A few years ago there was a public campaign that asked the “average Joe” to submit an idea for a new reality TV show. The hope was that someone from somewhere would have an idea unique enough to be produced on television. I am an “average Joe” who is someone from somewhere so I submitted the idea of Kitchen Poker. All submissions had to capture the concept in 250 words. My submission looked something like this.
Kitchen Poker takes the viewer into the homes of “kitchen poker’ games throughout the country – perhaps the world. Poker games are played daily in homes across the country. Local neighborhood groups of friends play a variety of games for a wide variety to stakes. From penny-ante to local satellite tournaments, players play poker in a variety of forms. Most of these games follow a dealer’s choice format.
Kitchen Poker will feature a new locale with local rules at each episode. Some old tried and true games are played, but other – locally invented games are also played: 7-27, chainsaw, old west, 10-10, marriage, red/black, pass the trash are a few examples of games that my groups have played. I believe that the “average Joe” would tune in to:
- Learn new games
- See various locations around the country (or perhaps the world)
- Meet unique characters much like themselves
- See how other people lived within their unique setting
- Experience new local customs
It could follow a weekly, or monthly, format. A traveling host could join in the local games and provide a hook for the next show. A character from each local game could be selected by the host to attend a “national” game where dealer’s choice would be the format. The original local rules would apply. Another version of the finals might include a Kitchen Poker tournament with several local groups invited to a tournament.
Unfortunately, my “reality TV” idea was not picked up to be produced.
If you have ever played in a home game of poker, you’ve played “kitchen poker”. I was introduced to “kitchen poker” by my dad, my uncles, and their friends. After I was old enough to lose my own money, I was invited to join the adult games. You learn a lot in a hurry if you are dealing with your own money.
The first time I played poker outside of the confines of my family was during college orientation at Western Michigan University. I spent one summer night in Henry Hall in 1965. A group of guys who didn’t know each other got together for an impromptu game. I don’t remember anything about the night or the game except for one player, the guy who organized the game. He was an army vet and about five years older than the rest of us. He fleeced us all. That’s the only college poker game that I played.
I played in an organized group with several of my fellow teachers when I taught in Plainwell. Each guy took a turn hosting a home game on a rotating basis. We had a group of regulars and a couple of transient players who dropped in from time to time. We had a lot of fun but no “real money” changed hands. Some of us went to the high school basketball state finals for a few years. Bigger games with more money could be found there. Some lasted all night. One year several of us backed one player, Al, who was the husband of a fellow teacher. We felt that he had the best chance to “win us all some money”. He did well early, but by the time the night was gone so were our funds.
I’ve lived in my current home since I was thirty. Shortly after moving here, a group of guys started another rotating poker game. Dave and I were founding members and we still play together every two weeks. This is a group of guys that has shared a lot: players joining and players dropping out, births, graduations, weddings, divorce, career changes, illness, injury and the loss of parents and siblings. You play a lot of hands and share of lot of joy and sorrow over 40 plus years.
After I was here for a while, I was invited to sub in a previously organized game that was held in guy’s homes around the Devils Lake area. Most of the members of this group were older than me. Some were members of the local business community, some were husbands of teachers, others were teachers themselves. Rick was the middle school principal and he invited me to sub in my first game. I became a regular and played for several years until guys started to move away and the game broke up.
I was invited to play with some guys from Hillsdale during that same timeframe. They too were local business men and teachers. This group played 70 hands each night and saved a $1 from each hand until the group saved enough for money to take group trips to Atlantic City or Vegas. I have several blogs worth of information from those trips.
And then there was a group that I called the “prison boys”. This group of guys were employees of the Michigan prison system. Some were guards and some were attorneys. All were lousy poker players who played for larger stakes. I loved playing with the “prison boys” because I could easily pick up a few hundred dollars each time we played. Many of these nights are blog worthy as well, however, I’ll have to save those tales for the “dark web.”
There was a time when many of the groups played during the same few years. I played a lot of poker in kitchens, dens, basements, and backyards. Some groups played every other week, some monthly, and some any time that suited them. A lot of money changed hands but nothing happened that anyone would call “life changing” unless you count the friendships that were made while the cards flew, jokes were told, and the boys tried to out lie one another. I expect that the biggest takeaway for each of us was the opportunity to spend a few hours together just having fun.
Shuffle up and deal.
