Undercover in New York: A Poker Adventure in the City's Underground Clubs

The author found it easy to locate underground poker clubs in New York City through social media ads and Google Maps. The author and a friend visited an underground poker club in New York City called Social Poker NYC.

The author was asked to fill out an online form and send a specific word to a phone number to gain entry to Social Poker NYC. The author and his friend were instructed to press a gray button on the intercom and not mention the word 'poker' in the lobby of Social Poker NYC.

The author and his friend were greeted by a massive security guard and entered a poker room with two full tables. The author and his friend played a game of poker with an unusual straddle mechanic, where the 'stone' was added to the pot only if the previous winner was on the button or UTG. The author and his friend encountered a very loose game with players showing unusual hands on showdowns. The author and his friend experienced a high rake in the game, with the dealer collecting $30 as a cap.