Texas Hold’Em wows them

The poker variant that is better known as Texas Hold’Em is really taking us by storm. Thanks to television and Solar Sports, there is a raging interest in the game, partly because the televised regular telecasts we see on Solar feature Celebrity Poker. Here we see famous people, personalities not only from the movies. The last time I watched, I saw Bobby Flay who many of you know is a chef par excellence featured regularly in the lifestyle network. It’s interesting to see their reactions on TV to see their thinking process in progress and almost read their minds as they try to outwit their opponents. In the end, it doesn’t matter if they end up in the losers’ couch behind the main arena. Sometimes the cards are stacked against you, but if you think you played your cards well, you have a feel-good about you, a next-time-I’ll-get-you kind of feeling that does not drag you down but lets you learn from your mistakes as the games are analyzed by the pros. Perhaps it also helps that these celebrities don’t play to win the chips on the table. These chips, as played in this Celebrity Poker tournament, are mere units that serve to determine the winner(s) at the end of the game (he/she who ends up with the most number of chips in the end is declared winner). Along the way, players who have lost all their chips are eliminated from the game. In fact the couch seems to be a lot of fun when the banters and post-game analyses take place riotously.

The celebrity guests play with a charity cause at heart and, should they win, all prizes will be donated to their favorite charity. And you should see them take the game to serious heights in the hope of giving a generous donation to that charity.

Actually, what gives Texas Hold’Em a big edge is the simplicity of the game, such that first-time kibitzers can actually hope to play immediately after. Anyone who understands the card rankings can play Texas Hold’Em, technically. What separates the men from the boys (and the girls from the ladies) is in the individual handling of the cards dealt you, the betting, the calling, the body language, and the general attitude you wear about you while at the game. What can be simpler than just gauging your own two cards against the others’ two cards, in relation to the cards laid out on the table that are for common use? Child’s play really, or is it?

As you know, we have adopted Texas Hold’Em locally in our Poker King Tournaments. The response has been tremendous, and this has inspired us to bring the game to bars and even big-name hotels.

Very soon, we shall be holding the Business & Leisure Texas Hold’Em Bar Tour Challenge. In keeping with our tradition of keeping our tournaments strictly on a no-cash-wager basis, we will have generous, fun prizes for the winners. The games will be played exactly as you see them on television. That simple, that plain.

The B&L Bar Tour Poker Challenge will have four legs, four weekly games to be held in venues to be announced later. On a given playing date, there will be one table with ten players vying for honors. Only Texas Hold’Em will be played, and each player will be given equal units (chips) to play with. At game’s end (there is a designated time), the two players with the most number of chips left will be declared "Leg Champion" and Runner-up who will be eligible to play in the grand championship, after the four legs have been played out. The winners of the four legs will comprise the "Magic Eight", from where the Grand Champion of the Business & Leisure Texas Hold’Em Bar Tour Challenge will emerge.

From our past experience with the Poker King Challenge (The 4th and final leg is currently being played in Cebu today), there are quite a lot of late registrants. Our secretary Cindy had to contend with spillovers and stand-bys, which we could have eliminated if the players observed deadlines. To ensure fair play, we will accept the first forty applicants. Then, we will draw lots to determine the contenders’ playing dates, with ten players battling it out in every leg.

As the venue will either be a popular bar or hotel, there will be spectators milling about. Well, they do not even have to hover around the players" table. We will have large screens displayed in the venue for the crowd to watch and appreciate the action in the table. Yes, you can stay in your own table, enjoy your drinks and the company of friends, and watch the whole action on the big screen. There will be a running commentary by an emcee where the best possible hands on the table will be analyzed to provide better understanding among the audience. Incidentally, if you are a regular viewer of Celebrity Poker, these episodes are edited. The analyses are taped after the actual games have been played. This makes for more in-depth analysis, and is definitely more spectator-friendly.

After each leg, the highlights of the game will be shown on Business & Leisure, the TV show which airs every Sunday at NBN Channel 4 at 10:30 p.m. The evening’s most exciting deals will also be featured. This should be interesting.

This is a no-cash-wager tournament, but a lot more than cash is at stake here. Aside from the huge trophies, friends of the tournament, however, have generously offered attractive prizes. Vistamar Beach Resort and Hotel, that first-class resort in Anilao, Batangas is offering an all-expenses paid stay at the Vistamar for two whole days and nights. This is divers’ haven, but it is also a family get-away, with comfortable rooms, good food, and fun activities that the whole family can enjoy. There are dinners for two at excellent fine dining restaurants like Ilustrado at Intramuros, and other 5-star hotel outlets. We will have mag wheels, tires and other car accessories for the winners of this bar tournament, so brace for it. It can be loads of fun.

It is really a revelation to learn that Texas Hold’Em players are gaining in numbers. My brother Rey and I learned poker from my late father. Even then, in my early playing days, the variations of the deals were innumerable. As I have continued playing through the years, even more variations have been added, innovations born out of fertile imaginations, conceptualized right at the table, all designed to make for an even more interesting, albeit difficult, deal. This is Pinoy Poker. However, adulterated as the deals have been through the years, these Pinoy poker players, in the face of the Texas Hold’em rage, pronounce themselves as purists. The older poker players will perhaps refuse to play the simplified version as Texas Hold’Em presents itself. The more dynamic poker players, however, are open to the new variant. Texas Hold’em is definitely one of the deals we play in our regular weekly friendly poker games.

We certainly hope all interested participants can register early enough. Members of the Poker Club of the Philippines are most welcome. If you are interested just call 724-3939, ask for Fe and register your name, telephone number and E-mail address and we shall get back to you for the details. You can also write to the E-Mail address appearing below. More details will be announced in this column or on the TV show Business & Leisure.

ARESCOM Shines Again

Kudos again to the Army Reserve Command, in particular to the 403rd Laguna Community Defense Center under Col. Joseph R. Galam (GSC) INF PA

Last Sept. 3, a medical/dental civic action sortie was held in Brgy Rizal, San Pablo City. The affair was conducted by the reservist members of the 41st Ready Reserve Division under Col. Manny Villar together with Asst. Div. Commander Col. Deycon and Col. Javier. Other civic action operations like Opn Linis with emphasis on dengue prevention were held in Brgy Maitim and Brgy Sn Antonio in Bay, Laguna upon the request of the good Mayor Ramos. The joint efforts of the AFP Reservists, PNP and NGO groups had positive results, with some 700 patients receiving medical and dental attention.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

For comments: (E-Mail) business-leisure-star@sunshine-tv.com