267 The Flop

I was all in.

My first professional poker tournament, and it was being televised. How lazy must that be, I thought, for someone to watch other guys play cards.

But who's the lazy one? Here I was, chasing my break, sitting on my ass, using only my wrists and my brain. How I had worked so hard, in such a lazy pursuit, to get here!

While the wrists were joints, the brain is that part of poker having no moving parts. My kind of organ. Make the most with the least effort. Smart.

After initial bets, the Set-Up dealt out two hole cards each, face down. I snuck up the corners of my King and the Queen. Maybe, just maybe, it was my turn.

In life.

Pre-flop betting began. As a flop, it wasn't lost on me that I awaited the game's Flop to see if my trend continued: yet, a King and Queen—promising. I aggressively bet the next round.

The Flop dealt me seven, eight, and ten. My brain posited a bluff. I didn't have shit...yes...but I'm the only one who knew.

Consider the irony: like my hand, I wasn't worth shit, either, but I was the last one to know. Everyone had been so right. But I was here—on TV! How could I be shit?

I was gambling with my life, my flop, and the other Flop, which seemed to know the real me.

Poker had been my last chance for redemption. I had been a failed novelist, PR underling, broker, and high school teacher, my career cut short by bad decisions involving students. I hadn't even capitalized on my realtor license; more like a loser's license! Too much work.

The Turn dealt me a five.

I gloated, but that, too, was a bluff. I telepathically willed my competitors to think my hole cards were six and nine, for a straight. Betting ensued.

The River, bitter-sweet, faced-up my four. I still didn't have shit, but my straight bluff—in two directions—continued. Poker faces surrounded me, but only one with a winning hand.

Fold! Fold! Fold! Could I win as a loser?

No more cards; betting continued. Until Showdown.

Poker taught me the joys of realty.

_________

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

For Monday, September 23, Day 267 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge

366 WORDS (without A/N)

Accompaniment photo was AI derived, but the bluffing was not.

THIS CHALLENGE PLAYS ON, 366 CARDS DEALT AT A TIME.

There are currently three bluffing, poker-faced Vocal writers betting in the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer (Trump Card--not affiliated with MAGA)

• Rachel Deeming (The Royal Flush)

• Gerard DiLeo (The Wild Card)