Sunrise or Sunset

Poker players never get old. Or do they?

Oklahoma Johnny Hale, who created the Senior World Series of Poker, once told me that poker was one of the few activities a person could get involved in regardless of age.

He pointed out that people who play tennis or golf can go on for a long time. But when the physical stamina abandons the body and the legs give out, a person has to choose another avocation. Not so with poker, Johnny said.

He took the position that people could play poker all the days of their lives. He believed their experience and skills could match younger players who have energy but lack the knowledge the older player has. And Oklahoma Johnny backed his beliefs by creating a world series of tournaments for players over the age of 50 which he called the Senior World Series of Poker.

I helped my old friend Johnny publicize his dream by writing articles on his tournaments for seniors in various magazines. At the same time, he got me to thinking about whether his statements were true.

When Johnny and I met, I was probably in my 30s and thought I'd stay young forever. That's part of the foolishness and fantasy of being young.

I watched venerable Johnny Moss, Benny Binion's good friend, as he aged. His game didn't seem to suffer. Night after night, he would show up at the Horseshoe with his wife Virgie. She would sit next to him with her hand on his arm as he played. It seemed like that old Texan was indestructible and he gave back as much fire as he took from the opposing players.

The years passed. Johnny Moss kept coming to the games, but he wouldn't stay as long at the sessions. But Virgie was always there at his side and Johnny kept playing.

Like many of the older poker players, Moss stayed at his game until he became part off the old rock, as western author J. Frank Dobie describe the passage into spirit. His skills remained with him until the end.

I recently wrote an article on Doyle Brunson at 82. People claim Doyle isn't the same player he was in his 30s and 40s, which is probably true. But Brunson can still pull off a move or two against these younger players who are equipped with youth, energy and the money to back them in a major cash game or tournament.

On a personal level, I had a pretty good winning streak going when I played poker in the 1970s and 1980s in California, Nevada and Atlantic City. I felt pretty invincible and was as stubborn as they come when matching wits at poker or blackjack. If stubbornness was the key to winning, I thought, I would make it pay offf.

I have to tip my Stetson to Oklahoma Johnny. He pretty much knows what he is talking about. Poker, blackjack and other card games are for people of all ages.

When I walk into a poker room, I smile at the faces of players I have known over the years. Some have scaled back their games from no limit to limit. Some have switched over exclusively to tournaments. But they are still playing and probably will continue until they get the nudge that tells them it's time to take a rest.

Doyle Brunson pretty well summed up his feelings about poker. For years he had thought poker was a game of choice and not an addiction. But when he experienced some physical problems and had to give up playing for a short period of time, he actually felt withdrawal systems.

I've never gone through those symptoms myself and hope I never do. I'll just stick with Oklahoma Johnny's philosophy and will keep playing . What else is a veteran poker player supposed to do? Let the games begin.

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 ).