Chapter 165 Poker
Chapter 165 Poker
Charles only bothered to introduce me and Sophia, making it obvious that the rest of the gang already knew the newbies.
There was Philip Murphy and his wife Maria Diaz, looking like they'd just walked off a runway—young, stylish, and dripping with that designer vibe. They couldn't have been older than 25, probably just married.
I couldn't help but wonder what brought them to the club. At 25, fresh out of college, I was still figuring out life—work, relationships, you name it. They seemed way ahead of the curve.
Then there was another couple around our age, Todd Bailey and Patricia Armstrong. Todd reminded me of Gregory, both rocking glasses, but Todd was more outgoing, with a friendly voice, shooting the breeze with everyone.
Patricia, on the other hand, was quieter, with these big, observant eyes. She seemed like the introspective type, taking in everything around her while staying in the background.
Just as we were getting to know our new pals, Violet grabbed the mic and announced that a few couples had bailed last minute. With everyone there, the party kicked off.
As we all settled in, eager to hear Violet's game plan for the night, she got comfy, ready to hear Violet's plan for the night, she threw us a curveball—she laid out all the game options and let us decide.
With the freedom to choose, the room lit up. Everyone was buzzing, drinks in hand, amped up and ready to go.
But with eight couples in the mix, we couldn't agree on a game. Some suggested rock-paper-scissors, others wanted dice, and some were all for a simple card draw. Violet couldn't help but grin as the debate went on.
The guys started getting competitive, with some diving into rock-paper-scissors while others put their drinks down to argue. Sidney had to step in with the mic to hush everyone up.
Once the noise died down, Sidney pulled out a box of chips. "Who here knows how to play Texas Hold'em? I've got a game idea that'll spice things up and let us pick winners and losers. Winners get to choose their partners for the night!"
At the mention of a game involving partner selection, everyone perked up, eager to hear the rules.
"Alright, how many Texas Hold'em players do we have here tonight? Show of hands," Sidney asked.
I'd dabbled in Texas Hold'em back in college, even snagged some cash in a few low-stakes games with my buddies. I wasn't exactly a shark, just a casual player, but I figured I could hold my own. So, I threw my hand up.
The rules were simple: each player got two hole cards, and five community cards were dealt on the table. The goal was to make the best five-card hand using your hole cards and the community cards.
The game had four rounds of betting: pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. Players had to decide whether to call, raise, or fold based on their hand in each round. After the final round of betting, players showed their hands, and the best hand took the pot.
Sophia knew the game but wasn't a regular player, so she kept her hand down. Still, she gave me a nod of encouragement, showing her support.
Looking around, all eight couples had players, making a total of twelve participants. It seemed like the game plan for the night was set.
"Looks like we've got a player from each couple. Let me run you through the rules," Sidney said with excitement, hinting that he might know his way around the game.
Sidney laid out the rules: each couple was a single player, starting with 1000 chips each. The couple who won all the chips in a round would be the winners, while the couple who lost the most chips would be the losers, with the possibility of multiple losers.
The penalty for losers was taking a shot. The winners, though, could make the losers strip down a piece of clothing and get into a steamy pose of the winners' choice for a full minute.
At the end of the game, partners for the night would be chosen based on each player's chip count. The player with the most chips would get the first pick, followed by the next highest, and so on.
Not a single objection. Every round wasn't just about penalties and performances—it also decided who'd be pairing up for the night. Game face on.
Since both Sidney and his wife knew the game, Elise took on the role of dealer for the night. The Texas Hold'em table was set up in the center of the hall, with only two lights beaming down on the table, setting a tournament-like vibe.
"My aim tonight is to come out on top and make the first choice!" Sidney said, rolling up his sleeves with determination.
"Ever heard I was the Texas Hold'em queen? Yeah, I won a damn car with my skills," Nora said, sipping her drink, leaving us all wondering if she was bluffing or not.
"Luck's on my side today, so buckle up—I'm going all-in," Joshua said, rubbing his hands like he was about to clean house.
To decide the first dealer, Charles and his wife drew the highest card, an Ace, making them the dealers for the initial round. The dealer position would rotate clockwise for each following round.
"Real pros don't need to talk this much," Charles said, cool as ever, shuffling the deck.
"Don't mind him. When we were in Europe, he blew a ton of cash and swore he'd cut his hand off when we got back to the hotel," Violet teased her husband, a rare moment of playful banter.
Laughter filled the room.
Charles shot Violet a playful glare, clearly thinking up a witty response. "I was a rookie back then, consider it a lesson learned. Today, we're in our element, so things will be different."
I chuckled, finding their banter entertaining.
Sitting beside him, Gregory gave Charles a friendly pat on the shoulder. "The one who knows you best is the one right by your side."
Charles didn't back down. "You all had your laughs at my expense. Now watch me show you how it's done at the poker table."
All eyes were on Elise as she dealt the cards. And with that, the first game of the night kicked off.