Poker fans must feel like
they have been dealt a royal flush lately, thanks to the
increased popularity of the game, specifically Texas
HoldEm.
If you're a card shark, or a newbie looking to try your
hand at Texas HoldEm, there are two tournaments you
might want to shuffle into.
Mojo's, 206 N. Howard St., Indianola, will hold a Texas
HoldEm tournament with sign-in starting at 11 a.m.
Sunday. A portion of the $30 buy-in will benefit the
Humane Society, with the top three finishers splitting
the rest of the pot. Gaming starts at noon and food is
provided for players.
"A lot of patrons have been
wanting me to put on a tournament," said co-owner Aaron
Kennedy. "I've done a few benefits, so I decided to tie
this into one. It helps give it a purpose."
Call 961-0081.
If you need a regular fix, Autographs, 100th Street and
Douglas Avenue, Urbandale, hosts a weekly Iowa Poker
Championship Texas HoldEm practice tournament that
starts at 6 p.m. Wednesdays.
Owner J. Michael McKoy doesn't consider himself a fan of
gambling, and before February, he had never watched
poker on TV. He has quickly become a fan of Texas HoldEm.
"It is a game of skill, not chance," McCoy said. "You
have to be smart and pay attention. It only takes a few
minutes to learn. I can teach someone in a half-hour,
but because of the way the cards can fall, you never
master the game."
Autographs features four
tables identical to those on the World Series of Poker,
with real chips, dealer buttons and a pit boss.
"I like the camaraderie that develops between eight or
nine people over three hours," McKoy said. "If you want
to meet people, from a dating or social standpoint, it's
ideal because you're not forced into conversation,
you're not on a date. You're at a table, playing,
learning and making friendships."
At Autographs, players compete for the title of "weekly
winner," and no buy-in or cash prizes are involved,
because of thorny legal issues. Instead, the weekly
winner gets interviewed on Lou Sipolt and the Round Guy
on their KGGO radio show, their picture hangs in
Autographs for two weeks, and they are featured in the
bar's weekly advertisement. The winner also qualifies
for the quarterly Iowa Poker Championship, with an
annual competition in January.
Autographs has room for 36
card players each week. To make a reservation, call the
bar on Thursday morning for the following Wednesday.
There is an alternate sheet, in case of no-shows.
