In 2003, Chris Moneymaker (yes, that’s his real name) won the World Series of Poker Main Event, cashing in to the tune of $2.5 million. Moneymaker won a seat at the tournament by winning a satellite event for $39. Prior to this, he had never played in a live tournament. After his win shook the poker world, Texas Hold ‘Em, the game played at the Main Event, exploded into worldwide popularity.
Part of this was helped by the fact that ESPN broadened its coverage that year, and many more people started watching. I was one of those people. I’d always enjoyed playing card games, but had not played much poker and had never played Texas Hold ‘Em. Like many others, I was entranced to watch the action unfold since the TV audience could see the players’ cards and follow the action much differently than by just sitting at a card table.
Following Moneymaker’s win, I started playing some poker online. I never gambled my own money, but played free tables, just trying to figure out the game. Concurrently, local establishments started holding free roll tournaments, enticing people to come out and play poker tournaments, hoping to offset the prize money with the money that would be spent at the bar.
The first live tournament I played was at the Ellendale Muni. It was a slow day, with only 16 players. Obviously a rookie, I had to be reminded when I was in the blinds and how to place my bets. It was a lot different than clicking on a mouse!
To my surprise, and the surprise of everyone there, I won the tournament! My final hand was Ace-Nine, and I spiked a nine on the final card to beat my opponent’s pair of eights. That day was the start of my love affair with poker. I continued to go to tournaments in Ellendale and occasionally in New Richland. I did well enough in a decent proportion to come home with cash, but I gained more than that.
Most of the folks around here that play poker are really fun people. Nobody takes these tournaments all that seriously. We try to play cards the right way, but not every hand is treated like a life and death situation. If someone shows up wearing sunglasses, they usually get ridiculed. Where do you think you are, Vegas?
Playing poker for me is sort of like getting my hair cut. I enjoy the company and discussion as much as the real reason I’m there. Over the years, I’ve met a lot of people that I wouldn’t otherwise encounter. Many of the regulars (or semi-regulars, as I’ve become due to a busy Saturday schedule) know about important life events in each others’ lives, and I know some that get together outside the poker world.
This camaraderie is genuine. I know I can ask Kevin and Kelly how their daughter’s teaching in Texas is going. I know I can give Loren a hard time and he won’t take offense. I know Denny and I can visit about the Twins and hold a good conversation. I know Otto is reading my column right now and will have something to say about it the next time I see him!
Where I’ve really seem the friendship is at funerals, strange as that sounds. The area poker family has lost some of its staunchest members over the years, and there are always a great number of other players at the wake and /or funeral. This is not just a casual game; it is a friendly game in the truest sense.
I enjoy my poker family. I love driving over to New Richland at 12:30 on Saturdays at the Liquor Store to sit and shoot the breeze and try to hit that one card that will put me over the top or give me a story to tell about beating the odds. The truth is that all of us who play and know each other have beaten the odds by having a group of good friends. Now if only one of those friends would front me $10,000 to enter next year’s Main Event…
Word of the Week: This week’s word is xanthodontous, which means having yellow teeth, as in, “The poker player’s xanthodontous smile showed that he had been at the poker table too long and needed to attend to personal hygiene.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!