"I'm begging you Jack, please teach me how to play poker. I don't want to look like a lame guy who looks embarrassed in front of his own girlfriend,” Nino begged Jack.
"Huh? Why are you asking me for such a strange favor. Do I look like a gambling player?" Jack couldn't understand why Nino would ask him to teach her how to play poker at night.
"I've heard rumors that you used to go back and forth between casinos. I don't know if that rumor is true or not. But my instincts tell me that it's true." Nino pleaded with Jack again.
Jack could only scratch his head. He had often heard strange rumors about himself and ignored them. He had even heard that he used to be a former gigolo and that led him to be promoted as a man with an ugly outlook. Although it was just a rumor that was deliberately created to bring him down.
"Oh my God. Can you not believe such cheap rumors. I'm pretty sure that you too must have heard that I was once viewed as a bad man due to those strange rumors. Now you're believing in these weird rumors,” Jack refused. Back and forth to the casino? Seriously, if it was a rumor about him going back and forth to the fish market he would believe it even more.
“But I trust my instincts.” Nino was still being stubborn.
Jack sighed heavily. “Why are you begging like this?” he asked lazily.
Nino's face looked sad. "Natasha wants to take me to the casino. To be honest, she didn't ask me to play. But because I talk so much, she thinks I'm good at poker."
A jab landed on Nino's forehead. "That's you, you have a big mouth. Tsk, now how do you account for it?"
“By asking you to teach me how to play poker,” Nino replied and was rewarded with a smack on the lips.
"Outrageous. You are, so be it. I'll teach you later after work."
Nino cheered and almost hugged Jack, before he received a punch in the stomach from Jack.
***
Jack looked at Nino with a tired look, while rubbing his wrinkled forehead. "Alright, Nino. I'll teach you to play poker. But remember, it's not something you can master overnight and don't expect to look good in front of Natasha."
Nino smiled widely, feeling halfway to becoming an accomplished poker player. "Thanks, Jack! I knew you wouldn't let me down so easily, you're my true friend."
Jack sighed once more, then began to explain the basics of poker to Nino. "First of all, let's start with the basics. Poker is a card game that uses a standard 52-card deck. There are many variations of poker, but the most common one played in casinos is Texas Hold'em. Do you know about that?" Jack gave a basic explanation to his super-novice friend Nino.
Nino nodded enthusiastically, even though he had only ever heard of it in movies, books, and the like. Because he himself had never come into contact with something like this in his life.
"Well, in Texas Hold'em, each player gets two face-down cards that only they can see. Then there are five community cards placed in the center of the table. The goal is to make the best five-card combination from the two cards in hand and the five cards on the table."
Jack took a card from the deck and started dealing cards to himself and Nino. "We start with two cards in hand. Don't show me."
Nino looked at his two cards: one heart ten and one spade five. “Okay, then?”
Jack continued, “There are four rounds of betting. First, after you look at your hand. Second, after the first three community cards are revealed at the table, called the 'flop'. Third, after the fourth community card, the 'turn', is revealed. Finally, after the fifth community card, the 'river', is revealed."
Nino nodded, trying to absorb as much information as possible. Jack went on to explain various hand combinations, from pairs to straight flushes. Nino listened carefully, but his face began to show signs of confusion.
“And remember, Nino,” Jack said, “poker isn't just about the cards you hold, but also how you read your opponent. Bluffing is a big part of the game. You have to be able to trick your opponents into thinking you have better or worse cards than you actually do."
Nino smiled, feeling like she understood a little. "Bluffing, huh? I can do that." She recalled the movie scene she had watched.
***
The next day, Nino and Natasha went to the casino. Natasha looked elegant in her black dress, while Nino tried to look confident despite being a little nervous inside. They sat at the poker table, and Nino felt that all eyes were on him.
The match started, and Nino immediately tried to apply everything he learned from Jack. At first, he was quite lucky and won a few rounds, which made him even more confident.
However, everything changed when an elderly man joined the table.He looked calm and thoughtful, with a mysterious smile on his face.Nino felt there was something familiar about the man, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before.
The game continued, and the old man kept winning round after round. Nino started to feel depressed, but she didn't want to disappoint Natasha who was sitting next to her, encouraging her.
"Take it easy, Nino.You can do it,” Natasha whispered, touching his arm gently.
Nino nodded and tried to stay focused. On the last round, he was sure he had a strong hand and decided to go all-in.The old man just smiled and followed Nino's lead.
When the cards were revealed, Nino was surprised to see that the old man had a stronger combination.He lost. Natasha tried to console him, but Nino felt embarrassed and disappointed in himself.
The old man smiled and patted Nino on the shoulder."You played well, young man.You remind me of someone I used to know."
Nino smiled bitterly, not realizing that the old man was Jack's father.
***The next day at the office, Nino couldn't resist telling Jack about the embarrassing experience."I lost badly, Jack. There was an old man at the table who beat me easily."
Jack listened carefully, and the longer Nino told the story, the more Jack realized who the old man was. “Nino, did that man seem like... well, very experienced and mysterious?”
Nino nodded."Yes, exactly.Do you know who he is?"Jack smiled slightly as if he recognized the figure of the old man.“Nino, that man who defeated you is my father.”
Nino's eyes widened. "Your father? Seriously! No way!"
Jack could only nod and silently thank God that Nino was bad at recognizing people."Yeah, he's really good at poker. So, don't feel too bad. Also, she seems to be massively active in visiting casinos. Geez even though he's old but his gambling habit is endless,” Jack complained.
Nino scratched her head, feeling confused and not understanding.
Jack's father Mr. Dott was a good gambler.Even in his youth he was very active in casinos until now. Back when Jack was a kid, Mr. Dott often taught him to play poker and made Jack quite familiar with the game and such.But since Jack wasn't interested he hardly ever played poker and such anymore.Not surprisingly Jack understands the basics of poker.