Five hours crammed inside of a plane on a budget airline is never something to look forward to. Since I fly from the east coast to Las Vegas several times per year, this uncomfortable trip has become a familiar one. I usually spend the time before I board the airplane doing a bit of people-watching. I consider witnessing mildmannered grandmas slyly butting into the front of the "A" boarding pass line to be quality entertainment. After settling into the seat onboard, I immediately break out the latest poker book that I'm reading and a small notebook to log some key points. Not only has this tradition helped me to become extremely well read in the are of poker literature, it also helps me to get into my poker "mindset" as I fly toward sin city.
I was only a few chapters into Phil Gordon's newest book when my attention was automatically grabbed by a conversation in the row in front of me. Three strangers had their idle travel chit-chat turn to a discussion on poker. While all three of these individuals were able to talk about their favorite episodes of the WSOP and WPT that they'd seen on television, none of the really even understood the basic rules of the game. The elder of the group took the lead, explaining how the game was more about bluffing than about actually having good cards. Another guy reached into his carry on bag to produce a pack of playing cards. Within moments a whole row of 6 passengers were playing a game of impromptu poker. One player took the role of dealer, announcing the cards that appeared on the community board to those sitting along the windows and too far to see. The players verbally announced raises and folds, but the amounts they chirped out as bets were actually meaningless. They weren't keeping track of how much had been won or lost. Most of the time all of the players would just laugh and celebrate as they determined who had secured the best hand.
The poker was primitive and the play was poor, but each player was having a great time. In fact, the friendly contest kept them busy for a solid hour of an otherwise arduous flight. In that time, a couple of poker players were formed. Even in that unstructured game at 30,000 feet, they were able to see the unending possibilities of the great game. The competition, the psychology, and the luck combined in their minds and a fire was sparked. As the plane prepared for landing they talked about finding a low-limit game or a casino that held free lessons so they could funnel some of their blackjack money towards the poker room.
My observations on "Air Poker" allowed me to realize that the future of the game is bright. Poker will not be a fad that will quickly fade into being an afterthought. What other force could bring 6 grumpy travelers together for some lighthearted fun and competition on a stuffy airplane? Poker's appeal is encompassing and powerful, and its social acceptance continues to grow. Poker tables will soon be swallowing more casino floor real estate than ever, and with good reason. It seems that everyone wants to try this intriguing game, and there is room for all of us at the table. Let's play.
Now go make it happen.
