Getting Clubbed

BY: Ashley Adams
Contact at: (Asha34@aol.com)
Author of Winning 7-Card Stud

Poker has become such a popular game as of late that I no longer have to travel the 90 minutes or so to Foxwoods Resort Casino to find a game. Nor do I have to organize a home game. Just about any night of the week I can drive less than 15 minutes to any of a number of poker clubs in the Boston area. Though they are illegal, at least officially, they run regularly and can be quite profitable.

I suspect that this is the case in many cities and towns across America. Many enterprising individuals have decided to provide a game for the willing. It's the way poker used to be in many cities before the development of casino gambling on Indian Reservations and riverboats.

I'd like to share with you some observations about the positives and minuses of playing in private clubs - as well as some helpful tips for taking advantage of the good games without getting stung by some of the inherent problems.

First of all, I'm not talking about licensed and legal clubs like they have in Washington State and California. Though the clubs there might resemble the ones I play in in Boston - and like millions of others play in in cities across the US, there is a huge difference. The clubs I play in are illegal. They can be busted by the police or by criminals without much recourse. As such, they come with certain risks.

Let's talk about the profitability first. There is a lot of money to be made in these clubs - at least in Boston. They are filled regularly with new, young, enthusiastic players who are often on a short bankroll and have limited experience. There are exceptions to be sure, but in the low stakes, $1/2 blind no limit games that I've found; most are very, very soft. Again, there are exceptions (one game in fact that I can't beat because of the highly aggressive play from deep pocketed regulars). But for the most part, these games are great.

But there is a cost. And that is that these games are often easy targets for thieves or the police. The operators themselves don't protect the games sufficiently. And they eventually get shut down. You need to take this into consideration when you go to an illegal game.

For example, I used to play at a club in the Chinatown section of Boston. The game was very good - consisting of many short-bankrolled players who had a very timid and passive style. An aggressive player, as I have learned to be, could practically win their money without looking at his cards. I loved going there - even though the neighborhood was a bit scary late at night when the games broke.

The club was busted by a snatch and grab guy with a gun and a club. He hurt the owner - though not permanently, robbed the place and the players. The game didn't die, however. The core group of players started it back up. But the police soon busted it - or so I was told.

The owner relocated to a nice place a mile or so away. The game seemed better protected - at least from robbers, with a building that was secure. But they moved shortly after relocating.

They opened at a new location a couple of months ago. The new location was in a secure building with convenient parking. I visited it twice. I found a similar group to the first club - passive and loose and often short stacked. It was heaven. I won a few hundred each time I visited. Unfortunately, I shan't be going back. The place was busted the by police - this time the state police - and is now out of business.

This is not unique to this club or this city. In New York City, the former mayor (and now presidential candidate) Rudy Guliani busted every private poker club he could find. Owners were arrested; players had their chips confiscated. In some cases the chips were worth thousands of dollars. Other clubs opened at different locations. These clubs too were busted by the current mayor. The process in New York was repeated numerous times. Clubs busted, reopened at different locations, only to be busted again.

For those of us who play regularly, this is a terrible thing but unavoidable. No matter how well established a club may be, sooner or later it may end up closed by the authorities or, worse, by some criminal elements. What can the player do to protect himself?

First, what some players do is to refuse to play in an underground illegal club. If you never visit one you'll never have to worry about being held up, arrested, or having your chips confiscated. Simple as that. You want to play poker? Play in legal establishments. If they're not convenient then play on line. Still not satisfied, work to change the law to allow legal games.

But if you're going to play in illegal games, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.

First of all, pay attention to how the game is put together to see if there is a strong likelihood that members of the public (and therefore the police) can get into the game easily. The easier it was for you to get in the easier it will be for some criminal or some undercover cop. Bad signs are postings on public Internet forums about the game, leaflets, unsolicited emails, or even hearing about a game in a public place. If you see this then you have to expect that the game will sooner or later be busted or robbed. You might be lucky and avoid it (as I have been up until now).

Second, pay attention to the security of the location the game is in. Is it in someone's house or in a public building? Is there any security in the entrance to the building? Is there a doorman, a security system, an intercom system, or a locked outside door to the building? These are all good signs.

Is there a lot of money in the game? If there is it may be a tempting target. On the other hand, if guys just get together to play for $100 each then it's probably not worth anyone's attention. All of the games I know of that were robbed had many thousands of dollars that were stolen.

Third, if you go to a game like this, don't bring a large bankroll. If you get robbed you don't want to lose a huge bankroll. Similarly, divide your money up between pockets. Keep some in unconventional places like in your shoe or sock. If you're robbed or if the game is busted by the police and you're asked for your wallet - you don't want a large wad of bills in there. Keep it someplace else.

Be careful when you are leaving the club. Ideally, leave with someone else. Park nearby. Or take a cab home. Walking a long distance away from the club to your car or public transportation is an invitation to be robbed.

If the club is busted while you are there my only advice is to be cooperative with whoever is busting the club. If it's the police do as you are told. Do not argue. Do not be a smart ass or try to score points with your friends for being tough. Same with being robbed. Give up your money willingly. Fighting back is not worth it. It's only money after all. That can be replaced down the road. If something happens to you because you tried to fight off a robber, there may be permanent consequences.

One last word on this subject. It is outrageous that we, poker players, often have to put ourselves at physical risk just to play our favorite game. Poker should be completely legal. We should be afforded police protection just like any other citizen. We shouldn't have to worry about being busted by cops or robbers. We need to unite to change these bad laws and make poker legal.

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