Darya Krashennikova: Poker is in My DNA
1 min read
Community & StoriesMay 1, 2019·1 min read
A Teenager's Journey into New York's Poker Underworld
The author, at 17, bought a used Mazda 6 with a 220 horsepower engine and a good sound system. His first job as a poker dealer was at a club called 'Piki' on Long Island. The author found a poker dealer course on DVD and a book titled 'The Professional Poker Dealer’s Handbook' to learn the profession. He also bought a poker table, Polson chips, and KEM standard cards for daily practice.
The author found a job posting for poker dealers on Craigslist and was hired for a weekly poker league tournament at a bar on Long Island. One of the dealers at the bar tournament was Gary, a tall, thin, and tanned man in his 50s who gave the author his business card for the 'Piki' poker club. Gary mentioned that the Chesterfield club from the movie 'Rounders' was based on a real club that was shut down due to politics. He worked at The Diamond Club, the first club in the city with its own dealers, before it was shut down.
The author received a message from Gary inviting him to play at the 'Piki' club with a $100 bonus for new players. The author learned that the rake at the 'Piki' club was 10%.
Share this article
By
Argus RivenI've spent years at the tables — cash and tournaments — and just as long shaping poker copy behind the scenes: room reviews, bonus fine print, tournament notes. At PokerInsider I write the way I wish more sites would: clear structure, honest trade-offs, no hype. Whether you're new or already grinding, I care about what the offer actually costs you — rake, variance, and the fine print — and I treat responsible play as part of the job, not a footnote.
♠More in Community stories
Play'n GO Unveils New Slot Game Wrappin’ More Gold
1 min read
Poker Players Go Wild Over Ocean KO Tournaments: A Social Media Roundup
1 min read
←All Articles♠ PokerInsider