Rekopnuf.com: A Joe and Hobby Poker Fiction

Hobby and I were checking out a new restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard that was supposed to have a good piano bar. The pianist- singer was touted to be Fitzgerald-like. After dinner-so-so prime ribs-we took our drinks into the lounge to listen to the piano plinking and the lady's vocal warbling, cooing, trilling, and scatting. She was doing a medley of familiar Cole Porter songs. Not Ella by a long shot, but not bad; actually quite entertaining.

"Joe. Is that your cell?" I had been listening so intently, I almost missed it. "Hello. Who did you say? Just a minute. I'll have to go where it's quiet." I signaled to Hobby and headed for door. It was a half-hour before I got back to Hobby.

"Geez, Joe. I was about call a cab. Where the hell have you been?" "I've been on the phone all that time on a conference call with two men in Germany and one in London. This is weird and it involves you too, if you're interested. They're looking for a new angle to make a splash on the poker scene. They had heard about some of our exploits with the Third Eye Team, the Poker Game Show, and they also knew we were working with Serosian on an international tournament."

"What do you mean it involves me, too? You're the creative genius, Joe." "I told them we work as a team."

"Yeah, we do that," Hobby responded with pride. "So what do they want?"

"They're not sure, but they want to promote their on-line poker business with some new kind of tournament. Their website is www.Rekopnuf.com. I never heard of it. Have you?"

"No. It's a screwy name. Is it German?"

"It's poker fun spelled backwards." I scribbled it on the cocktail napkin. Hobby glanced at it and said, "Yeah, I get it. But why not just call it poker fun?"

"Same question I asked. Apparently all the possible poker names of significance had already been registered."

"Well, so much for the dumb name. What's next?" Hobby asked.

"If you're interested we've got a free vacation in London."

"Well, awaaaay we go!" Hobby added with a poor impression of the Gleason shuffle.

We were on a great circle route over the pole from LAX to Heathrow, London.

That's a lot of hours on your backside, but a good opportunity to work on ideas. I had a feeling that a substantial departure had to be made from conventional tournaments. Hobby shaped my thinking by saying, "Whether it's on-line or live play, it's poker, but in many ways they're miles apart. Can you bring them together someway?"

"Good idea, Hobby. Let me think about that."

Our benefactors put us up in a suite at The Savoy. A note the desk clerk gave me said, "See you in the Crown Room for breakfast at 9:00 a.m." It was signed, "Trevor." I got a good night's sleep and was showered when Hobby knocked on my door.

"We've got 15 minutes, Joe."

"I'm almost ready. Why don't you go ahead and see if you can find our foreign friends?"

Hobby and the others were having a good laugh when I joined the table.

After introductions to Hans and Eric, the Germans, and Trevor the Englishman, Trevor said, "Hobby just told us how a dead man won a tournament for you. Is it true?"

"Absolutely. What else did he tell you?"

"He said you were brilliant and that you have a great idea for us."

"I'm afraid Hobby is premature. I have a concept, thus far; can't say how good it is," I replied as I glared at Hobby.

"Vell, let us be chudge of dat," Eric said. "Would you mind if I had breakfast first? I'm starved."

"Of course, vee all eat!" He said with gusto.

The breakfast dishes had been cleared. Four pairs of eyes were on me. It was dance time. When I'm under the gun I get an adrenaline high. I love it. I learned long ago, when making a pitch you throw aside uncertainties and exude supreme confidence. I began, "It's foolish to think you can get a big bump for your online business by sponsoring a live poker tournament. It would be like using a football match to promote the sale of a video football game. The effect would be minimal." I paused to let that sink in.

"That is precisely why we are concerned," Trevor said. "So what do you suggest?"

"Basically, I propose a radical merger of on-line and live tournament play."

My audience was obviously puzzled. "Picture this, if you will. The Texas Hold 'Em tournament table is in a half oval shape. On the curved side are seven seats. In front of each, just below table level is a keyboard and small covered LCD. About two feet in front of the player positions are three large flat plasma screens, the end ones are angled toward the outside players. Virtual hands are dealt to the players who view their own cards by uncovering their small LCD screen. Blinds and bets are automatically deducted from the player's banks, which are all shown on the large screens. Individual cameras are focused on each player for full frontal views. When it's a player's turn he is shown on the large screens as he ponders his move. Using the keyboard he makes his bet, checks, or folds. If he chooses, he can look at himself on the screen and talk to the audience.

"The basic play is the same as an on-line computer programmed game. For the live players it's certainly novel, but more important, it's a faster game and the players can observe one another better than they can at a conventional table where the field of vision depends on where one is seated. But, the major impact will be on the viewing audience at the tournament venue and TV viewers at home. Why, you might ask? Think about it while I visit the men's room" When I returned to the table I asked, "Why might this have a great impact?"

Trevor spoke up, "Joe, I think it removes the barrier in many people's thinking between on-line and live play. It will help legitimatize on-line play as real poker."

"Well said, Trevor," I agreed.

"Another question, Joe, what do you call this concept."

I'm glad you asked. It's called CALP for computeraided- live-poker.

Hans, who had been sitting glum-faced throughout said, "Vell, vee can do dis.

But vee don't need to pay big fee and royalty. Who can say it's chust your idea?"

"Hans," I forcefully answered. "I've documented it. Also, I have engaged a prominent British solicitor to whom I sent an email just this morning saying what I've told you."

"Also, Hans," Hobby said as he withdrew a small case from his pocket. "It's all recorded."

"I'll take that," Hans announced as he grabbed for the case.

Hobby clutched the hand in mid-air and gave it a not so gentle squeeze. "You'll do no such thing," he said defiantly.

I was about to declare our meeting a donnybrook and leave when Trevor stood and said, "I apologize for the bad behavior, would you kindly excuse us while we re-group."

Hobby and I were in the suite an hour later when Trevor called. My end of the conversation was minimal. "So what did he say,

Joe?"

"He apologized profusely for the conduct of Hans, whom he sacked and sent back to Germany. Then he confirmed the deal. We get the fee up front and the royalty." "That's great, Joe. I'm sure glad you had the good sense to consult with a lawyer."

"Hobby, that was a demonstration of my poker skill, I was bluffing. I made it up."

We both had a good laugh then Hobby said, "Joe, you think you're the only good bluffer?" He withdrew the case from his pocket. "These are my vitamin pills!"

(The sequel to this story will appear in the next issue)