That’s right, the SHECKYmagazine.com Comics-Only Texas Holdem Poker Tournament will be held in Las Vegas, NV, on Thursday, November 17! We’ll be providing updates as the day approaches– information on room rates, entry fee, prizes, etc. But for now, let’s just say that it’ll be downtown, at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino and that we’re hoping to field at least 100 comics and offer a top prize of $1000!

We’re throwing a poker tournament in November, so we figured we had better experience it firsthand if we’re going to exhort comedians from all over America and Canada (and the world!) to come to Las Vegas and play real, live actual poker with us! SHECKYmagazine Editor Brian McKim got it in his head to take the plunge and investigate this live poker phenomenon by entering a tournament here in Reno! Here is his account:

I was at the Apache Gold Casino in Globe, AZ, when I spotted the stack of slick poker magazines. I grabbed one (Poker Today? Poker Tomorrow? Poker Times?) and turned to the Tournament Listings section containing information on tourneys large and small in Nevada, Arizona and surrounding states. We’d be in Reno in a matter of days, so I searched for and found the ideal tourney for me: The Circus Circus Reno Biggest Little Poker Tournament– A $15 buy-in (Cheap compared to the others listed!) I wanted a tournament where there wouldn’t be a whole lot riding on it and there might be other amateurs like me onboard. This one seemed perfect for a rookie. I made up my mind then and there that I would participate in my first live poker tournament when I got to Reno.

I went over to Circus Circus on Wednesday afternoon and chatted up the Poker Room attendant gal, peppering her with borderline stupid-poker questions. She fielded them all with patience. I learned, among other things, that the number of players is limited to 36 and that they were usually full up. I also learned that the dealers would be as patient as she was and that the other players wouldn’t be intimidating in the least (which was one of my fears). I told her I’d return to sign up at 10:30 AM on Friday.

They spread the players across three tables. As the tournament progresses, and as players are eliminated, they consolidate the players into two tables, then one. The entire tournament takes a little over an hour– if you make it to the final table. By the time I arrived there were only six names on the clipboard, but it was early yet. I added my name to the list and forked over my $17 ($15 plus $2 “entry fee”). I was given my “one free drink” coupon and told to come back at ten of eleven. When I returned, there were 30 players milling about waiting for play to begin. An announcement was made and we each drew a card which contained our seat and table assignment. I got seat three on table 10 (we would be using tables 8, 9 & 10 in the modest Circus Circus Poker Room/Race & Sports Book). Our $17 entitled us to $1000 in chips. Just before play commenced, we were all given the option of purchasing $300 more for an additional $3– A deal that all but two players took advantage of.

Trish was our dealer. She was young, personable, efficient and she explained the rules “for those who are beginners or for those who may have forgotten them.” (“One more thing, gentlemen, please toss the chips and the cards a little closer to me, as I am six months pregnant and can’t reach as far as I’d like.”) She dealt us each two cards and we were off!

Within three hands, three of our twelve players were gone! Seat # 9 was an athletic-looking dude who looked familiar (I gotta figure he was tuning up for the July 6 No Limit Hold’em Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Reno Hilton, and probably was a Sixer or an Eagle at one time. According to the local entertainment rag, Jo Jo White, George Gervin and Charley Taylor are among the legendary sports figures in town for the Hilton tourney.) He was solidly built and he wasted no time, betting aggressively on the second hand. knocking out the two players to my right.

I wasn’t getting any cards. At all. Within 23 minutes, I was history. I will spare you the details. I will say that I got in on two medium-sized pots. On one of them, I folded when Seat #12 raised by $500. Too rich for me. I stayed in one pot until the end, went all in… and lost to an old geezer who had a pair of queens. Done! Finished in my first-ever live poker tourney!

I am glad I did it. I will do it again! Far from being a frustrating or negative experience, it was fascinating. I realize that my problem was simply bad luck. A coupla decent hole cards and things could have gone the other way.

We’ll be in Vegas in October, so I’ll keep an eye out for a similar tournament– daytime, low buy-in price, etc. I might also seek out a 2-4 table– the opposite of No Limit, sort of– it’s a slower, more controlled brand of poker that doesn’t get out of hand so quickly like No Limit does. And when I find myself in a gambling town, I’ll seek out those freebie magazines devoted to poker– they often contain info, tips, lingo, etc. And I’ll watch it on the telly when it’s on and my schedule allows. I’ve also downloaded a decent computer version of Texas Holdem called Just Hold’em Poker that allows one to go head-to-head with a ten-player table of poker celebs like Chris Moneymaker and Gus Hansen.

As I returned to the Silver Legacy, I passed by the Circus Circus midway stage and saw the 11:00 show– a dog act! There was a white pooch– a Nipper-type dog– seated high on a pedestal while crazy, caliope music played in the background. He looked bored, like he was phoning it in. He seemed tired… they probably had him up doing radio. Poor bastard probably hated doing the early show– not very good crowds!.