I went to the IBM club’s Casino Night and played no limit Hold-Em. It was fun. Everyone started with $200 in free chips. So everyone plays differently — much looser. But not me. I was tight. I only had one pocket pair tonight and the Queens held up.

The last hand of the night was amusing. Since the chips would turn into raffle tickets at the end and I could care less about the raffle prizes, I decided to go all in. I then look down at my cards: an eight of diamonds and a three of spades. The second worst hand possible. Sigh. Still, I was determined to go all in no matter what. Four other people called and I had the smallest chips of all of them, so there was still betting going on.

The flop comes Ace, King, three of diamonds! I have hope now for a flush! Then the rest of the people bet and go all in. I am sure someone has a better hand than me at the moment, but it is out of my hands. The turn is a Jack of diamonds! Yes. I made my flush with only three possible cards that will beat me (Queen, ten, nine). Now I have to hope that the board does not pair. The river is a seven of clubs. Everyone one reveals their cards and no one else has a higher diamond (or any diamond for that matter). Woo woo!

It is always fun ending the night quadrupling up.