He was young. He was sweet faced. He was a virgin.
“It’s my first time,” he whispered in my ear.
His moves were tentative and unsure, but I was impressed his hands didn’t shake. Recognizing his inexperience, I suppose I eased up on him a bit. I wanted him to enjoy his time, to linger for a while.
Alas, it wasn’t to be. Predictably, he was finished too soon. When he departed, he gave me a shy smile, shook my hand and bid me farewell. As he walked away I said “Don’t give up.”
The young lad’s casino cherry had been thoroughly popped.
My first time was in New Mexico. This was pre-poker times in Oklahoma. For a period of time, my annual vacation was spent in New Mexico – my favorite area up around Taos. The last time I visited was three years ago with friends whom I’d finally convinced to head west instead of east for their annual trek.
Just outside of Taos is the Taos Pueblo. At it’s entrance is a small casino filled with slots and a few black-jack tables. At the time of this last visit, I’d hoped it had a poker room, but it didn’t. I spent a short time with one of my friends at the poker slots, but I quickly got bored as the slot quickly claimed my quarters. My friend though, did much better that I.
At the end of the trip, my friends left Taos for Oklahoma. I followed but decided on an extra day in Santa Fe. My destination was the Cities of Gold casino just north of town. I was nervous and out-of-place but I persevered. Here’s how my first casino win went down, as I recounted at the time. The game was 2-6 limit:
At last, my chance to step up to the plate came. The deal went round and
I looked down to find my girls smiling up at me – a pair of queens (Pauly, you have your girls, I have mine… ). I have no idea what position I was in, but when it was time to bet, I believe I came in for $4. I was called by a few folks. The flop brought a jack and 2 blanks – the girls were purring. I do not remember all the specifics of the action, but I do know that I bet another $4 when it was my turn.
Young WPT Gun #2 – Jesse, gave me his best “I’m looking into your soul” stare. Honestly, when I looked up at him and saw that, I almost burst out with a fit of giggles. He raised me, everyone else folded, and I called. Now I would like to say that the betting went smoothly -
Me: (pre-flop) Raise – four
YG #1: Call
Me: (flop) Four
YG#1: (long piercing stare) Raise …. six
Me: CallBut, in actuality it went more like this -
Me: (pre-flop) Raise – (counts out chips..oops, short one) four?
YG #1: Call
Me: (flop) (reaches for chips, knocks over a stack, puts out three) Four (dealer points out one is missing…ooops)
YG#1: (long piercing stare) Raise …. six
Me: (thinking ‘he’s got gorgeous brown eyes’) Call..(now is it six to me for ten or two to make it six… dealer helps count out the chips)The turn and the river were a blank. Literally. I don’t remember them except that they were both under cards. Jesse raised me again on both and I called. He flipped over a jack and a low card for a pair of jacks and I flipped over the queens. The pot was mine!
I hung on for quite a while before I was hammered by an old fart in the nine seat. It was good for him but not for me, I can tell you that. I left the table with four dollars, but with more confidence than with which I arrived.
My cherry was popped and I wanted more.