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Just a personal journey.
kalooki8
Member Posts: 451
in Poker Chat
This article might be a tad self - indulgent and not sure whether it is of interest or not to anyone, however I thought I would write an article about my journey from a wee boy to a 59 year old man in respect of gambling and in particular poker. Most of it has been enjoyable though there have been dark times too along the way.
My first recollection, which kindled my interest in cards and gambling, were my parents and my grandparents playing 'Solo Whist' on a round glass table. They would have piles of pennies, halfpennies two pence's to gamble with. Abundance was winning 9 tricks and worth 2p from all players if achieved and misere was worth 1.5p. My memories were mainly of the nightly smoke filled room from grandad's half a cig at a time, and the sound of his grumbling at my Nan, when she led the wrong suit.
Then came the Grand National, Dad gave me 10p to place on any horse. So when Red Rum won at 7-1 and gave me 70p back (he took back the 10p stake unbelievable!), I was hooked. This was followed a few years later by Ben Nevis at 40s and Corbiere at 9s. Gambling is easy hey!
It was the Steve McQueen and Edward G Robinson film 'The Cincinnati Kid' which first brought poker to my attention and I still love that film to this day. Ok it may be a bit dated but the film brilliantly highlights the romance of poker, the seedy side of greed and the devastation of losing it all. It obviously struck a chord even though it was years before I started playing. Today I would probably prefer to watch 'Mississippi Grind' or 'Win it All' as poker movies but CK is still up there.
A few years later there came 'Late Night Poker' and my introduction to Texas Holdem. Blew my mind, these characters such as 'Devilfish, 'The Hendon Mob', Colclough, Flood wow! It felt very dark, scary and somewhat alluring to me as though a fight might break out at any time. Just felt like that to me but seemed so exciting. I couldn't wait to have a go but I don't know why and it was years later before I did.
As a side note, it was about this time, I was shown the game 'Kalooki' which I subsequently taught my grandparents how to play. To there dying days together in Preston, they would play kalooki every night as well as 'check out' with 9s dominos. I hope somewhere they are still playing and g/dad is still moaning ' who taught us this **** game' when he lost. If you've never played, it is a great game, however I actually prefer the game 'Blob' which is my favourite ever card game. I'm glad I went with kalooki8 rather than Blob8 however as the years go, maybe the latter name is slowly becoming more apt.
Ok part 2 tomorrow, whether this interests you as the reader or not sorry.
My first recollection, which kindled my interest in cards and gambling, were my parents and my grandparents playing 'Solo Whist' on a round glass table. They would have piles of pennies, halfpennies two pence's to gamble with. Abundance was winning 9 tricks and worth 2p from all players if achieved and misere was worth 1.5p. My memories were mainly of the nightly smoke filled room from grandad's half a cig at a time, and the sound of his grumbling at my Nan, when she led the wrong suit.
Then came the Grand National, Dad gave me 10p to place on any horse. So when Red Rum won at 7-1 and gave me 70p back (he took back the 10p stake unbelievable!), I was hooked. This was followed a few years later by Ben Nevis at 40s and Corbiere at 9s. Gambling is easy hey!
It was the Steve McQueen and Edward G Robinson film 'The Cincinnati Kid' which first brought poker to my attention and I still love that film to this day. Ok it may be a bit dated but the film brilliantly highlights the romance of poker, the seedy side of greed and the devastation of losing it all. It obviously struck a chord even though it was years before I started playing. Today I would probably prefer to watch 'Mississippi Grind' or 'Win it All' as poker movies but CK is still up there.
A few years later there came 'Late Night Poker' and my introduction to Texas Holdem. Blew my mind, these characters such as 'Devilfish, 'The Hendon Mob', Colclough, Flood wow! It felt very dark, scary and somewhat alluring to me as though a fight might break out at any time. Just felt like that to me but seemed so exciting. I couldn't wait to have a go but I don't know why and it was years later before I did.
As a side note, it was about this time, I was shown the game 'Kalooki' which I subsequently taught my grandparents how to play. To there dying days together in Preston, they would play kalooki every night as well as 'check out' with 9s dominos. I hope somewhere they are still playing and g/dad is still moaning ' who taught us this **** game' when he lost. If you've never played, it is a great game, however I actually prefer the game 'Blob' which is my favourite ever card game. I'm glad I went with kalooki8 rather than Blob8 however as the years go, maybe the latter name is slowly becoming more apt.
Ok part 2 tomorrow, whether this interests you as the reader or not sorry.
Comments
@kalooki8
Tremendous stuff, keep it coming.
"Solo Whist", good grief, I wish I had a quid for every night I'd spent playing that.
You mention "Abundance", there was also "Royal Abundance", "Misère Ouverte" & "Abundance Declared", in the last two you had to place your hand face up on the table & win/lose every trick. We only played for pennies, but if you made a mistake, you got told off, lol.
We had that weird way of dealing it, think it was 4333, 3433, 3343, 3334.
Kalooki? When I played "Live" poker at Casinos every night, we always played Kalooki for a few hours before the Tourney started, usually with the elder Asian chaps who were generally very good at it. It sucked to be £30 or £40 down even before the Tourney started. Great game.
Look forward to Instalment 2.
Looking forward to part 2 also.
Keep it coming please
Do you play live poker?
Biggest win?
More please
I wasn't sure whether this sort of thing was appropriate and I have written a part 2 and a part 3 however still plucking up the courage to send it as it is very personal and maybe a bit dark for here in respect of gambling issues.
@Tikay10 I never got to play solo whist, just watched as a wide eyed little lad, these were the 2 terms I remembered though I admit I had to look up the spelling of misere.
@Maxally - I've seen you on the tables a few times and didn't realise we were on the final table, the first and only time I reached it playing the 'Main'. I have aa feeling we are from the same part of the country, I live in Crewe.
@Glenelg - cheers mate
@Jac35 - Cheers mate, I will cover these in part 3
@FORDAKIDZ - Cheers pal. Only played it with family, but would enjoy to play it again.
Anyway, while I decide whether part 2 is appropriate, I have a mini to win lol
Steve
That went well! JJ v AA on a 10 high board. You know when you cry call but in your heart you know you're beat!
If u can't talk about gambling on a poker forum, we may as well retire
P.S. Surely u have watched rounders the best film still made, and hopefully a part 2 incoming