I was on a break from blackjack class and walked over to the poker table where Melissa was dealing hold ‘em. “May I play a hand?” I asked. Of course the answer was yes. Additional players at a practice table are always welcome at the dealer school.
I took a seat behind a stack of chips. John, another student, and Dave, the instructor were at the table. I decided to initiate a little conversation. “I’m sort of new to this game. I may need a little help here.”
“Okay,” Dave replied, apparently not pleased that he was going to have to educate me.
I pulled a deuce – five in the pocket and called a three-dollar blind. “Does two pair beat three of a kind?” I asked.
Dave’s response was a rather curt, “No!” John’s reply was pretty much the same, but in a helpful tone of voice.
“I always get mixed up about that one,” I said.
The flop was ace, three and four. I was sitting on a straight. I threw a single into the pot and was informed that the minimum bet was three. Dave told Melissa that she would come up against a lot of tourists who didn’t understand the game and that this was good experience for her.
The turn and the river were both jacks. “Wow, a pair of jacks! Can I take a pass on betting?” I asked.
Dave threw down six bucks. I figured he was sitting on two pair or maybe a three of a kind. John folded. I bumped the bet another six and Dave called the check raise.
“Straight to the five,” I announced, turning over my hole cards.
A moment of frozen silence followed. Dave blinked once as he replayed the game and the chat in his mind. The expression on his face was one of confusion and disbelief, as though he had just come to the realization that his birth was the result of a space alien abduction.
“Hey thanks, guys. I have to get back to the blackjack table. I’ll check in with you later.” I didn’t bother to collect the chips.
