First Poker Tournament
I fancy myself a poker player. I play in a regular game and do fairly well. It is low stakes, to be sure, but I usually come out ahead. Poker is not a newfound interest. I recall sitting in on my father’s game when I was a boy for a few hands and winning.
We are a competitive family and cards were a prominent activity. Mom and Dad were bridge players. My sister played a little as a girl. I think she won her first time out. My folks ran several bridge games a week out of our oversized living room during childhood. While there were several attempts to teach me the game, I never really took to it. A couple years back, before I met Gert, I began teaching myself bridge again. I actually drove all the way to Cherry Hill to play. This was truly my first bridge game that was not under my parents’ guidance. I won. Unbelievable! I have not play any since then.
I first began playing poker in my late teens. My employer had a regular game in his house. I did okay in the game. I remember Willie Weinberger bringing his Flyers season tickets each year and letting us pick what games we wanted. It was at this game at 41 Jackson that I learned the game. It was a thrill when my dad joined us a few times. We played at the Mad Batter since he couldn’t get into Harry’s place on the second floor. After a couple years, I moved to Boston and did not play much up there. When I moved back home, I re-joined my game. I was an inconsistent player. I would win big one game and lose the next. But I enjoyed myself nonetheless.
When I moved to Cumberland County a dozen years ago, my new boss invited me into his game. Interestingly, I replaced a friend of his in the classroom and then took that same guy’s seat at the poker table. A few years later, we looked at his house. If I had been ready to buy a house a little earlier than we did, we would have purchased his home. It is weird.
Anyhow, this game has been going on since 1968. I am the youngest player by far. I use my youth (I don’t get to say that much these days) to my advantage. Although, more and more, I am the only one who has to work the following morning and I am usually dragging by the end of the night. But I usually leave with more than I came and that is a good thing. Over the last dozen years, I have used this game to teach myself the game. I have learned how to bluff. I have learned how to bet. Because it is low stakes, the guys will remain in even when they shouldn’t, so position is key.
We live near Atlantic City. While I play poker, we do not hit the casinos often. I have been eager to enter a tournament down there, however, just to see what it is like. Who knows, perhaps I will get lucky in a satelitte and win my entry to the WSOP. One can hope.
Today I played my first poker tournament ever. It was an online game. My Jack-high straight won the tournament. I won’t be going to Vegas on this win, but I feel happy and it was by far the most entertaining poker game I have played in. I can’t wait to play again.
Also blogged on this date . . .
- Nanny State: Organ Donation - 2008
- Oh My: Paid Family Leave - 2008
- Economics 101 - 2007
- Governor Corzine and What He Says - 2007
- Jeep - 2007
- Competition & FTF - 2007
- Unexpected - 2006
- NJ Lawmaker Wants Me to Collect Your Personal Information - 2006
- Say No to Keno - 2005
- Park it like it's hot - 2005
- Old Timey Outhouses - 2005
- How did you get into scoring? - 2005