Melissa Brown
Published: March 8, 2006
Ace-10 may not be as good as the “pocket rockets” (aces) Dental Hygiene major Michelle Moulton, 25, said “are not unbeatable but always seem to make a player feel like she can’t lose,” but LaRock keeps on playing.
LaRock and Moulton join millions of players around the world in the Hold ’em craze. In “Harrington on Hold ’em, Vol. 1,” poker professional Dan Harrington attributes the recent explosion of poker popularity to “the advent of minicams that enable television viewers to watch major events and follow the hands as they are played.”
Once only played in New Orleans and on Mississippi riverboats in the early 19th century, “poque” has evolved and is now one of the most popular card games around, especially the variation Texas Hold ’em. Prominently featured on television shows like Desperate Housewives and Celebrity Poker, the game that interweaves skill and luck is played by young, old, men, and women alike.
“Poker is casual to me. I am a mother of three boys, I work full-time, and go to PJC; poker is what I do for social time with my friends and husband,” Moulton said.
Even PJC President Tom Delaino professes poker as a hobby.
“What I find so interesting is how complex the game is, and how clearly it’s a game of luck that is also game of skill,” Delaino said. “The only place in the casino where there is a competition where you actually have a statistical opportunity to win is in the poker room, and I enjoy that.”
PJC business major Jake Kniffen plays Texas Hold ’em occasionally, but unlike Delaino finds it to be “more about luck than skill.” Kniffen’s luck has proven to be good; he won $120 in one game alone.
But beware, Floridians. Florida law states playing poker for money in an unauthorized cardroom (i.e. your house, at PJC, etc.) is classified as a second degree misdemeanor.
Yet in his year and a half of service, PJC police officer Duane Leifer has “never had any issue with students playing poker on campus.”
Bar poker is a live and legal gaming option in the area; it’s usually free and might yield a coveted spot on the World Poker Tour. Even if you don’t make it on tour you can enjoy the monetary fruits of your laborious playing at local bars.
LaRock plays in the 8 p.m. tournament every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Category 5 in Foley, Ala.
“They have about 35-45 people playing,” LaRock said. “The winner gets $250, and it’s free to enter.”
However, you don’t have to leave home to play poker. Online searches return hundreds of websites that offer all varieties of poker to hone your skills.
“[Playing online is] one way of practicing your hobby,” said Delaino. “I do play online, but I don’t put any money online and I don’t take any money offline.”
No matter where you play it, a game of Texas Hold ’em is sure to captivate, challenge, and entertain everyone involved. Be sure to check out upcoming issues for more on Hold ’em, including basic rules and strategies, quotes from the pros, and an in-depth look at a local charity tournament.
Have a poker story you’d like to share? Email it to corsair-mel@myway.com.