Dangerous Women

Her name was Lisa and she was a dangerous player.

We were playing pot limit Omaha High-Low at BestBet Casino in Jacksonville, FL. For those not familiar with it, pot limit is a dangerous game that can become very costly to the uninitiated.

I like the game because I enjoy the challenges of Omaha High-Low. To me the game is much easier on the emotions than Texas Hold'em, where your fortunes lie in just two cards. Hold'em is a much riskier game than Omaha High-Low and you can use a lot more strategy in the high-low game.

Lisa was an attractive woman in her 20s, a native of Jacksonville. She was a good player, deceptive and dangerous. She wasn't afraid to risk her money on a bluff and she was unpredictable.

I asked her how many brothers she had. I have this theory that women who play poker have a lot of brothers.

'None,' said Lisa, raising the pot. 'I have a sister.'

Dangerous women have been a part of the world of poker since Big Nose Kate. They have generally played their cards and the guys well while trying to build up their bankroll. Lisa was no exception.

When I first started playing poker in the late 1960s, there were few women who sat down at the tables. Most of them were intimidated by the men and preferred to watch their husbands, boy friends, and brothers from the sidelines.

Of course the past 20 years have changed all that. Today there are nearly as many female players as there are men. They don't take a bad seat to anybody when it comes to making a bet, a raise, or a fold.

I have beat Lisa on a few hands and have lost to her when she drew out on me. Whether I win or lose, I have respect for her. She is one of the dangerous women of poker and it doesn't get much better than that.

The Orleans is one of my favorite casinos in Las Vegas. It's located just off the Strip and features an Omaha High-Low that can get pretty wild with its raises and re-raises.

About six months ago I spent a week in Las Vegas. I had one incredible night at The Orleans when I won a passel of money at Omaha High-Low. The following day, I tried my luck again and failed miserably.

There were two women at the table. One was from Vietnam, the other from Cambodia. They were impossible to intimidate. Whether it was luck or skill or a combination of both, they managed to beat me like a drum. I finally staggered from the table and headed for the swimming pool for a little quiet beneath the Las Vegas sun.

Dangerous women. Bring them on. But don't make them too dangerous. I can't handle that.

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 ).