POKER FACED

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JANET HAMOUS
No one is too sure just what started the poker craze sweeping the country, but two Marion County establishments are capitalizing on the game’s popularity by offering regular poker nights.

“When we first began, we called 20 people we thought would be interested, and we capped it at that for that one night,” said Darla Gore, owner of the Junction Saloon in Florence. “Since then, it’s just gone wild. It’s been a huge success.”

Play begins at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, and beginning March 19 the Junction Saloon will also be offering Saturday afternoon poker at 1 p.m., Gore said.

The game has proven to be a great success at the Coneburg Inn in Peabody too, where Saturday is poker night.

“It’s drawn in people that I’ve never seen in here,” said Coneburg owner Carolyn Anderson. “We’re really packed now on Saturday nights.”

She said the game has attracted people to Peabody from other parts of the county and beyond.

“I’ll look over there and I won’t see familiar faces,” she said.

The play

The game is called Texas Hold ‘Em poker. Players try to make the best five-card hand from cards in their hands and community cards on the board.

Each player is dealt two cards, and there are five community cards in the middle of the table. Several rounds of betting occur as cards are dealt from the 52-card deck.

Anderson said her son Tom oversees the poker games.

“He gives them so many chips, and each person starts out with the same amount to bet on,” she said.

Players take turns dealing, Anderson said.

“As you lose your money, you drop out,” she said. “Pretty soon it’s just down to two or three people, then down to two people.”

Anderson said most people think of poker as a game where you gamble with money.

“It’s against the law in Kansas to gamble with money,” she said. “We cannot charge the player. It cannot cost them anything to play the game except what they eat or drink.”

Prizes

Gift certificates are awarded to game winners at both the Coneburg Inn and the Junction Saloon.

“If we have 12 players, we give out one prize of a $40 gift certificate to the Coneburg,” Anderson said.

“The player can use it to pay his tab for that night, or he can just buy a Coke and we’ll give him the change,” Anderson said. “Or he can use it some other time when he comes in and wants to bring his spouse to eat.”

Anderson said the game is usually over by 9:30 p.m., but sometimes players will get up a second game.

“If they do that, we will give the winner a gift certificate for maybe $10 or $15,” she said. “And then after that, some just stay and play for fun.”

The players

Anderson said the number of players varies from week to week.

“I think the least we’ve had is 12,” she said. “One night we had 18.”

No reservations are necessary, but players must register before play begins at 7 p.m.

“They come in and sign up so we have an idea of how many people are going to play so we can set up the tables,” Anderson said. “We usually try to set up about eight per table.”

Contrary to what some people think, poker players are not all cigar-smoking men.

“I’m kind of surprised at who comes to play,” she said. “I’ve got two women from Marion who come every week, and they’re probably late 60s or early 70s.”

Mike Shaw of Peabody plays at the Coneburg almost every Saturday night.

“There’s a large age group there from 21 to 65 and with a mix of men and women,” he said.

Shaw said new players are always welcome, even if they are just learning the game.

“Some of the players are quite knowledgeable of the game, and everyone’s quite willing to help you learn,” he said.

Anderson said people seem to enjoy the challenge and camaraderie of the game, and she has had no problems with rowdy or un-sportsmanlike behavior.

“They play for fun here,” she said.

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