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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Every Thursday at 1:00 p.m., the seniors of Medfield gather together to play poker at the Council on Aging. There are a number of poker groups that meet in the area - one of the other notables is located in Millis - however, the Medfield group has a particular tone and style all its own.
“You need a thick skin,” one of the players emphasized three or four times as he and his colleagues discussed their poker playing. Gathered around a table made by one of their participants, the group used nickels to lay their bets, engaging in a rapport only years of playing together could possibly produce.
“We don’t really play poker, we play cards,” one participant shared. “The games are invented. They tend to be poker-ish - usually, though, the winning hands are based on some form of poker. We play five-card, seven-card stud, also.”
One man shared that that’s the reason they don’t have as many players as some of the other groups. “We’d love to have more players, but they can’t be purists!” he said. You can definitely see why.
The group is, however, looking for more players. They’ve gotten together for the past five or six years (no one can quite remember the exact date) to play. At times, they have had up to 12 people. However, it has slowed in attendance over the past few years. “You’ve got to know the rules. If you come in and don’t know the rules or have never played, it’s kind of difficult,” one player explained. “You have to know what beats what. You need the basic knowledge. Like three of a kind beats two of a kind, etc. Most of the people have played poker before, even if it’s just around the kitchen table.”
Their poker playing is fun and at times irreverent. Different players create games with new rules as the dealer circles around the table. They’re not afraid to poke fun at each other. For example, one player shouted, “You raised a dime and you didn’t even have a straight?!” at another after what he deemed a ridiculous bet.
One of the most impressive facts is that Jim Arnott created their poker table. He also makes canes with all types of themes from firearms, to baseball themed canes, and decorative ones for women. He is surprisingly humble about his abilities, though his work does shine for itself.
The group thrives off of one another, each personality enhancing the next. Hopefully they will continue to play for years to come.
