Most people who become professional poker players probably have fairly similar backgrounds. They are competitive people who have a natural ability at cards, they learned how to play poker when they were young, and they did very well in local games and decided to try to make a living at the game. That is my background, anyway.
I started playing poker when I was in the seventh grade. Danny Robison, whom many consider to be the best seven-card stud player ever, taught me how to play. Soon thereafter, he sold me his paper route. He let me get up at 4 a.m. seven days a week (instead of him), and then waited on my porch every Friday night shuffling the cards after I collected. Danny is two years older than I (a big edge at that age), and he nearly always beat me out of my money.
My mother would always say, "Don't play cards with Danny; he's too good for you." After losing, I'd come in the house with a dejected look on my face, and with no apparent compassion, she would say, "If you're stupid enough to lose your money to Danny after working all week, you don't deserve to have any money." (My mother was unique in her ways of educating.)
When I went off to college (Ohio State), I quickly learned that my "poker training" with Danny would pay off. I was a much better card player than everyone in my dorm, and I played cards all the time. During the last two years of my college career, I played bridge or poker (or both) literally every day. You could say that I majored in "cards."
Following college, I joined the Army. After getting out of the service, I stayed in North Carolina and lived a "normal" life (I got married and went to work) for a few years. I was a military sales representative who sold products to PXs and commissaries in North and South Carolina. I also started playing poker in home games. As poker players know, games (especially home games) are better late at night when guys are stuck and steaming. I always hated to leave a good poker game in order to get up early the next morning and drive to some military base where I might or might not sell something and might or might not make some money.
My marriage ended after three years (probably due to the fact that I was playing poker all the time). After the divorce, I decided to make a career change. I quit my job to become a professional poker player. I figured that if I went broke, I would just go get another job. I didn't see a paycheck for the next 20 years.
For the first seven years of my poker career, I played in home games in North Carolina. I ran a game two days a week and went to other games the rest of the week. I never tired of playing and couldn't wait to get to the next game. The camaraderie was special and the games were good. Most games were dealer's choice. In those games, we had a rule: "If you could explain it, you could deal it." I've always loved that rule.
The best game I played in, however, was 100 miles away, and they dealt only one game – seven-card stud high-low, all down, with a declare! That game went two days a week for years. It started at noon and you had to get there on time to get a seat. The game was always full – usually with a few pros, but mostly with tobacco farmers, prominent businessmen, and a houseman who consistently blew back the cut.
That high-low game was unique. You had to bet or get out – there was no checking. The last bettor declared first. You could declare high, low, or both ways (but you had to win both ways to scoop; ties lost). The game featured progressive betting of $5-$10-$15-$20 (we started with four cards) until about midnight, and then it went to $10-$20-$30-$40. The betting rotated clockwise from the dealer's left. Position on the end was the key to the game.
Believe me, a "bet or get out" game plays a lot faster than a normal game (and having all cards dealt down didn't slow the action, either). Just thinking about that game brings a smile to my face. It was the best game I've ever seen. It was a pure joy to play poker every day. Those truly were "the good old days."
Next time, I'll tell you about becoming a pro in Las Vegas. Take care.
Mike Sexton is the executive host for PartyPoker.com and a commentator for the World Poker Tour.