I’m All In

So, when the five o’clock bell rang I was ready to drive with a full head of steam down the nearest watering hole. I ended up at a splendid establishment called First Street Bar & Grill. Thinking I could unwind with a pint of beer tucked in my hand and a relaxing game of Hold’em, I sat calmly on my stool and awaited the peace and tranquility of the night to transform my mood from negativity to enlightenment.

Then, the madness set in. Some yahoos decided that they would go “All In” before the flop on every hand of Hold’em.

Seven, two offsuit… All In. Jack, four of hearts… All In. Pocket Aces… All In.

The cards didn’t matter. These guys were like monkeys who were taught to press the button and get a result. The object of the result… my rage. “Hey, look, we’re getting a reaction from that guy. If we keep doing it, we’ll keep getting a reaction.”

But, my cooler head prevailed. I decided that it wasn’t worth getting angry about. After all, I was there for fun and relaxation. So, I sipped my beer and kept folding hand after hand. I lost a few blinds, but I wasn’t going to get sucked into the “All In” game these guys were playing.

I was just about to order my second beer when it happened: I got pocket aces. “Brilliant!” I thought. “Now it’s time for payback.”

Like clockwork, these two guys went All In before the flop, and this time I obliged them with a call. I ended up winning the hand and tripling up. Ah… sweet justice.

You see, poker is a game of skill and luck. However, it is also a game of patience. Get all your money in the pot with the best hand. That is all you can ask for… and then let the chips fall where they may. All good things to those who wait.

As the night progressed, I fleeced these two players for all their chips. Their silly “All In” game was a fool’s errand (assuming they even cared at all). But, it felt good to be the chip leader at the end of the night. I had finally turned my day around… good feeling at the end of a bad day can go a long way.

Of course, all good things must come to an end. When I got my bill, I realized I’d been buying some $10 micro-brew from Portland, I’m still getting screwed by my boss, and to top it off… the Lakers lost.

I decided to sleep on it. It always looks better in the morning.

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