Hello $10-20 NLH, must move, and hello Mike. I’ve dealt to Mike before and to say he’s excitable and a real crowd pleaser would be an understatement. He does gamble. He does get vocal. He tips very well. And I don’t know anyone that plays poker with him that doesn’t like playing with him.

Mike was in the 7s with a boat load of chips but every one at the table had quite a few chips except for the 4s. There was some live straddles put on the blinds and the action was hopping.

I’m not even sure how the action started in this hand. The 4s, Mike, and the 8s were all in for the flop with some raises pre-flop. The flop brought three hearts. The 4s checked, Mike checked, and the 8s bet $340. The 4s went all-in for a little over $1,000.

Mike jumped up, “I don’t know what to do!” as he looked at me. He fidgeted and sort of tangoed in place for about a half a minute and then told me he needed time.

OK!

He kibitzed and talked to himself for a moment, looked at me, looked at his opponents, and then emphatically stated, “I’m all-in.”

Now the 8s exclaimed, “I don’t know what to do!” It was a tension buster and most of us laughed.

Mike told the 8s that he had the nuts. The 8s queried him, “Really?”

Mike said yes, and told the 8s that he never lied.

Mike had been in and out of his chair at least four times and was now standing.

The 8s said something like, “Well…you did tell me you never lie…”

Mike got the most innocent look on his face as he responded, “Well…I did tell you that…and you’d better call.”

The 8s thought about it a moment longer and did call. Mike had everyone covered and he rolled over the A-9 of Hearts. The board didn’t pair and the 4s left the game. I started pushing a pot of over $13,000.

The 8s said he had K-7 of Hearts and bought more chips.

As I was pushing the chips, Mike tossed a $100 bill out and said, “This is for the dealer.” Woo HOOOO!

As he excitedly stacked chips and talked to the 8s, he asked me if that was the biggest tip I normally get. Normally? Hell, those are like snowballs falling out of hell. I said, “Yes.”

He threw me two $20 chips and said he wanted to make sure that he was the person that gave me the biggest tip. Thank you, MIKE!

Someone asked him if I’d said $500 what he would have done, he said he would have given me $600. That’s like way over the top.

Mike got called to the main game before I got pushed. Of course I’d love to deal to him all night long – and the best of it is that he’s not an anger monger. If he takes a beat, he just goes to the next hand.

The following night, Mike was in another $10-20NLH game and I stopped to visit with him for a moment. I explained that one time I had dealt a half hour down in which Shawn “Sheiky” Sheikhan had been stuck over $50,000 and he got all of his money back and winner. He gave me the $400 that was his win. But it was a half hour down and a huge comeback and in all fairness, Mike’s tip was overly generous and great for me.

Mike had some friends standing on the rail. He asked me if I would go tell them the story of the hand. I asked him if he wanted it with all of the hollywood. I told the story – his friends loved it. I told Mike I would be writing about it here. Done deal!