In 2003 Chris Moneymaker parlayed a $40 satellite into 2.5 million dollars. ESPN aired this remarkable feat what seemed every single night for the new few months. There was not a man in America who didn’t think for a minute, “Hey maybe I could do that too”. And so the poker booms began.
I eagerly watched every new WSOP episode with my Dad. I was amazed at how many ‘professional’ poker players they were and remember thinking, “These guys play a card game for a living? That’s so cool.” Around this same time, many of my friends started having after school poker games. During the last few days of December, in 2003 (my junior year of high school), flush with Christmas money, I decided to try my luck for the first time.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was in my friend Zach’s basement, and we were all laughing, chatting, and watching WSOP reruns. The game was $.25 – $.50 NL with a $20 buy in. 30 minutes into the game, I was all in, on a double paired board. I was holding a flush and my opponent had a one card full house. I got pushed the pot. Chaos ensued and someone pointed out the other guy had a full house and should of won the hand. Everyone aggressively debated over who had the best hand, while me and the other player (who was also new to poker) looked on with no clue. It was eventually decided that the other guy did have a full house, and in the rules of poker, a full house does indeed beat a flush. Not wanting to risk anymore money, I called it a night.