Dealer's Choice

Every poker player has his favorite game. When that game is not being spread, he must play another game that is not his first choice.

One of the best poker games I ever played in was the American Legion game at Post No. 1 in Phoenix, AZ. The post is located near the intersection of Van Buren Street and 7th Avenue and I understand the game is still ongoing despite the casinos surrounding the Valley of the Sun.

Carl Collins, who worked for Salt River Project, was in charge of the game. The players were all military veterans who were members of the Post. The game was Dealer's Choice.

The deal spread around the table and when it was your deal, you could deal any game you wanted. Favorites included seven-card stud, six-card stud, five-card stud, five-card draw with the joker, and later Texas Hold-em.

All of the players had their favorite games that they believed were their strongest. One of the players was Western. We gave him that nickname because he was a slim, rangy cowboy with a mustache and leather boots and he was always reading a western novel between hands.

There were no chips. We played with cash money.

Several members of the Phoenix Police Department were Post members and played regularly in the game, so we never worried about being raided.

I haven't played at the Post in years. My favorite casinos in the Phoenix area are Talking Stick near Scottsdale and Wild Horse Pass just outside Chandler.

If any poker room managers are members of this website, I have a suggestion: why not introduce a Dealer's Choice game in your casino? You might be surprised at the turnout.

You would have to train your dealers but that shouldn't be very hard. You could limit the games to three or four of the most popular ones and move the button around the table, allowing the person behind the button to choose the game.

Right now, Talking Stick does spread a mixed game of Omaha High-Low and seven-card stud high-low. It's a very popular limit game and there is usually a list of players waiting for a seat.

Poker is a game of skill and challenge. Tastes are always changing and I think players would welcome the addition of new games of choice. After all, poker is not just about money.

I plan to return to Phoenix in the next month or two and will resume playing at the casinos in the Valley of the Sun. I also want to visit Las Vegas and see how Glitter Gulch has changed since the legalization of marijuana. There should be some high times in Vegas.

If you are a poker room manager, a poker dealer, or just a poker player, I welcome your thoughts on this idea. Just send an email to this website or send it to my personal email.

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 ).