Carl's Game

Carl Collins was a robust, hard-drinking ex-Marine who ran one of the best poker games in Phoenix, AZ.

He belonged to American Legion Post No. One near the corner of 7th Avenue and Van Buren. I met him in 1976 when I joined the editorial staff of the Phoenix Gazette, an afternoon daily newspaper.

I decided to become a member of the post and while I was signing up, the Post Commander asked me if I played poker. I told him I did and he smiled.

'We have a great game in the back room,' he said. 'It's a cash game and the members play four nights a week. You might want to look into it.'

That was all the encouragement I needed. The following Tuesday I headed for the Legion Post and walked into the back room. Several players had already arrived and Carl was arranging the green felt table for the game.

'Welcome to my den of iniquity,' Carl said, smiling. He extended his hand and crushed mine in a powerful grip.

All the players were men. I quickly learned Carl's policy was no women. For the first three months of my membership, the only woman permitted in the poker room was a cocktail waitress.

We played dealer's choice. Texas Hold'em was not yet popular and the games were seven card stud, seven card stud high-low, five card stud, baseball, five card draw and five card draw deuces wild.

One of the players was a dead ringer for Doc Holiday. His name was Western and he was always reading a western novel between hands. He had a sallow complexion and a thin black mustache and he was a fun guy to play against.

Carl's favorite game was five card stud which he nicknamed 'Huckley Buck'.

The games were held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The first three nights the games started at 7 p.m. and lasted until around 1 a.m. while the Saturday game started at noon. You had to arrive early or the seats would be full.

Although Carl, who worked as a lineman for the Salt River Project power company, was dead set against women playing in the game, he relented when two female members of the post persuaded him to let them play. They became regulars in our game and turned out to be good players.

We used cash instead of chips and the table was often piled high with dollar bills, fives and $20s.

After eight years on the Gazette, I resigned to return to my hometown of Sutersville, Pa. I played a final game at the Legion Post and Carl, Western and the others shook my hand and wished me a safe journey back to Pennsylvania.

Western tucked his Zane Grey novel into his back pocket winked and said, 'Stay lucky.'

Carl is gone now but I understand the game continues at the Post. I haven't been there since I returned to Phoenix but I may drop by, just for old time's sake.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).