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 he Guardian Poker Column |
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| Victoria
Coren |
| Wed 19 January
2011 |
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Poker: The 'ladies only'
tournament
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Victoria
Coren had misgivings, but playing in a women-only tournament she had fun and
won money
At the PCA
poker festival in the Bahamas, I played a "ladies only" tournament for the
first time since the World Series of Poker in 2001.
Back then, I wasn't
a serious player. Very few women were. This was a novelty tournament, held on
Mother's Day, for the wives, girlfriends and mums of the "real" players, ie
men. All the entrants got a rose to take home, and the tournament director
asked spectators to give us a round of applause "for looking so lovely".
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Poker has changed since then, and so have
I. None of us looks lovely nowadays. I'm joking. I look amazing. I'm joking.
The game has changed because of the internet; women who were put off by poker's
late hours, distant locations and open aggression are now playing at home
without these obstacles.
Meanwhile, I play poker all the time, I don't
fear any opponent and I like to take my shot against an open field. For a
while, I disliked the very principle of women-only tournaments (why the
handicap? This isn't weightlifting, it's a game of cards), until I was
persuaded that they are great for newcomers who are shy to transfer into the
male-dominated live arena. Anything that brings in new players is good for the
game. I just felt they weren't for me.
This year, a fellow female pro
told me I was an idiot. She reminded me that poker is all about looking for the
best spots to win money. A limited field, with many relative newcomers, was
bound to offer value. So I gave it a spin and made the final, winning $9000.
Almost more importantly, it was an enjoyable and different couple of days.
I might play a few more ladies' events this year. Fun and money; what
more can you ask from the game?
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