Fiction

I was all fired up, couldn’t hardly wait for Hobby’s cruise to the French Riviera to get underway. I brought my two suitcases aboard and checked in with the Captain. “Hobby, I’ve stowed my gear. I know we don’t sail ‘til tomorrow, but what else can I do before we launch?”

I was dockside by Lazybuns II, helping to bring provisions aboard. One van was already unloaded and we were working on a second—all in preparation for a cruise to the French Riviera. “Hobby, it looks like you’ve got enough to circumnavigate the world several times.”
 
“You can never have too much, Joe. You know the boy scout motto: ‘Be prepared.’”
 

Deception is a state of mind and the mind of the State. —James J. Angleton.
 

Hobby and I were in Palm Springs to close his villa for the season. Actually, his housekeeper and yardman had just about everything squared away by the time we got there. “Mister Hobby, could I make lunch for you and Mister Joe?” Connie asked.
 

I hold in my hands the names of 57 card-carrying Communists! —Senator Joseph McCarthy.

[This is a work of poker fiction set ten thousand hands in the future. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.]

Aside from a couple business trips, Hobby and I had been hanging around Palm Springs. This time of year there's an excitement generated by the snowbirds that buoys up the otherwise winter doldrums. Getting into April, however, the decline in population is noticeable and local folks savor what moderate weather is left before the brain-boiling season.

There are two Indian casinos nearby, one downtown and the other out by I-10. Within a few more miles on the freeway there's Spotlight 29 and Fantasy Springs. We made the rounds and played in many open table games and a few small tournaments.

I accompanied Hobby to the shipyard at San Pedro for an inspection of his new super-yacht, which would be named Lazybuns II. In the past if he needed work done he would have sailed to a less expensive yard in Ensenada, Mexico. Hobby had acquired the new vessel from a wealthy Mexican of dubious character who had attempted to undo the transaction. It involved a high-stakes poker game and a forced buyout for much less than the ship's value.

Lord above, Save us from the push and shove. -Fatboy Slim.

[This is a work of poker fiction set ten thousand hands in the future. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.]

The World's Most Serious Poker Tournament's final table was down to four players. Three of them could play high stakes no-limit tournament poker. The one who could not was the chip leader.

If the odds are a million to one against something happening, chances are 50-50 it will. -Yogi Berra.

[This is a work of poker fiction set ten thousand hands in the future. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.]

If the odds are a million to one against something happening, chances are 50-50 it will. -Yogi Berra.

[This is a work of poker fiction set ten thousand hands in the future. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.]