Know when to hold 'em...

On Wednesday evening, June 25 I will be in the presence of seven women. All eager to learn all they can from me so they can then take those skills and apply them later in their own safe environment. Maybe with their husbands, loved ones – or both!

Now before anyone gets too excited, including TLATO, may I point out that this is a Texas Hold ’em Poker Night.

Once a year for the past several, I have willingly (?) offered my services to the Peterborough chapter of the Women’s Business Network auction. It’s all for charity. So one Wednesday evening late last year I once again went on the block – the auction block, that is. Women, professionals all, bid on many items that are offered during the course of the evening.

Years ago, my chiropractor, Cathy Owens, knew that I had a leaning towards games of chance, and asked if I would be interested in being offered as an item to be auctioned. That year they were not certain if the Fire Department were going to participate so I apparently was Plan B. Don’t think I have ever knowingly been any one’s Plan B before. Anyway, a group of women decided that they wanted to learn to play poker. Texas Hold ‘em.

The evening was a success and since then, I’ve been asked several times to participate. Like I said, it’s all for a good cause so what the heck.

You should see some of these women in action. Some have played cards before, bridge, Hearts and the like. Some have heard about Poker. Most are neophytes. After a couple of rounds of dummy hands, these women take off the gloves – literally and in some cases, it’s a take no prisoners game that ensues.

Last year one of the ladies was betting (it’s all in fun, no real money involved) large and a few players went along. “I’m all in!” First real hand of the evening and here we go. This was after the flop. There were still two more cards to be turned over. Politely I asked if those that were in, understood what was going on. That was, apparently, the wrong inquiry. “Deal the cards, Poker Boy!”

Now I do not recall the actual cards, but the turn was played and given that everyone was all in, no further betting could occur. That did not stop one or two sharks to inquire if side bets were kosher…

Did everyone understand what constituted a good hand? At the beginning of the evening I handed out small “cheat sheets” showing the best poker hands from a Royal Flush down to a pair. No one was consulting the cards.

The river was then played. Oddly enough the four women playing all smiled – not a poker face among them.

At this stage, there was some further good natured taunting going on. I had no idea really what might be going on since the board was showing nothing of consequence. “This should be interesting,” I thought.

So, in order, the foursome turned over their hole cards. One lady had three of a kind – not bad. Another had a full house. Better. The third proudly displayed another full house. Best. The fourth, the aggressive one who had initiated this mayhem asked if she had to show her cards. “If you’re holding the winning combination, absolutely!” “Well, in that case, I decline to show. I’ll fold”

The second full house won and we had our first casualty of the evening.

During a break, I asked this woman what she was doing? Beaming, she explained that she had watched a few games on television before our evening. She had always wanted to say, “All in!” So she did. She was the person that had actually bid on the evening months before and it had, by all accounts, not gone for a couple of dollars either.

Watching her observe for the rest of the evening, she had the broadest smile, the loudest laugh of all. This was fun. And all for a very good cause.

To her, it was worth it to see her friends enjoy an evening of cards. Friends who, under different circumstances might never have played poker. So everyone benefited all the way down the line.

I’ve found myself wondering today if she’ll be part of the group tomorrow evening or will someone else decide to pay it forward.