POKER

I just wrapped up training for poker dealing class. Sunday is my first night in the box (the dealer's seat). It's a big promotion from working in the cash cage. Dealing poker will mean more responsibility, a greater requirement of skill, quick arithmetic, and more money. It feels like a big step... and one that has been a long time coming.

It's funny how life works out. I grew up with a father who loved to gamble. It made for some good times and some dark times but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a core part of my childhood and early adulthood. He taught me the game when I was 6 years old.  I remember the case of chips — the white, red, green, and black stacks — and how mysterious and exciting it felt to learn what all of it meant. It was a world with its own language and its own rules.

Years went by of us playing for fun, heads-up, in his apartment. He was living on the top floor of an apartment complex when we deviated form our usual poker tournament for a few dollars and both decided to buy in for $50 in a heads-up cash game. It was the realest poker had ever gotten, and for me at 11, this was super high stakes. After a 60 minute battle, he won my $50 and I was left with nothing. He went to bed and all I could think about was how I earned it and how I lost it so quickly (this feeling would be prevalent later in life and why I largely stopped gambling and decided to make a career out of it). After he went to bed, my 11-year-old face was beat red and angry. I've always hated losing. As I stood outside getting fresh air, I looked out over the balcony into the parking lot, and I thought about jumping. Dramatic? Of course. But that $50 was painful!

... Thank God I didn't jump!

Eventually when my little brother was born, we included him in the games. He never folded and lost 99% of the time, but we enjoyed the bonding poker brought to us 3. We would play for small sums, but the bragging rights meant more than the dollars. One time, my devious little brother who was probably 4 or 5 years old at the time bought a shock pen. When he brought it over on the next Wednesday, we were all together, we determined that the first person to be eliminated would have to endure the shock of the powerful pen. It's hilarious looking back on it. And it all came from poker.

We went out to Vegas for my 21st birthday along with one of my best friends who was a few years older than me. I won the first ever tournament I ever played in at the horseshoe casino. It made up for my disastrous start in blackjack, but the thrill of grinding out a 4-hour tournament and defeating Vegas regulars felt incredible. I played so many hands as a kid that once I turned 21, I was as seasoned as veteran poker players. Many nights went by when I was younger just playing poker for free on my laptop. Winning was a thrill and losing was infuriating. Now it’s coming full circle. In a few days, I’ll be sitting on the other side of the table for the first time, running the game, controlling the pace, calling the action.

I'll update how it goes throughout and all the fun, crazy, and informative lessons I get out of it. I'm hoping this will be a building block for me and my career. If I had a board of directors, I think they'd unanimously vote in favor of this move. Wish me luck!