Spring Break
niedfeldt residents make poker night a weekly tradition
Mary Petrides
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
A couple newspapers and a chess game sprawled on the top of a little round table in Niedfeldt Residence's lobby. The curtains were open and the campus's nighttime lights glowed into the room. Two small bottles of RC Cola leaned against a small white case.
It was poker night.
Voices arose from downstairs. Four men came into the lobby, one in a sweater and tie; another in a white undershirt. One was barefoot. Another began collecting chess pieces from the table.
"We'll be just a second. We're rounding up the guys."
"Is Evan here yet? Evan!"
Finally, six men sat down at table: sophomores Matt Noble, Josiah Hersey, Forrest Kelly and Evan Johnson, freshman Jason Kelly and Matt's brother Josh Noble, a high school student visiting for Parents Weekend.
Except for Josh, these men are regulars at Niedfeldt's weekly poker night, usually held at 9 p.m. on Fridays. Normally, about seven or eight students come to play, they said. Some nights are so busy they set up two tables.
Each man threw his $2 buy-in onto the table. Coins from Hersey's hand clinked onto its surface, earning him disapproving looks.
"What, I had a lot of change," he said, defending himself.
Matt Noble looked at him. "Dimes and nickels?"
The money was counted, straightened and set on a lamp stand in the corner of the room. Chips were distributed and an iPod retrieved from upstairs.
They usually play Texas Hold 'em, but Johnson said they've played Three Card Brag before.
"It's a British/Indian type of poker. It's kind of a cool way to play. It's a little faster," Johnson said. "It's kind of like a game of chicken until two people are left."
Johnson said he enjoys the camaraderie of poker nights, and the others grunted and nodded in agreement.
"We play to have a good time," Noble said.
"I think it's the community more than anything," sophomore Seth James said.
James said he regularly attends poker nights and when he passed through the lobby, the others asked him to play. He said he had another engagement that night.
"You're going to be with women instead of with us?" Noble asked.
James cocked his head slightly. "Yes," he said.
"Hey, I respect that," Hersey said.
The men laughed and talked throughout the game, and James said he prefers the easygoing set-ting.
"At other poker nights I've been, it's seemed contrived, like there was an agenda," he said. "No agenda [here], just having a good time and winning money."
Hersey said he had other reasons for attending poker night.
"I like winning money," he said. "The only way I do laundry is if I win poker."
The others groaned.
"The rule is: let Hersey win once a month," Johnson said.
James stepped aside. "All they do is argue," he said quietly. "Just basic antagonism for other people.... That's what makes Niedfeldt poker interesting."
It was poker night.
Voices arose from downstairs. Four men came into the lobby, one in a sweater and tie; another in a white undershirt. One was barefoot. Another began collecting chess pieces from the table.
"We'll be just a second. We're rounding up the guys."
"Is Evan here yet? Evan!"
Finally, six men sat down at table: sophomores Matt Noble, Josiah Hersey, Forrest Kelly and Evan Johnson, freshman Jason Kelly and Matt's brother Josh Noble, a high school student visiting for Parents Weekend.
Except for Josh, these men are regulars at Niedfeldt's weekly poker night, usually held at 9 p.m. on Fridays. Normally, about seven or eight students come to play, they said. Some nights are so busy they set up two tables.
Each man threw his $2 buy-in onto the table. Coins from Hersey's hand clinked onto its surface, earning him disapproving looks.
"What, I had a lot of change," he said, defending himself.
Matt Noble looked at him. "Dimes and nickels?"
The money was counted, straightened and set on a lamp stand in the corner of the room. Chips were distributed and an iPod retrieved from upstairs.
They usually play Texas Hold 'em, but Johnson said they've played Three Card Brag before.
"It's a British/Indian type of poker. It's kind of a cool way to play. It's a little faster," Johnson said. "It's kind of like a game of chicken until two people are left."
Johnson said he enjoys the camaraderie of poker nights, and the others grunted and nodded in agreement.
"We play to have a good time," Noble said.
"I think it's the community more than anything," sophomore Seth James said.
James said he regularly attends poker nights and when he passed through the lobby, the others asked him to play. He said he had another engagement that night.
"You're going to be with women instead of with us?" Noble asked.
James cocked his head slightly. "Yes," he said.
"Hey, I respect that," Hersey said.
The men laughed and talked throughout the game, and James said he prefers the easygoing set-ting.
"At other poker nights I've been, it's seemed contrived, like there was an agenda," he said. "No agenda [here], just having a good time and winning money."
Hersey said he had other reasons for attending poker night.
"I like winning money," he said. "The only way I do laundry is if I win poker."
The others groaned.
"The rule is: let Hersey win once a month," Johnson said.
James stepped aside. "All they do is argue," he said quietly. "Just basic antagonism for other people.... That's what makes Niedfeldt poker interesting."
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