A Message to the People at One of Oxford Casino’s Card Tables in Maine

Dear Card Table People,

One of my favorite things about Oxford Casino is the alternative poker games they offer. Because since I'm not a frequent gambler (even though, quite honestly, I freakin love the casino,) I'd be that guy that would screw up everyone else at a traditional poker table where we're all trying to beat the dealer.

But with Oxford Casino amazingly offering alternatives like Louisiana Stud where you only have to worry about impacting your own hand, not anyone else's, it gives the occasional gambler like me a chance to play and win without possibly upsetting an entire table's worth of people.

And that's where you all come in, Card Table People, because you were all at the Louisiana Stud table that I sat down at.

I'm not sure what you all thought of me at first because before I actually sat down, I stood behind a couple of empty seats for a good few minutes. See, I've played similar games to Lousiana Stud before like Let It Ride and Mississippi Stud, but it had been a long time since so I was trying to remember how to play/how to bet.

Once I thought I had it down again, I sat down and started playing. And there's no doubt that silently, you all not only knew that I was greener than goose poo but also probably thought I was an absolute idiot. Because cards I received that I should've played (and actually thought I was), I kept accidentally telling the dealer that I wanted out of the hand.

And it was when I tried to place a bet on a hand I had already accidentally folded on that you realized my mistake and struggle -- and that's when you restored my faith in humanity.

After the person sitting to the right of me mentioned that I couldn't bet on the hand because I already folded, the dealer, Jay, said the hand signal I was making -- which I thought was me telling him I didn't want to bet anymore for the round -- was actually the universal signal to fold the hand.

Immediately, Jay and the rest of you sitting at the table with me started helping me out along the way, giving me tips on how to bet and even to bet the maximum amount allowed when I had a winning hand before the game was finished.

But there was one move that one of you made that really made me realize I was lucky to be sitting at the table I was, and that I was sitting with a bunch of insanely stellar humans. Because there was one game where I already had a winning hand before it ended, in which case you'd bet the maximum amount of money allowed to win the most money you could.

Only problem? I didn't have enough to reach the maximum amount -- until the person sitting to the right of me flipped me a $25 chip to make up the difference. You did it without hesitation, too, just flipped it right over and told me to "use this," and then refused the extra $5 chip I gave you when I slid your $25 chip back to you.

So, I just wanted to say a quick "thank you" to all of you -- you were all in the middle of what seemed like a decently long session and in a groove playing with each other, and when I sat down and started messing up my bets and ruining the flow you all had, instead of the negative reaction you could've tossed my way, you reeked of patience, friendliness, and helpfulness.

The world could use more people like you and more casinos like Oxford Casino that attract good humans.