"Louie Louie...Oh No!..."

No, not the "Louie Louie" of legendary music fame.
That is just what the millennials call "click bait" and yeah, I am as guilty as anyone of spinning that stuff from time to time.

Actually, here I am referring to "Louie" the tournament Texas hold'em poker player of Sacramento's now defunct Casino Royale fame. I played with Louie in a number of tournaments at that Casino although it was not my preferred location for weekday events.

I would often begin the day at Capital Casino and at times would be eliminated early. There was no reentry option at Capital back then so when it happened, I and few others would race up the freeway a few miles to what we called " Plan B", actually Casino Royale, to enter their tournament. Timing was usually tight though as both tourneys began at the same time and entries closed an hour or so after they started.

Louies favorite, Casino Royale

Louie was a quiet, friendly old guy, bearded, possibly of Mexican-American descent.  With a habit common to  more than a few tournament players, he carried a back pack filled with a lot of sundries one might include in anticipation of a long day at the tables. I think most people, upon meeting Louie would think of him as a sweet, innocent old man....(kinda like me without the "sweet" and "innocent" part).

Not a particularly good poker player, Louie nonetheless showed up  at the Royale regularly and made contributions in the form of tournament entry fees. Over time, I noticed he also liked to occasionally pull out a small spiral pad and make notes. I thought it might have been to note play details for his future reference as some of the more serious players do.

One day at a Capital Casino I overheard another tournament player mention Louie's name and when I asked was told he had been banned from play at the Casino Royale. Apparently Louie had been pocketing chips from his tournament stack for use in later events.  He must have thought by adding accumulated chips it would give him more chances to end up cashing in some future tourney. I am guessing his notes may have included a running total of chips he had stored in his famous back pack.

Around that time, Capital Casino added a reentry option to tournaments there and that ended our rush to join the "Plan B" event at the Royale. Not long after, I heard that the Royale had let Louie rejoin the tournaments there and as a result many of their regulars had angrily quit patronizing it.

The Casino Royale later moved and then closed.  I don't know what happened to Louie. He is the only known cheater I have encountered in a dozen years of studying the nuances of playing tournament hold'em poker.

I kinda' miss old Louie. Sure he was cheating, but I don't think I ever saw him hit a final table let alone cash.

P-P-P-Poker Face

The vast majority come to the tournament hold'em poker tables with inscrutable faces made of stone.  They bet then focus, unmoving and unblinking, at the center of the table...before and after the cards come.  They remain that way when the flop hits and, if they are still in the hand after, when the turn and river comes.  They can be mean looking when they go into freeze frame; Asian, Black, Latino and White...all of them.  Women and men, tattooed and bare, old and young.

Yet they have a common bond.  They all love to play, they understand there are rules to follow and all are generally considerate of one another.  Common actions; A gentle 'pat, pat' on the felt table to wish a fellow player good luck.  Veteran propensity to chop (split) the winnings, often when some have a considerable lead over others.  Most frequent phrases; "There is room here to move your chair if you want."  "Nice hand."  "Good luck," when opponents go all in with their remaining chips."  "There is room to share here," pointing to a side table that holds a player's refreshments.

And they all work on their poker faces.  For when a critical bet is made they don't want to give up a 'read' or 'tell' when an opponent is considering whether to call or fold.

Occasionally a player holding cards will freeze in 'staring at the middle' mode while the dealer and remaining players wait for them to bet or fold.  After a lengthy, pregnant pause, the player will say; "Oh, it's on me?" and everyone will laugh and think to themselves; 'Oh yeah, I have done that before.'

Between hands, it's sharing stories, most often of bad beats (when their strong hand is beaten by one stronger).  They laugh, joke, watch athletic events on televisions scattered throughout the poker room and greet pals old and new.

But when the cards hit the table......when the cards hit the table and a decision is made to play that hand it's time to have the poker face immediately available.  P-P-P-Poker face.  It's a fascinating nuance of the game.