Thursday, December 28, 2006

I'll Stick To Online

A short time after I started blogging I started getting emails from organizations that offer live poker tournaments here in Pittsburgh. This was before the cops cracked down on a a lot of the charity events that were so profitable, but even after that brief application of heat I'd still get emails about local poker action. I never went to any of them, mostly because I really didn't have the bankroll for it.

But also because, well, there was a chance that local law enforcement might get involved. I mean, if they're sending out mass emails telling folks when and where the game is, it seemed likely that eventually that info would find it's way to John Law.

There was another reason I wasn't all too keen to play in these games--if they're sending out these mass emails some enterprising hoods might decide that instead of taking down a bank, a poker game would be a much more inviting target. And as many of these advertised games were in restaurants and VFWs I didn't think their security would be especially robust.

Turns out I was right to be a little bit chicken.

I don't think this is one of the games I received info on, and as Wilkins Township is out of my way I wouldn't have gone there in any case. Doesn't sound like they're recreating the Bellagio out there--20K was taken from 50 guys--but that's a pretty nice score for a trio of thugs.

One place that emails me I always thought had to be a sting operation or something. They have $1,000 buy-in tournaments, $1,000 buy-in NL games, a bad-beat jackpot approaching $20K...in Pittsburgh? And you're advertising this through a mass email? I dunno, I think I'll pass on that one. I wouldn't know who to worry about more--the cops, the robbers, or the players at the table.

My mom asked me once if I played in any of these underground games. Moms worry, you know. So I reassured her by saying, "No, I don't. And if I decided that I was going to play, I'd definitely go out and buy a gun first." Funny, that didn't make her feel much better.

posted by Gene @ 10:53 AM   |