The Poker Game
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2025 6:05 pm
The Poker Game
I grew up in and started shooting trap in Northwestern Pa.
From Fall to Spring they shoot a 50 target singles league in Northwest Pa/Southwestern NY- The Penn-York Winter League. These shoots are held on a rotational basis, changing host club every Sunday.
This was/is a popular league with 300+ participants at one time. Shoots are scheduled and run regardless of weather. Wind, snow, rain, sleet, hail, bright sunshine-try seeing a target over pristine white snow on a picture perfect sunny day. They look like aspirins doing mach 2………..
Shooters could show up and shoot with a start time of 7:00. Sign ups cut off at 3:00. Usually coffee or hot chocolate was available throughout the day with breakfast and or lunch for those that wanted.
Competition was fierce for top club honors as well as individual achievements for the League and inner club awards. The top seven scores from each club were used for the club vs club part and each club kept statistics for their own shooter recognition. The season was split into 1st half/2nd half with each club hosting once each half. The end of season culminated with a field day where we would shoot 50 singles targets for class prizes. We would also shoot games, protections, Annie Oakleys etc for cash prizes. That evening we would have an awards banquet complete with steak dinners and a band. Good times!
There were several of us that would get to the host club early, pick the approximate time we wanted to shoot and squad accordingly. Prior to shooting we would start a poker game and continue it when we came off the line. This was a friendly game usually $1.00 ante/$2.00 limit.
On the day of this adventure we were at Brokenstraw Fish and Game (my home club) situated on Mead Run just outside of Youngsville, Pa. This is a great 2 trap club with a background nearly identical to Watauga GC in Boone.
Those of us involved had shot and subsequently resumed “the game”. The primary characters in this episode were me, Big Ed, Big Ed’s wife Judy and 4 others. Seating arrangement was Ed and I were directly across the table from each other and Judy was immediately to my left. This is important to know as will be seen very soon.
Seven card stud was the game. I had a pair of Queens in the hole that I slow bet for a couple of rounds to see where “the power” was. After five cards were dealt, I had another Queen and a pair of 8s showing. Ed bet, I raised, he raised back, I call. Ed is showing three spades and a heart. I pegged him for a flush and knew I had him on the line. Everyone else folded as Ed and I continued our little battle. At the end, Ed confidently rolled out his King high flush. I covered him with my full house……
At that point Ed wanted to get romantic, he looked across the table at me and said “Johnson, you can just kiss my a$$, Now remember I told you his wife was sitting beside me. Soooooo me being me, I leaned over and gave Judy a kiss. Everybody burst into laughter and thought it was hilarious, everybody except Judy that is. After I got off the floor, I pulled in the pot and the game continued. Then she laughed. All in the name of fun and games
Until next time. Dan
I grew up in and started shooting trap in Northwestern Pa.
From Fall to Spring they shoot a 50 target singles league in Northwest Pa/Southwestern NY- The Penn-York Winter League. These shoots are held on a rotational basis, changing host club every Sunday.
This was/is a popular league with 300+ participants at one time. Shoots are scheduled and run regardless of weather. Wind, snow, rain, sleet, hail, bright sunshine-try seeing a target over pristine white snow on a picture perfect sunny day. They look like aspirins doing mach 2………..
Shooters could show up and shoot with a start time of 7:00. Sign ups cut off at 3:00. Usually coffee or hot chocolate was available throughout the day with breakfast and or lunch for those that wanted.
Competition was fierce for top club honors as well as individual achievements for the League and inner club awards. The top seven scores from each club were used for the club vs club part and each club kept statistics for their own shooter recognition. The season was split into 1st half/2nd half with each club hosting once each half. The end of season culminated with a field day where we would shoot 50 singles targets for class prizes. We would also shoot games, protections, Annie Oakleys etc for cash prizes. That evening we would have an awards banquet complete with steak dinners and a band. Good times!
There were several of us that would get to the host club early, pick the approximate time we wanted to shoot and squad accordingly. Prior to shooting we would start a poker game and continue it when we came off the line. This was a friendly game usually $1.00 ante/$2.00 limit.
On the day of this adventure we were at Brokenstraw Fish and Game (my home club) situated on Mead Run just outside of Youngsville, Pa. This is a great 2 trap club with a background nearly identical to Watauga GC in Boone.
Those of us involved had shot and subsequently resumed “the game”. The primary characters in this episode were me, Big Ed, Big Ed’s wife Judy and 4 others. Seating arrangement was Ed and I were directly across the table from each other and Judy was immediately to my left. This is important to know as will be seen very soon.
Seven card stud was the game. I had a pair of Queens in the hole that I slow bet for a couple of rounds to see where “the power” was. After five cards were dealt, I had another Queen and a pair of 8s showing. Ed bet, I raised, he raised back, I call. Ed is showing three spades and a heart. I pegged him for a flush and knew I had him on the line. Everyone else folded as Ed and I continued our little battle. At the end, Ed confidently rolled out his King high flush. I covered him with my full house……
At that point Ed wanted to get romantic, he looked across the table at me and said “Johnson, you can just kiss my a$$, Now remember I told you his wife was sitting beside me. Soooooo me being me, I leaned over and gave Judy a kiss. Everybody burst into laughter and thought it was hilarious, everybody except Judy that is. After I got off the floor, I pulled in the pot and the game continued. Then she laughed. All in the name of fun and games
Until next time. Dan