A Dealer Visits Starbucks

We spoke of many things, the dealer and I. She visited Starbucks while I was working on my laptop.

I often see dealers from the Winstar at Starbucks, many will pull by the drive-thru window on their way to work and wave at me--sometimes I'm out on the patio; more often I'm near a window and they see me typing away on something, I'll glance up and they'll smile.

This particular dealer is one of the best at the casino. She takes her job seriously and enjoys it. We talked about playing the game, and she gave me a glimpse into the world of dealing a game that brings out the best, and the worst, in people.

She told me of one player who lost a $700 pot, only to call her a "bitch" and then follow her into the dealer's breakroom still on a fuming tilt. "As if it were my fault the guy went all-in and was outdrawn on," she said.

Then there's the guy who gave up a $100,000 a year job to become a "professional" poker player. "What an idiot," I added. Very few persons make it as a real professional, making their living just playing poker. I've heard estimates of less than 5% actually derive all of their income from poker. Most professional players you hear or read about have other sources of income outside of poker. The smart ones play poker full-time but have other business ventures or investments outside the game itself. To give up a nice job to turn "professional" is the move of an amateur.

"I'm a better player because of my dealing," she continued. "I can usually tell what cards someone has. I've seen thousands of hands and hundreds of players and it all teaches you something." Many current poker pros were once dealers, so it makes sense. The more hands you see, the more players you observe, the better your understanding of the game will be. An internet player can play thousands of hands very quickly, and that's why so many young great players have come from online gamerooms.

I told her in my opinion, some dealers need more training. We agreed that dealers have to begin somewhere, so in a casino you'll have a mixture of seasoned, well-trained, dealers and those who are just starting. New dealers will make mistakes, as do some veterans. Dealing is not easy.

"Dealing pot limit is the hardest game," she said. When someone wants to "bet the pot", the dealer must know how much is on the felt. It is difficult to track the chips. "I have to add it all up in my head and it can get really hard," she said.

I told her about a dealer I recently had who was actually giving players lessons and making comments about the board cards during the hand. "I really don't want someone, especially dealers, telling others how to play or give advice," I said. "It's my money that's at stake. And I don't care if it's $4 or $4000. Dealers need to keep their comments to themselves." I told her I think some dealers forget they are not to socialize and be a player's best pal or friend. I can see how it would be tempting for a dealer to become friendly with regulars, and even talk about the game in progress. But it is a big problem when dealers begin to offer their opinions on certain cards or game strategy.

(I heard a dealer, for example, make this comment to a player: "This is no-fold'em hold'em. People don't fold, they chase their draws. You should have hung in there." I gave the dealer a look and smiled, then I said, "Why don't we just all give each other lessons!" He could tell I was not a happy camper, regardless of the smile on my face.)

"I would get fired," the dealer told me while sipping on her cup of Starbucks Verona, "if I were talking about the play. You'll never hear me give anyone any advice."

After a while, my dealer-friend had to get to work and she left Starbucks ready for another day of dealing cards to some silly people who pluck down their money to play a silly game.