High stakes
Poker as could only be imagined or seen in a movie

M & M
November 27, 2005
iranian.com

Discalimer before reading this article: All kinds of gambling, specially poker, can potentially ruin one's life if it becomes more than just a infrequently indulged-in fun activity.

Last Friday I recieved a call from a friend who invited me to a high stakes poker "home game" in Encino, southern California. We both drove to an office building on West Wilshire and stood in front waiting for our "limo" ride. After a few minutes, a 2004 long wheel based Maybach (the $350,000 Benz) stopped and a very attractive young woman invited us to get in. We got in the car and very shortly she asked us to put on blind folds!! I started getting a bit worried. My heart rate was definitely over 100.

I was thinking what the heck was up. I had never ever gotten in a stranger's car and then got blind folded. The young lady explained that to protect the sponser of the home game they had to make sure no one could find out about the whereabouts of the home. She also asked us to turn off our cell phones.

After a 40 minute drive, we drove into the 1/8 mile long drive way of a very large mansion. Once we arrived inside the home with the help of the young lady and still blind folded, we got permission to take off the blind folds. A huge security guard paded us down to make sure we were not bugged or were carrying a gun or who knows what else.

WOW! What a house. The enrty alone must have been over 3,000 square feet of wood inlaid marble with a 30 foot ceiling. The furniture alone in the entry way was worth more than the entire furniture in my home.

Besided my friend and I, there were 14 other people in the house. Interestingly enough, 4 other Iranians were there. Six out of the 14 high stakes poker players were Iranians and one was a very classy 40-something lady.

One of the players was a 6'8" African American basketball player whom I didn't know but must have been famous because he was signing authographs for some of the guests.

Each player gave their first $25,000 to the "floor man" and the group was divided in 2; eight players to each table. We were told that markers were available up to $100,000 with a 2% fee. That is, 2% interest per week or 104% a year. This is how you can ruin your life mind you.

Anyhow, we started playing. My friend's first $25,000 lasted around 40 minutes. He asked for a $25,000 marker and started playing. I lasted about 1.5 hours after losing my pocket kings to pocket queens when a 3rd queen showed up on the turn.

After a debate between the devil and the common sense angle in my head, I also got a $25K marker. I was told that the marker was due in full by 2pm the next day or I had to make the first payment of $5,000 the next day, realizing that the interest clock started running the minute my hands touched the chips.

I played a few more hands and by 11pm I had $9,500 left. Holly crap. What the hell have I gotten myself into. How could I explain this to my wife. I was already thinking about divorce lawyers and how life in a 1 bedroom condo would be like.

As I was dealing with the guilt and all other emotions in my head, I got 2 aces on my small blind; I bet $1,500. The Iranian lady at our table raised to $5,000. Two players called her until the player at the dealer position raised to $10,000. Without hesitation I went all in, $500 short of a full bet.

There is now $49,500 in the pot. God, can I win this hand... please... please.

The next two cards resulted in another $70,000 of betting. The guy at the dealer position at pocket 10s. The flop, turn and the river were all junk cards. No one made a hand except that guy and I. $70,000 or so was pushed to him and $49,500 was pushed to me. WOW!! What a relief. Thank you God. Thank you.

I told everyone that I was out. Paid my $1,050 for playing 6.5 hours and most importantly paid off my marker. Over all, I lost around $1,600 and had an experience of a life time. But an experience which I wouldn't want to repeat, no matter how much movie like it was.