It’s funny that it took this long. But for a variety of reasons, it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that my husband and I played in our first poker tournament. We go to Vegas pretty frequently and have been invited to join in poker tournaments down there now and then, but have always found the prospect just too intimidating. After all, we never even play casually at home (for whatever reason our game-playing crowd doesn’t include many poker players….). Sitting down to a poker table in Vegas without knowing the ropes could be pretty distressing. (I did, however, accept an invitation to play in a blackjack tournament at the Rio once. Didn’t go too badly! I had top chip count at my table halfway through the first round, but busted out before the second round.)

But my husband in particular has a pretty strong affinity for poker. He’s got a wonderfully analytical mind and has been casually studying the rhythm of play, pro habits and percentages while watching World Series of Poker and other poker programs on TV. He’s quiet and thoughtful and just mysterious enough to not let on to players what he’s got up his sleeves (so to speak).

Bob, Dick Stein, me, the lovely Paige Hansen

Bob, Dick Stein, me, the lovely Paige Hansen

So in early February when I got the email reminder of the upcoming KPLU poker tournament, I followed a whim and got us a couple of seats. The “buy-in” for the tournament was a donation to the station, the tournament the dreamchild of KPLU jazz host Dick Stein, himself an avid and serious poker player during his off-air time. This was the third year of the tournament, with about 70 players signed up. Stein and a couple of his KPLU cohorts–Kevin Kniestedt and Paige Hansen–played along, and all three had “bounties” on their heads. The player who busted them out of the tournament earned a T-shirt: “I busted out Dick Stein.” I had a bounty, too, the player at my table to bust me out got a copy of my new Gourmet Game Night cookbook!

The tournament was held in the busy poker room of Muckleshoot Casino down in Auburn, with their professional dealers and all the trappings of pro play. So it was kind of best-of-both-worlds. A little taste of a real-world poker tournament experience, but with an easy-going public radio crowd for challengers. I had a great time, and like that blackjack tournament in Vegas, was just thrilled to not embarrass myself with terrible play. I made it nearly to the halfway point, about the 30th player to bust out. Got those dreaded pocket aces, with a short stack of chips. Nothing to do but go all in. And just to prove that being dealt two of the top cards in the deck is no guarantee of a winning hand, my tablemate drew three kings. Bye-bye Cynthia!

I had a great time following the rest of the players, particularly seeing my husband doing so well. Can’t say how proud I am that he kept at it so well over those four-plus hours of play. And busting with pride that he won the whole tournament!!! Santa Barbara, here we come. The prize included tickets on Amtrak Coast Starlight and a couple nights down there. Can’t wait.

What’s next for Bob? He always laughs when people ask. No big plans to make weekly trips to Muckleshoot or hone his game for the circuit. But I think we’d both enjoy working a little more poker into our game routine here at home. And maybe one of these days we’ll actually sit down to one of those tables in Vegas.