The Motel Poker games Downtown Motel Pueblo CO 1975 in Tales of the Jointed Track

The games, were played only when the right layover crews were in town. Most of the time it was during late fall, winter and early spring. During this time, business was slowing, and the railroaded tended to let you rot. I have had many times, where you get a “dead day” , meaning you were there 24 hours or more. The railroad paid handsomely for that, not only monetarily, but crews tended to mark off when they tied up at the home terminal.

Most of the guys were the “old heads”, 65 years of age or older. Plus with a few of us “kids” mixed in. Old Mac McCarthy stored a legless poker table, in the back area behind the main desk. He bought it at a yard sale, and it was felt covered eight sided, and had drink holders, and dugouts for your poker chips.

A side note..Ol Mac took that table back home when he retired in late 1976

If the conditions were right, either the phone would ring, or you were recruited in the lobby. A room was designated, and the table brought to the room. The nightstand between the beds, provided to base for it to reside on. Someone ran to the liquor store, and bought beer, from the donations. The one handled wheelbarrow, which has many rust holes, was wheeled out from behind the ice machine. A couple of waste baskets were filled with ice a few times. That was our designer cooler. Some went to their rooms, and made their beverage of choice, from the “jugs” they kept at the Hotel lockers.

If there was a deck that was questionable, someone would go a block down to 8th and Main Street to the Main Cigar Store. I made that trek several times, with oft repeated instructions of; “Kid !! Buy a Red and a Blue “BEE” old 99 diamond back deck. Make sure it’s a Poker Deck, and not a Pinochle one !!! If they don’t have ‘em, get Bicycle…but the “Bee” is the preferred choice”. “OH !!! and don’t open or break the seals!!”

The buy in was $20.00 minimum, and any other cash you wished to play “table stakes”, had to be displayed on the table, prior to the first deal. I always allotted $50.00, if I played, and if it was gobbled up, well that was my choice. I watched these games for a while, as an observer, before I made the plunge.

The Pregame Ritual

The sealed decks, unopened, were handed to every player, to inspect. The seal was broken on the deck that was designated to start the game. The deck was fanned out to show that all the suits were there. The filler cards, and one of the two Jokers removed. So there was 52 cards and one Joker in the deck. The fillers and the other Joker, were placed in the card box, and left in plain sight. The deck was shuffled, and every player picked off the deck, thin, deep, etc to see who dealt. High card was the dealer. The deck was shuffled again, and then the game was called, the ante was placed in and here we go.

7 Card Stud … Marvin Simmons and me

A game was gathered. I said I would play. Cigarette smoke, Cigars, Chew cups, drinks, adult and soft, the sacred decks, and of course, your stake for the duration. If ya got tapped out or called, someone would take your place.

The game was called for the next hand. Seven Card Stud..Low Chicago. For those that aren’t Poker players, or understand the game. The deal is two cards down and one up for each player. The bets are made, the next deal another up, and so on till there are four up cards in front of the players or remaining players. The last card is dealt face down. The Low Chicago aspect, is the lowest Spade in the face down cards splits the pot. If it was High Chicago it would the the highest Spade.

I’m holding my own. I am still in the game. I have there Spades up Ace, Queen, eight and an off suit. My face down hole cards two off suit and a 3 of Spades. Okay, if I can’t pull this off, I’ll get at least half the pot. Unless the one I am going one on one has the 2 of Spades. It is now the last round of betting. Marvin Simmons and me. “Starvin Marvin”, was his nick name, arrogant, condescending, and so cheap he squeaked when he walked. I look at his up cards, and the way he’s betting, a possible straight, or at least 3 of a Kind. Me, I don’t have this flush made..but I match him and raise as well. I finally bluff him into submission. Show your Low Spade if you have one, was the demand. Marvin had none, me the 3 of Spades. I took the whole pot. $42.00 on a nice rake. I lucked out on that one. Ron Palletta, says lemme see your hole cards, smirks and walks outside to laugh. Ron was just watching the game, because he was called for duty in an hour.

7 Card Stud … Kent Bridgeman

This is another hand I remember. Kent was a promoted Conductor, working as a brakeman. Another game was gathered. The hands were dealt. Another 7 card Stud…Low Chicago was called. It was a good heated round, and down to the final bet. I had gotten a Full House on the sixth card dealt..a pair in my hole cards, on which was the 2 of Spades, and the other was the card that filled out the Full House off suit. I had a pair showing up. Kent was betting and raising. he had a mish-mash of garbage on the up cards, the best he could do, maybe 2 pair at best, but he had a low Spade and was raising off of that. The other player had a Straight and was playing that pretty hard.

The final bet and the cards speak for themselves. Yep that Straight was there a Queen High. I showed my Full House. Kent had nothing, but with a shit eating grin says, “But I have the 3 of Spades”, thinking he’s sharing the loot. “But I have the 2 of Spades”. LOL. We all laugh, as Kent’s jaw hits the floor. We sweep up the left over pieces of his defeat, and on to the next hand.

Last updated September 08, 2014