If you like to gamble....

It took a moment to process how I had thrown myself into the dragon’s den without even realizing it. As soon as I could think clearly again I put my left hand into my right sleeve and pulled out a small leather bag which I used as my pure for some months now. I opened it and took out three coins which I put back into my sleeve again.

“Tonight.”, I explained and nodded upstairs.

The governor gave me a knowing smile.

“You’re going to need another one of these.”, he said before the table started to laugh dirtily.

I placed another coin from the bag in my sleeve and emptied the rest on the table.

“Looks like we have another player.”, said Troef and started handing the cards.

The game seemed to be, or at least work just like, classical standard Texas hold‘em. I wasn’t an expert in this game, but I knew the rules well enough to know when to back out. If everything went well, I would be able to stay in for one or two rounds without losing too much, maybe even more. Even if I lost all the money I had on me, there were things more important at the moment.

My cards were the heart three and the jack of spades. Not the best I could have wished for but my position required me to stay in and see what they might talk about.

We placed our bets.

Troef flipped the first three cards with their faces up.

A three of spades, queen of clubs and the ace of spades.

The governor apparently was too drunk to keep a poker face.

“What’s up governor? No luck?”

Troef grinned.

“Oh I think, I will get my money back tonight.”, he bluffed.

A tiny drop of sweat ran down his neck as he said this.

“Well, then….” laughed Troef and raised his bet.

My chances of winning probably weren’t much higher. Having a simple pair was not the worst start but having just a pair and such a low one as well, didn’t really raise my confidence. But I needed more information, so I had no choice but to somehow justify my stay. I didn’t have enough money to lose a lot, but enough to not just give up with two cards yet unknown.

When it was my turn again, I raised my bet, not much but just a little.

“Somebody’s got some balls here!”, exclaimed the gang member.

“He just doesn’t know what he is getting himself into.”, replied the governor angrily.

“Or maybe he has the discipline to stop when his money is all gone?”, suggested Troef with a smile.

The governor didn’t seem to like this comment. He turned his head away from Troef and mumbled something to himself.

“No money?”, I dared to ask while pointing shortly somewhat into the direction of the governor.

“Oh! He has enough money! He gambles on behalf of all the good people of this state!”, replied Troef, making the two officials twitch uncomfortably.

I hated the fact that they bought this whole act so well, that they even told me such delicate things without thinking twice about it.

The game continued and the next card was revealed. The king of hearts.

The governor’s face seemed to light up a little. Apparently, this card wasn’t entirely useless to him.

He raised his bet.

Troef smiled at his bold bet and waited.

His face didn’t move but his eyes seemed to belong to a predator who had locked his gaze upon its prey.

“All in!”, he declared.

“You have to be joking!”, shouted the governor.

“I’m dead serious, I’m afraid.”, Troef replied feigning something like pity in his voice.

The governor looked at Troef for a moment. He was squinting his eyes to clear his blurry view and estimate if Troef was serious or just bluffing.

They stared at each other for a moment that felt like an eternity, before the governor broke due to the pressure.

“I’m out.”, he admitted his defeat and Troef waited for the other people to decide.

The other two didn’t even wait for their turn before they quit as well.

Now they were looking at me.

“Your decision?”

Troef smiled viciously. One card left to be revealed. Nothing was lost so far, but the chances were low. If the card was a ten, then I would at least be able to get a straight, which wouldn’t be too bad, assuming Troef was really bluffing. The cards made a flush completely impossible. Best he might have at this point was a three of a kind or something of the likes.

But going all-in would maybe mean losing and having to leave the table. Did I get enough information so far? The governor seemed to be in a quite desperate position. He would probably take any chance he got to get himself out unscathed. The only question was who made the better offer.

Thinking about Troef’s position and possibilities, he might just forget all the debts the governor had made but would always be able to reveal the whole case to the public. Our best offer was killing off Troef, which came with the risk of failure.

Both decisions were risky to him, but it set our next steps. Troef should not be able to get help from anybody else.

“All-in.”, I declared with a smirk.

“I like people, who know how to take a risk!”, Troef laughed.

I smiled without saying a word. My face must have looked feeble-minded, but in my thoughts, I was revolting against being liked by somebody like Troef.

He flipped the last card open. The eight of clubs.

We flipped our cards open.

The governor jumped up.

“Going all in just with an ace as high card?!”

His face turned red from anger.

“It was you, who thought the risk was too high:”, Troef replied.

“I win.”, I declared.

“Of course! See? Everybody can win, if he is daring enough.”

Troef smiled at the governor.

As I collected the money from the pot, I had the strange feeling that Troef knew all along who would win. Like he just needed somebody to win, in order to milk the governors hopes of regaining the lost money just a little longer.

“How about another round?”, offered the governor.

“No, no. Tired.”, I said and stood up. Then I took some of the won coins and threw them back onto the table.

“Drink!”, I explained and then left to rent a room for the night.