Poker

Although there are many different ways to play poker, Texas Hold em has become very popular over the years and has created quite a following. Now a day you cannot turn on the TV without seeing the World Poker Tournament or the World Series of Poker playing out on a sport channel or an advertisement for online poker site. I personally had no idea how to play Texas Hold em until I met my boyfriend, who plays regularly in tournaments and hosts weekly games for him and his friends. I have played a few times with them and found it to be fun, but it was especially fun when I won the pot at the end of the night.
Texas Hold em is not limited to one gender or race, however, it appears to be a male dominate sport. The players ages range from college student to retiree’s and the clothing style appears to be casual mostly t-shirts and jeans. Some players like to wear hats, others like to wear sunglasses, while some may even wear both a hat and sunglasses in an attempt to hide their “poker face.” Poker face, which means for a player to have a blank expression on their face as to avoid revealing what they are holding for a hand, this is just one of many terms that has evolved into poker terminology over the years. With each player comes a different playing style, some play their hands tight while others like to play fast and loose, but no matter what style the player prefers the goal is to be the last player standing in the end.
At least once a week I can expect to come home to see the poker table out and the chips stacked ever so precisely at each players spot. The clock hits 6:45pm and there is a knock on the door, and in comes his friends one by one. I have played with them before and they definitely did not like getting beat by a girl. Once everyone has arrived each player “buys in” and then finds their seat, some may opt to sit in the same seat they won in the week before, as if it is a lucky seat. House rules are set and can vary depending on who is hosting the game. Once everyone settles each player roles the dice and the highest roller in turn receives the dealer chip.
Before the dealer deals out cards, the player directly to the left of the dealer is required to put in the small blind and to the left of them is the player with the big blind. Once the blinds, or forced bets are in the pot the dealer deals out two cards to each player, being careful not to flip them when tossing them across the table. Each player slightly lifts up the very edge of the card, just enough to get a glimpse of their hand and then the betting starts. The hand begins with a "pre-flop" betting round, which begins with the player to the left of the big blind and continuing clockwise. Through my experience, anyone who bets big in this round must be holding a pocket pair or suit of some kind, but typically, players play a tight in the beginning. Sitting to the left of the player with the big blind, I was considered “under the gun” or the first person to start the betting.
Holding a jack and nine suited, I decided to call, or as they would say, “limp in.” It was not until the betting reached my boyfriend, Manny who decided to raise the bet. Knowing that he is an aggressive player, me and two other players, Paul and Mike went along and called his bets, while everyone else folded. The dealer than burns a card and deals out the flop of three community cards, ten of spades, eight of hearts, and ace of spades. Just as before, I begin the round of betting, by throwing five dollars into the pot. Paul and Mike called, while Manny raised the bet by two dollars. Hoping for that straight, I ran with it and called. Paul takes his time thinking about the move, shuffling his chips in between his fingers and trying to find a “tell” on one of us. He eventually calls, but appears reluctant. The betting than turns goes to Mike, who folds right away.
The dealer burns another card and then deals the turns over one more card into the community cards, a two of clubs. I checked and so did Paul, but Manny raise the bet again, this time by ten dollars. Although I was considered to be chasing a dream, I raised him ten more dollars in hopes to back him down. Paul ultimately folded, while Manny raised five more dollars and I called, capping the bets. The dealer burns one last card before dealing the final river card, the queen of hearts. As excited, as I was to have gotten that straight I could not show any reaction or I could ruin my chances of winning big. I decided to bet small, two dollars at first. Manny decides raise the bet another ten dollars, so I raised him back another ten before Manny decided to go “all in,” which I called with little hesitation and flipped over my jack, nine suited. Manny flips over a pair of aces and everyone began to yell, “Wow, guy!” and “Dude, she just punked you out!” At that moment, I felt on top of the world. I did not end up winning the pot at the end of the night, but as they say, “you cannot win them all!”