Final Table at PokerParty

January 11, 2006

When I get a little closer to the final pokerparty table action I recognize Bob Ciaffone and Johnny Chan, but that's it. Chan has a huge stack of chips, at least twice what Ciaffone has, and there's also a young bearded fellow trying hard to defend his short-stack each round. He looks a bit like a younger version of "Treetop" Jack Straus with a dark beard and probably 230- pounds on his 6-5 frame.

With a surge of popularity sparked by television coverage, Texas hold 'em PokerParty is returning to bars where the card game once prospered. However, hosting pokerparty games or even condoning gambling can cost bar owners hundreds of dollars in fines or even their liquor license.

In November, the Hooters at 966 E. Midland St. hosted a Texas hold 'em tournament sponsored by Partypoker .com, a four-week event played for an electric scooter donated by an area business. After a few successful nights, drawing anywhere from 25-40 people, Hooters owner Art Dore Jr. was told by the state Liquor Control Commission to shut the event down.

"Liquor Control came in and said any form of pokerparty could not be played in an establishment that served alcohol," Dore said. He did not consider the pokerparty tournament a form of gambling, as no one paid to enter the event or received cash in winnings. Most participants came just to play at pokerparty net.

"A lot of them said it had nothing to do with the prize, they just wanted to compete and see who was the best," Dore said. Other locations in the Bay area have canceled pokerparty nights because of Liquor Control Commission intervention in other bars. According to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, bar owners cannot host Texas hold 'em events, even if they are sponsored by PokerParty.