Pokey the dog, enter's his first poker tournament...

Well Pokey the dog buys into his first poker tournament, but he doesn’t win it. Here is how it happened.

When I pulled into the parking lot of the Chips Casino in La Center, Washington yesterday, I noticed a line of people at the front door of the casino. So Pokey the dog, and I walked over to investigate. We found out that a poker tournament was going to start in 30 minutes, when the Casino opens at noon.

I was also told this was only a three table tournament, and there were already 22 people in line. Three more guys were walking this way. So Pokey and I got in line. One of the regulars said they only allow 5 alternates and then turn away the rest. I was hoping they would come out and give cards or markers to the first 30 in line. Then I would take Pokey back to the RV before I had to go inside. It was not to be.

At noon the doors opened and our line marched in. I picked Pokey up and tucked him under my arm. When we reached the door the security guard looked at me, then at Pokey, and I quickly said. I will take him right out, as soon as I secure my place in line.

The line slowly slinked past the main cage, where the cashier saw Pokey and smiled.

Then when I got to the tournament director’s desk I shielded him with my body, slapped my money down and got my seat card. I did an “about face”, and marched out of the casino, saying “thank you so much”, to the security guard.

I got Pokey settled in the RV, and walked back into the Casino and took my seat waiting for the tournament to begin.

A few minutes later the tournament Director, and another security guard approached my chair on both sides. The director said Sir, do you have a dog with you? I looked at her blankly, and said have you checked under the table?

She said in a stern voice, there better not be a dog under the table.

I said “did someone see a dog?” She said, “upstairs” saw you with a dog”.

I said “really, do you think they might be drinking up there?” Now, she is starting to laugh while still trying to look stern.

I said, I saw the sign at the entrance that said no weapons in the casino, but I missed the sign about dogs.

Now, she is realizing I don’t have a dog, and she is about to laugh at the situation, but she was trying to still act stern. After a moment of her looking at me, I finally said “did you know there was a monkey that played at the World Series of Poker this year” and they made him leave. (Which is true)

She said “she didn’t know anything about that, and grinned and said “crazy old man”.

She wasn’t that much younger then me, so I let that one go with only a grin.

Later, when she came back by, I said, you know that was really a serious situation, no one “carded” him when he came in and he is underage.

She walked away with a grin, just shaking her head.

Then the jokes began at the table about a couple of poker players that smell like old dogs.

And the guy that use to date only dogs before he got married. This hand is a dog… oh, no offence meant… (And on, and on, and on it went).

I didn’t win the tournament, but it sure was fun.