Northern California is a great place to play poker.
Some years ago I lived in Rohnert Park, a bedroom community just a few miles north of San Francisco and a short distance from the arts community of Mill Valley. I lived in the heart of California's grape country and my apartment was within two miles of George Lucas's ranch. Being a fan of 'Star Wars,' 'Return of the Jedi' and 'Indiana Jones,' I was thrilled to be in the proximity of the man who has created those films.
I had accepted a position as editor of a newsletter published by Crittenden News Services. While the job didn't thrill me, the pay was good. I joined a small church and we went on monthly hayrides past the Lucas ranch. While I kept my eyes open for the bearded, brooding director, I never saw him. Darn.
There were half a dozen card rooms within 20 miles of where I lived. One of my fellow editors knew I was a poker fan and he suggested I try out a place called the Roaring 20s in nearby Santa Rosa.
'I've been there,' he said. 'They have good food, good games and it's a fun place to play.' That was enough for me. The following Friday night, I entered the Roaring 20s and plunked down my money for a buy-in. The architecture reminded me of a Barbary Coast pirates den. The dealers had curling mustaches and wore garters on their arms.
The owner was a hard-drinking Irishman named Art who played poker against his customers. He was friendly, colorful and a lousy poker player. We became instant friends.
The cocktail waitress was an attractive blond named Kitty. She wore a revealing outfit with lace stockings and reminded me of Amanda Blake of 'Gunsmoke' fame. Both she and her boss were impressed that I had covered the Charles Manson Family murders and the trial and they plied me with questions about it.
The main games at the card room were five-card draw and five card low-ball with a joker. I liked the games and did well at them. Most of the players were more interested in drinking than playing poker and that made them fairly easy to beat.
Kitty enjoyed drinking with her customers and we often bought her drinks. She enjoyed being a flirt and would kid with her customers. She asked me if I was married. I told her I was but didn't know how much longer my wife would tolerate me.
Kitty nodded. 'I know what you're talking about. My ex-husband was that way. A good guy til he started drinking and then Katy bar the door.'
'Not Katy,' I corrected her. 'Kitty.'
She laughed. 'Whatever.'
That night the card room sponsored a lowball poker tournament. The buy-in was $55 with unlimited re-buys of $30 for the first hour. I paid my entry fee and by 7 p.m. all five tables were filled. Kitty served me a drink and whispered in my ear, ''If you win, let's go on a cruise. I've always wanted to lie naked on a beach in the South Seas.'
I grinned and replied, 'What about my wife?'
'She can serve us the drinks.'
She laughed and walked provocatively away.
There were plenty of re-buys and by 11 p.m. the prize pool totaled more than $11,000. The cards started coming to me right from the start and I made the final table. I came in third and won about $1,800.
As I collected my winnings, Kitty came by.
'I guess this means no cruise,' she said.
'I guess not.I'm still married.'
She hugged me. 'Things change,' she said. 'Congratulations.'
I headed out the door and wandered off into the cool California night.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
