Prime Directive of Poker

If you know of Will Wheaton at all, you probably remember him as the perpetually annoying Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The New Generation.

Well, he also has his own blog, which is rather well written. I particularly enjoyed his story about playing in an illegal poker tournament.

I look at my stack: I have about 2200, I guess. Mrs. Beautiful is stacked . . . and is also the chip leader with over 4000. Mr. Director has about 1000 less than she does. He reaches into his jacket, and takes out a Camel cigarette.

"You can't smoke in here, sir," the dealer says.
"What?" Mr. Director says.
"It's against the law." The dealer says.
"We're in an illegal cardroom, and you're worried about me smoking?"
"Sorry." The dealer says. "House rules."

For a moment, I think Mr. Director is going to punch him, but he laughs. "Fucking California," he says. We all laugh as he puts the cigarette behind his ear.

Lying in Odessa, Part One
Lying in Odessa, Part Two
Lying in Odessa, Part Three
Lying in Odessa, Part Four