Going Back to Poker

2 January 2025

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: Hold onto your seats. I’m thinking of trying poker again.

ABBY: Are you kidding? Your last go at poker, oh so many decades ago, was not too pleasant as I recall.

CINDY: It wasn’t the actual game. It was many of the other poker players that did me in. At least I think that was the case.

ABBY: You couldn’t stand them.

CINDY: True. I allowed my dislike of poker players – well, some poker players, not all – to make me quit the game. They beat me without actually having to beat me. I lost because of me and not them. I left the game because of them.

ABBY: And why do you think this time will be different? I don’t think the average poker player has changed that much. What was irritating back then will still be irritating now.

CINDY: There were so many irritating factors I guess. I used to hate it when players played with their chip stacks; making the chips click against each other. That was really annoying. There always seemed to be one, or even more, players doing that. With each click, click, click, I’d find myself getting angry. I would lose my concentration with each click, click, click. I’d actually make mistakes in my play.

ABBY: That was your mistake; not the other players.

CINDY: I know that because when I play blackjack, it is rare that another player really irritates me – except for the ones who try to tell you how they think you should play your hands. I actually don’t care how other players play their hands. Other than that, I am fine with blackjack. Even if players click their chips.

ABBY: What else annoyed you?

CINDY: Some poker players feel they have to have exaggerated personalities; as if they are on stage and entertaining the rest of us. Most of these “entertainers” were not entertaining or funny. They were overbearing and dull. Those players irritated me no end. “Shut up and play your cards!” I’d think. Of course, I never said that out loud.

ABBY: What about those players who’d get on you; say disparaging things to you? Those players bothered me when I played poker. Basically, they were the only players that bothered me.

CINDY: Yup! They bothered me when they’d tease me about the calls I was making.

ABBY: Did you dislike men or women more at the poker table?

CINDY: About equal. More women seemed to put on more acts – maybe. But they didn’t bother me so much as the men acting their acts so to speak.

ABBY: Okay, so you are going back to play, yes?

CINDY: Maybe yes. Also, maybe no.

ABBY: You’re a good decision maker that’s for sure.

CINDY: Maybe.