S. government reimbursed him, and the property became official U.S.

That legendary tale of a palace won over cards? Not just a rumor. Discover how Ambassador John G. A. Leishman turned a high-stakes night into Istanbul lore at Palazzo Corpi. #IstanbulHistory #JohnGALeishman #PalazzoCorpi #PokerGame #USEmbassyInTurkey