As a relatively new poker player, every new place to play poker gives me a thrill. I played my first game in Reno and was taught some poker playing tips by a dealer named Hap. I got to the final table and lasted longer than John. Victory. Then I played about ten games at the Elks Club and made the final table five of those times, and even cashed one time. I, again, outlasted John several of those games. Wow. Then I had the greatest challenge, I was invited to play with the DPL to see if I had what it takes to be accepted. I was so nervous and worried that I would be the first one out each game (Luckily that honor went to someone else). I finished 8th both games and felt like I could hold my own. I enjoyed everyone and felt that I fit in just fine. I held my breath until I received word that I had been accepted as a full member of the Decatur Poker League. SUPER WOW!!!
My next big challenge was playing poker at a casino in Tunica, Mississippi, on our way to Texas for the winter. The trip was interrupted and we are now home again but that is another story. We stayed at Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino and registered for their regular Wednesday night 6:00 pm poker game. I was so excited, so scared, and so thrilled. There were forty players and I was seated at table number 13, yikes!! Was that a good sign or a bad one? I settled down and just played my game, which meant folding a lot. I chatted a little (not nearly as much as John does) and then I started to relax. I was unaware of the other tables. I told everyone that I was very new to this game and had only played one other time at a casino. I was just a grandma and thought I’d see how I would do, and kept folding. At one time the dealer, Michael, asked if I had any questions. I guess he figured I was oblivious since I kept folding. I said, "yes, I have one question." He held up dealing, looked at me so seriously and said, "what is your question?" I said, "why aren’t you dealing me any pairs?" The whole table laughed and one guy said, "well, you opened yourself up for that!!" I finally got a decent hand as I look at   and quietly joined into the pot. It was raised and five other people were adding money. I kept up with them until the end when we had to show our cards. I was the last one to lay down my cards and since there were three spades on the board, the guy next to me said, “I have a flush.” The others laid down less than a flush and he was eager to pull in the pot. Um. Until I laid down my cards and Michael, the dealer, said, "she has an ace and a flush and wins." NICE!!!
After awhile we took a break and I was able to talk to John briefly. He gave me encouragement and I went back to the table. I was aware one time of John standing up, as he had gone all in. Then he was behind me and saying he was out. Yikes. I outlasted him again but just kept folding and playing sometimes. My stack grew a little more and then at one point our dealer held up and said, "all players at this table are be moved to another table." I sat down at the new table and asked the dealer why we were moved. I was so unaware of my surroundings that I did not realize where I was. The dealer looked at me and said, "you're at the final table." There were ten of us and they were paying the top five. I figured at that point I was going to be knocked out soon. Then they started to drop out one by one. We got down to six players and a proposal was made to pay the top six instead of five. I agreed to it but John had to tell me later what I agreed to. And then another player got knocked out. There were five left and at that point I realized I would cash in this game. I was excited, then I got more excited when I looked down at   , finally I got dealt a pair. I raised the pot and got two other players to call. The chip leader raised the pot to where I was all-in. I took the bait and called. I mean, JACKS!!! We flipped over our cards and I smugly turned over my !!! And looked over to see all my chips going to him, as he turned over   !! After the flop, turn, and river, my hand didn't improve and I was out. That’s poker. However, I cashed and so many people were cheering me on that it was a great experience. Can I just say again that I love this game??? Mr. John Barry has been a great teacher and Phillip Barry has led several training sessions although at the last one I assured him I didn’t need training….but his dad does!!! Burn!!! |
