Art of the Deal

It all goes down in dimly lit barrooms amidst the sound of clanking clay poker chips and the tunes from a nearby jukebox.

"Call," a player says to the others at the table.

"Raise," the next says, placing chips out front.

The next person peeks at his cards. "Fold."

Then the next player takes a pull from his beer, eyeing the cards already face up in the center of the table.

With the beginnings of a grin, another woman counts a stack of chips.  

"I see your bet and raise."
Now the kettle's cooking, and there's talk of "pocket pairs," "ducks," "flops" and "rivers."

Oh my. 
It's called the Permian Basin Poker Tour, and it can be found six nights per week at venues across Midland.

State law prohibits the exchange of money during the games, said Midland accountant Darlyn Callen, who four years ago with her husband, Dale, founded the circuit of noncash Texas Hold 'Em poker games, but there are considerable incentives for local card sharks to bring their A-game.

But really, she said, it's more about the fun than it is about the competition. 

"We call it our poker family," Callen said. "There are some people who told me they had nothing to do. Their kids moved away and they were bored or lonely, so this gave them a chance to get out. A lot of people come for social reasons."

Of course, there is a grand prize for the region's crème de la poker crème.

After each night's tournament, she said, the top few finishers receive a graduated amount of points, which accumulate over the 12-month tour season, which usually begins and ends in May of each year. 

At the end of each year, Callen said, the person with the most points is given a $10,000 reward package that pays for them to play face-to-face with the pros in Las Vegas.

After taxes, she said, the tour enters the winner into a $5,000 game and gives them an additional $2,500 for travel expenses.

The Basin's representatives at the big-league games, Callen said, with one exception, usually have no problem holding their own against poker's giants.

"It's very nerve wracking and you're playing with all new players," she said.

This year's winner, Kendell Ross, an Odessa native who works in Midland as a freight worker, said he's been playing poker for a few years and hopes he has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the world's best later this summer or fall.

To ross, Poker is "one of those things" that "takes a moment to learn and a lifetime to master." 

"The opportunity to play with the people you see on TV is a rush, and at the same time I'm a little scared," he smiled. "Mixed emotions."
Kendell said he attended last year's tournament to provide "moral support" for his friend, who was PBPT's previous representative.

"Everywhere you looked," he said, "there was a poker celebrity."

This year, he said, the roles are reversed and his buddy will be the one "outside the ropes."

"I've made so many lifelong friends out here," Ross said, explaining that people of all walks of life can be found at a table on any given night of the week. "The friend's we've made out here have been amazing."

 Most of the 700-plus registered players in the region who attend PBPT games, however, don't dream of Sin City.

They just like to play some Hold ‘Em.

"We have a lot of very loyal players," Callen said. "Some people will come out and play and find out it's not for them. But we have had some players who have played with us the whole five years." 

IF YOU GO

>> What: Permian Basin Poker Tour games.
>> When: Scored games, five nights per week; unrated games, 1 p.m. Saturdays. 
>> Who:  Age restrictions may apply for each location.
>> Registration: Players must sign up 20 minutes before each game at the location.
>> Contact: E-mail questions to pbpokertour@gmail.com.
>> Cost: Free.
>> Prizes: Vary according to individual location. 

VENUES
>> Where: The Ranch, 4400 N Big Spring St., Midland.
>> When: Play begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

>> Where: Woofers and Tweeters, 3303 N. Midkiff Road, Midland.
>> When: Play begins at 7 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays.

>> Where: The Hog Pit Pub & Grub, 7400 W County Road 116, Midland.
When: Play begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Additional game: 1 p.m. Saturdays (not rated, shootout style).