A Clash Of The Titans

This Saturday night my home will be host, for the first time, to a Halifax Gentlemen’s Poker Association No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em invitational tournament.

I’m quite excited–the logistics of getting the various and sundry reprobates required for such an event out to my secret base in the woods are not trivial, and attempts to have an event here in the past have failed.

However, I am bachelor man this weekend, and I have confirmations of attendance from more than enough of the membership (and some associate members).

Since gambling for money is illegalActually, if I’m reading the definitions right, it’s only illegal to run a ‘common gaming house’, and you only qualify for that if the house takes a rake, there’s an admission fee, or there is an advantage to any player, including the house. A no-fee Hold ’em tournament with no rake should therefore be legal… but I’d rather not have to make that case to a friendly officer., we would clearly never do such a thing. Obviously the only point in playing is to compete for the honour of being immortalized on the HGPA Tournament Champion trophy. The trophy was recently renovated to provide space for more results, and is currently OK for at least the next 18 months.

Here’s what it looks like from the front:

And here’s a rear angle, showing some of the recent tournament winners:

Both Drake and I will be attempting to become the first “three time” trophy winnerOf course, Drake won at least one, but possibly more tournaments in the days before the trophy–but we just pretend that didn’t happen. Just to annoy him., and several of the other lads will be trying to get on for the first time, or join the select list of “two time” winners.

I kind of hope the house is still standing on Saturday. Otherwise I might get in some trouble when my wife gets home.