Like millions of Americans, Dee Booker has watched the wave of poker shows that permeate televisions airwaves, and joked about getting a piece of the action. But she never thought she'd be one win away from playing in the World Series of Poker.
Booker, 70, a Leavenworth resident, won a Texas Hold'Em tournament at a casino in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is now entered in the national finals. If she wins again, she'll be playing against the world's best in Las Vegas.
"I would tell my grandkids, 'hey, watch this on TV. I'll be on there someday,' never dreaming I'd be this close," Booker said of the World Series of Poker.
The fact that Booker won is not as surprising as the fact that it was her first tournament. She has played cards for years, and played seven card stud with her grandchildren, but never tried her hand at Texas Hold'Em. She registered while she was visiting her daughter in Sioux Falls.
"My granddaughter works at a casino," she said. "I registered and was lucky enough to have my name pulled."
Booker played the first night of the tournament, against 40 other competitors. Even though she had just learned the game, she took first place that night.
Texas Hold'Em is similar to other forms of poker, except players share five cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table. Each player holds two of his or her own cards, and uses three of the cards in the center to form a poker hand.
The tournament started out with six tables of players, was whittled down to five, then four, and on down until there was only one table left.
Booker found herself sitting at the final table, and ultimately playing the final hand.
Holding a six and a seven, she was playing against a woman who was holding an ace and king. Having far fewer chips than her opponent, Booker decided to go for broke.
As the last cards were turned up, her opponent had no luck, while Booker landed a pair of 6's, enough to win.
"If I can play it and win, anybody can," Booker said. "There's not a lot of skill to it, it's just plain luck."
If Booker wins the tournament April 23, the casino and sponsors of the tournament will pay her $10,000 entry fee to the World Series of Poker in June. Her airfare, as well as a five night stay in Las Vegas will also be paid for. Winners of the World Series of Poker in the past have won as much as $5.9 million.
If she makes it, she plans to take some customers from VFW Post No. 56, where she works, as a fan base.
Booker hadn't played Texas Hold'Em before the tournament, and hasn't played much since. She said she hasn't been able to find many people to play with in Leavenworth.
Soon, however, the VFW will have a Texas Hold'Em league open to anyone over 21. The game will be played the same as in casinos, but no gambling will be involved.
Booker and her husband, Leo, will be moving to South Dakota soon to be closer to family. But before she goes, she's having a going away party. If she wins she said she might have to come back for a celebratory party in Leavenworth.
Booker said whether she wins or not, she plans to enjoy her upcoming tournament.
And she has her grandkids on her side.
"They said, 'don't be nervous grandma. Just go in there and beat'em like you do us all the time.'"
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - A bill to legalize Texas Hold'em tournaments in Minnesota will get some help from a top professional poker player.
Phil Gordon is co-host of Bravo channel's "Celebrity Poker Showdown," one of the TV shows that's helped popularize Texas Hold'em.
Gordon will join the bill's sponsor, State Sen. Dave Kleis, at a news conference Monday -- and also is expected to testify before a Senate committee that day.
Kleis' bill would allow the poker playing in bars and businesses as long as hosts don't directly profit from the play and players do not gamble with real money.
Last month, a Senate committee endorsed the bill putting Texas Hold'em tournaments in the same class as gin, cribbage and bridge.
It seems The Poker Web is at it again. Today RazzO and Mo Kings from The Poker Web Exclusive have teamed up to give you a look into the lifestyle of the greatest poker legend that ever lived. Yesterday Rio Hotel in Las Vegas hosted Doyle Brunson's book signing event. The people were many who showed up to get the Hottest selling Book on the market out into the hands of poker players. Doyle Brunson's Super System II , a course in power poker, will by far be the hottest selling poker book in 2005. From beginners to old school, many lined up to have Doyle Brunson sign their copy of his latest book to hit the book shelves. As a Poker Web Exclusive, RazzO from RazzO.com got up close and personal to Doyle Brunson and all the famed guests at the event, taking a mountain of pictures that will discover a glimpse into the lifestyle of poker legend Doyle Brunson.
The book signing event was a great success many poker players from all around Vegas made an appearance into the Rio Hotel to witness a poker legend. “The crowds were great, people waited their turn to have Doyle sign their book. It was an exciting event, people walked away with smiles and relished the moment.” said RazzO while making his way through the crowds. So if you love poker and want to keep on learning more check out Doyle Brunson's latest poker book, Super System II .
ESPN's poker drama, "Tilt," debuted in January amidst much controversy and speculation. The show portrays the world of professional poker as a hard-boiled underworld fraught with crime and conspiracy. Already from the beginning, it was clear that the racy new show would make waves, but just how high those waves would climb remained to be seen.
ESPN's track record with original dramas leaves what to be desired. The network's first effort, "Playmakers," did to the world of pro football what it has done to pro poker in "Tilt." After a good deal of griping on the part of NFL players and officials, the show got axed after its first season. The network figured that "Playmakers' " promising ratings weren't reason enough to risk jeopardizing its relationship with the NFL.
Although "Tilt" was expected to generate controversy, many believed the chances that it would suffer a fate similar to that of "Playmakers" was unlikely, since the world of poker was assumed to be less organized and united than that of professional football. Well, they may be wrong. Poker Updates, a monthly online streaming television program covering events and issues current to the world of poker, broadcast a segment which showed professional poker players' take on the show as less than favorable. Nine-time champion of the World Series of Poker, Doyle Brunson was quoted as calling the show a "disgrace." Will professional poker players merely suffer in silence, or will they take action against ESPN? Guess we'll just have to stay tuned.
There were cheers for Danny Nguyen at both of San Jose's card clubs this weekend, after the local poker dealer and hometown hero won the $1 million prize in the World Poker Tour's Shooting Star Tournament at the Bay 101 Casino.
"He's just very well-liked. It's nice to have a local guy win," explained Ron Castro, a shift manager at the Garden City Casino, where Nguyen has worked as a card dealer for several years.
More than 2,000 players and spectators filled the cavernous Bay 101 club with cheers when Nguyen won the final hand with a pair of threes shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, said Samuel Quinto, Bay 101 tournament director. The hand was good enough to beat Canadian Jay Martens in the final round of the five-day tournament, which drew Hollywood celebrities such as James Woods and Tobey Maguire, as well as poker stars like Greg "Fossilman" Raymer and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.
Across town, when his victory was announced on the floor at Garden City, players and club employees gave another round of applause for the easygoing Nguyen, Castro said. They did it again when the day shift manager made a similar announcement Saturday.
"It's like hitting the lottery," Castro added. "It opens a lot of doors for him."
Nguyen was lying low on Saturday, taking calls from friends but begging off from talking with a reporter. His wife, who also works as a chip runner at Garden City, called in sick Saturday.
Friends say the couple have four children and have lived in the area for years. Nguyen worked at Bay 101 before he moved to Garden City, Quinto said. "A lot of us know him on a personal level. We've worked with him and seen him play."
Castro said Nguyen's victory was in keeping with his character. "He's a good dealer but he'd rather play than deal. And he's not afraid to play high on a limited bankroll."
After his victory Friday night, the normally low-key Nguyen was buying drinks for friends at the Bay 101 bar. Quinto said he indicated that he'll probably leave his job, at least temporarily, to play on the tournament circuit.
The Shooting Star tournament will be televised in June, and that could bring Nguyen more attention and even some endorsement offers, Quinto added.
Having a dealer from the area win was all the sweeter for fans, Castro said. Quinto agreed, before excusing himself to go back to work. Bay 101 was hosting another tournament for professional poker players Saturday. The winner was expected to earn a $225,000 purse.
By MIKE KRINGS, Times News Editor
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - A bill to legalize Texas Hold'em tournaments in Minnesota will get some help from a top professional poker player.
ESPN's poker drama, "Tilt," debuted in January amidst much controversy and speculation. The show portrays the world of professional poker as a hard-boiled underworld fraught with crime and conspiracy. Already from the beginning, it was clear that the racy new show would make waves, but just how high those waves would climb remained to be seen.
