Holiday Treasure

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January 4th, 2019
Back Holiday Treasure

Being broke is never a good thing. It's especially BAD when it happens just before Christmas.

That was my situation in Phoenix, AZ. I had moved my family to the Valley of the Sun expecting to go to work for a new publication. The publisher had promised me a good starting salary with stock options.

The package sounded too good to be true, but I ignored the warnings flashing in my head and took it!

after_paying_for_my_moving

After paying for my moving expenses and renting a U-Haul, I arrived in Phoenix a week before Christmas with less than $400 in my pocket, only to discover the job wasn't ready for me yet. The publisher apologized as he told me the financing had not gone through. He assured me he had another investor on the line and that I could start work soon. How soon, I said, growing more agitated by the minute.

Give me two weeks, he said.

I was stunned. My $400 would not last two weeks.

I made my decision. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

I moved my family into a motel on Van Buren Street where I rented a room for the week -- and drove to Las Vegas.

The city was full of holiday vacationers. The Las Vegas Strip had bumper to bumper traffic slowly moving between the neon-lit venues. I drove to Tropicana Boulevard, turned right and kept driving until I saw the Orleans Casino and Resort on my right. It was 11:30 a.m. when I valet parked my car and walked into the casino.

Maurice, the tournament director, greeted me with a smile, a handshake and a "Merry Christmas." I forced a smile and asked him what he had available.

"You're in luck," he said. "We're about to start a tournament. The buy-in is $150 and it's perfect for you. Want me to sign you up?"

I had to smile. "Maurice, you would make a great used car salesman," I said. "Sign me up."

There is a saying that scared money rarely wins.

What about terrified money? I was about to find out.

The dealer pushed me my stack of chips which totaled $15,000. A total of 60 players had signed up...

...and as a special Christmas bonus, the casino had added $2,000 to the prize pool.

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For the first hour, the cards didn't come. I was playing close to the vest and kept my losses to a minimum.

For nearly two hours, I watched my stack of chips drain away. I finally went ALL IN on pocket queens! A player called me and turned over pocket kings.

"Nice hand," I said, not meaning a word. The board failed to help me, and I rose from the table, feeling numb.

As I walked through the casino, Bucky, one of the floor men, came up to me.

"That was a bummer," he said, referring to the kings. 'We're ready to start a $4-8 Omaha High-Low game. Care to be dealt in?"

I fingered the final $150 in my pocket. I had a full tank of gas in the car, enough to get me back to Phoenix. I shrugged.

"Why not?", I said.

I stopped a cocktail waitress and ordered a glass of Robert Mondavai chardonnay. I considered it a final drink before the execution.

When Rita, the waitress, arrived with my drink I asked her if she was ready for the holidays.

"As ready as a broke cocktail waitress could be," she said, smiling.

I saluted her. "Join the crowd," I said.

She squeezed my shoulder. "Good luck," she said. "I mean that."

After an hour at the table...

...I asked the dealer to wash the cards and added, "Give them a jackpot scramble." He vigorously scrambled the deck, cut it, and dealt me pocket aces.

I slow-played them and six players entered the pot. The flop came ace, ace, queen with two hearts.

Fourth street brought a king of hearts. I came out betting, and an elderly player in seat eight called me. A deuce of clubs came on the river. I was first to bet and came out with a wager.

The silver-haired player in seat eight smiled.

"Sure you want to do that?" he said.

"I'm sure."

"I raise."

i_looked_at_my_quad_aces_and

I looked at my quad aces and re-raised him. He didn't hesitate. He bumped me again. The table came alive. I glanced at a board on the wall. The bad beat jackpot for Omaha High-Low totaled $49,000. I raised him again.

He just grinned. I could feel the excitement at the table.

"Want to go all in?," he said casually.

"That tickles me plumb to death," I said, pushing out my remaining chips.

He turned over a royal heart flush. I flipped over my four aces. The players screamed and the dealer rose in his chair like an exploding missile!

For my part of the bad beat, I collected $22,000. The man with the royal flush picked up $11,000 and each of the remaining players was paid just under $2,000.

Rita hurried to the table carrying a glass of chardonnay. She gasped when she realized what had happened.

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," she said. I slipped her a $100 tip.

"Same to you, darlin'," I said. "Same to you."

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