The room was a screamer. I opted to start on first break and the only break I knew I could get without a problem was 30B. That put me going into Table 1 and high limit for most of my night – no one really wants to deal that section. The players grumble and the tips are usually slim…sometimes none.

I ambled downstairs to Mangia and, to my delight and surprise, found lobster tails galore. Yoo Hoo! First time I’ve ever experienced this in the Help’s Hall. Fed and ready to Burn and Turn, I returned to the room and noticed two Security Guards in the top section. People were milling everywhere, in and out of the room, jamming the walk ways and leaning on the rails. I knew why when I hit the top section.

My first game of the New Year found me dealing $100-$200 Blind, Pot Limit Holdem to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The line-up: Mike (from Canada and a new face to me) – 1s, David S. – 2s, Mike W. – 3s, Amir V. – 4s, Ben A. – 5s, Matt D. – 6s, Lee S. – 7s, Renee – 8s, Chau – 9s.

I stepped behind the dealer, and gave Chau a mini finger tip, back scratch massage. Matt looked up at me with a big grin and I smiled and said, “Hi!”

He returned my greeting. He has an instant, infectious smile. His smile made me smile. I don’t believe it has anything to do with his being a STAR. He’s just charismatic.

Three ladies were seated along the credenza by the table and while I believe at least one of them was with Matt, I have no idea which one. The whole area was crowded and never really cleared out.

One obnoxious twit kept jumping over from his seat on Table 7 ($80-$160 Holdem) to bother Ben. He apparently was drinking but it’s hard to tell in some situations. Once he jumped behind Ben and demanded, “How do you like that phone? Do you like that phone?”

Ben did a drier than Kansas in a dust storm reply, “Yeah, I like the phone.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as Ben caught my eye and I asked, “Any excuse to talk to you, right?”

He rolled his eyes as if he wished they’d all blow away in that dust storm. Someone managed to escape the Security Guard and Carmen and threw a piece of paper on the table asking for an autograph. He gave them one.

These players are always well behaved anyway but with the addition of the Stars, the whole table attitude appeared to be one of light hearted fun.

Matt was drinking champagne and never knew when the bet was to him. It was fun for me. He’d look up, I’d be watching him, he’d smile and ask if it was on him, I would smile and reply, “Yes.”

Once when he looked at his cards, he laughed and then looked at me. I couldn’t help but chuckle. He asked, “I’ve really got a poker face, don’t I?”

I replied, “I love your poker face.”

The 1s won a big pot and threw me $20…after I said ‘thank you’ and locked it up, he said, “I wanted change.”

He was kidding. I told him that anything that flew my way went into my pocket unless someone immediately said they wanted change. He was cool and knew what he was doing and how to play but I wonder about the last hand I dealt….more on that in a flash.

Matt finally went all-in with the A-J of Diamonds against A-K. The 1s held A-K. The Flop was a blank, the Turn an Ace, and Matt was out of action. He had a Green and a Red chip left in front of him. The 1s asked, “What about those chips?”

Matt said, “Those are for Linda,” as he threw them to me.

I smiled at Matt and said, “I can’t cash these in, I have to frame them.”

He chuckled over that one.

Matt wanted to know if he could just sit and watch the game or if he had to give up his seat. Everyone went into ‘you can sit’ – ‘you don’t have to go’. I just flipped a Yellow button in front of him so I wouldn’t deal him in.

A few minutes later, Ben gave him a $5,000 chip and he was back in action.

The last hand I dealt found Ben and the 1s going to war. It was raised pre-flop and the Flop came A-little-little. The 1s bet the pot which was $3,800. Ben raised. The 1s turned over A-K off and pondered for a few minutes, then finally released the hand. This is the hand that made me wonder….

After I got pushed, I walked around behind Matt, and touched his arm. He looked up. I said, “Thanks. That was fun.”

He grabbed my hand for a few seconds and gave me the big smiley, agreeing with me. Damn I love poker!

The rest of the night was lively and filled with noise. Everyone seemed to be in a ‘watching the stars’ type of good behavior. Sweet!