Amigo Lay Them Raises Down

I have a poker night tonight. This guy who I’ve never met before, but whose wife is friends with my wife, has a monthly Texas Hold ‘Em game that tonight doubles as the guy’s birthday party.

I play Texas Hold ‘Em on Yahoo, so I’m familiar with the basics. But it’s been a long time since I’ve played cards face-to-face with real people. Thinking about this has brought back one particularly embarrassing memory of my college days. Seems I was playing poker with some guys and drinking rum—but drinking more rum than playing poker—and fell asleep (I think maybe they call it passing out) at the table. I just remember intermittently coming to and needing to make a play, but not really knowing what was going on. Oh, if only I had discovered Tennessee whiskey (a dear friend) before I discovered rum (the devil), just think of how much better all those intervening years would have been.

Tonight’s celebration is BYOB, and I may have a flask of Jack with me. But I will not be consulting with him until late in the game, or after I’ve lost all my chips. I don’t want to relive that memory of “Dude, its your turn. Dude. Dude!”

I was looking on YouTube to see if there are any quintessential songs about Texas Hold ‘Em like “Mr. Gold and Mr. Mudd” is for five card stud. Most of what I found was rap music, so yeah, I’m going to have to write that quintessential Texas Hold ‘Em song, aren’t I?

Here is Justin Townes Earle, singing that Townes Van Zandt classic. Shuffle up and deal!