Tournament Poker Club

Those who would like to play a fun and friendly game of Texas Hold ‘Em for a $5 buy-in should make plans to join the Tournament Poker Club on Saturday, Sept. 6. Regular tournaments are held the first three Saturdays of every month in the lobby of Clubhouse 6 with registration beginning at 10 a.m., along with treats and coffee. Cards are in the air at 10:30. There is no late seating.

On Aug. 9, the club had another great turnout for the week’s game. Each week, big hands bring special prizes. This week, the high hand winners were: Frank Sablan (A-A-A-A-K); Lem Hall (A-A-A-J-J); and Paul Carmona and Jack Pfiefer tied with (A-AA- 10-10). By playing and winning the promo hand of 9-4, Robert Stefun won a prize.

As the winners of their original table, the final table players were: Brent Covington, first place; Dennis Kotecki, second; Joe Guglielmo, third; Marvin Rolnick, fourth; Namil Shin, fifth; Lem Hall, sixth; Guta Basner, seventh; Jeff Rolnick, eighth. About 64 players started the game, and play continued until the final table, where Covington and Kotecki were head’s up. In the last hand of the match, Covington was holding A-J and Kotecki had A-9. The flop came J-3-3 and Covington went all-in with two pair. The turn was a 9—giving Kotecki a little hope—but the river was a Q, giving Covington the win.

Covington has lived in Leisure World for nine years and been a member of the club for four of those years. This was his sixth final table win at a regular tournament. In addition to tournament poker, he plays golf, likes lifting weights and does computer programming.

—Deborah Barner