Today I received an invitation to play in a Bridge Tournament. No big deal until you realize what this entails. I’ve played Bridge for many years, about as long as I’ve played Poker. I like to think that I’m a pretty good Bridge player and I have a long list of successes at the game. What is intriguing is the format of this tournament. It is being put on by an Alumni Association that I belong to and requires a $100 registration fee. Bridge being a partnership game I looked to see how the partnering was to be accomplished. It is by lot. No teams are allowed to register, rather everyone signs up individually and is assigned a partner at a drawing to be held prior to the start of the tournament.
Next to capture my attention is the prize pool. The first place prize (to be split between the two team members) is estimated to be $10,000.00 (It’s a winner take all tournament). It could be more but most likely will be less since I think that their participation estimates are far above what will actually occur. But for arguments sake let’s allow them their fantasy and consider the first prize to be $10,000 or $5,000 apiece for each team member. Keep those numbers in mind.
I am playing in a charity Poker tournament soon that has similar registration costs, similar prize pool and similar structure (except the partnership - obviously). They will have no problem filling their desired number of players and will in fact have a waiting list of players who found out about the tournament too late to register. One big difference is that the Poker tournament will pay 20 places. I floated these two tournaments by an acquaintance I have in the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation for those of you not in Colorado) and asked why the Bridge tournament is out in the open, has never been questioned as to legality and no Bridge tournament has ever been raided by the CBI?
The answer will astound you. Bridge is considered (by the State of Colorado) to be a game of skill and therefore not subject to the gambling statutes. Poker is considered to be a game of chance and therefore subject to those same statutes. Looking back on both games with a view encompassing some 50 years playing both, I object. It is often said of Bridge that it is like sex, if you don’t have a good partner you’d better have a good hand. Skill is important, extremely so if you are unsure of the skills of your partner. However a really good hand can negate to a large extent the failings of a partner. That’s pure luck. With a foot in both worlds I have to say unequivocally that Poker is no more dependent on luck than is Bridge. In either game a highly skilled player can find themselves on the rail with a run of bad luck. In either game, over the long haul, a skilled player will find themselves in the winners circle far more often than can be explained by the forces of luck. Why the dichotomy? Why does the State of Colorado discriminate between players of Bridge and players of Poker? I am sending this to various State Representatives and Senators as well as posting it on this site. I would like an answer, a real answer and not platitudes, excuses and anecdotes. It’s time for a change (to borrow a line from our new President).
Gary R Reed
Colorado State Director
Poker Players Alliance