Ladies Night Out

It's nice to see both Grosvenor and Stanley's beginning to cater to the 50 percent of the population that's been largely ignored and bypassed during the current poker explosion. Of course, I am not referring to the weaker sex, but to that part of the population that's made of "sugar and spice and all things nice." They both have started running ladies-only tournaments. In fact, Stanley's Stoke casino has allocated Tuesday as girls night out. It has added money every week and we also have been plied with free drinks from the bar (champagne the first week) and snacks. Stanley's is also running a £250 buy-in ladies tournament in September, to be held at its Star City casino in Birmingham. It is guaranteeing a prize pool of £25,000 and giving the winner a diamond bracelet, as well!



No doubt, some guys will complain that it's sexist. Perhaps it is, but I wouldn't scream too loudly if they held men-only competitions, even though I prefer to play against men rather than women. Are ladies-only tournaments necessary? At this moment in time, I think they are. Women are by nature less adventurous than men, so they need to see that casinos are not seedy establishments of ill repute, but safe places where they can socialise and perhaps win some money without being hassled or harassed. The Tuesday night event at Stoke is only a small thing, but even so, a couple of ladies at my table were actually very nervous. They had never been to a casino before and had never played live poker, but inasmuch as the atmosphere was very pleasant and friendly, I think they overcame their jitters and enjoyed themselves.



There was no showing off from "know-it-alls" trying to embarrass newcomers, no testosterone-charged arguments, no flexing of muscles, no swearing, and definitely no throwing of cards at the dealers. When the ladies suffered a bad beat, they took it on the chin. Nobody threw a tantrum because lady luck had deserted her, and what's more, no one felt the need to wear shades or listen to an iPod! All in all, it was a very civilized affair. It was exactly what is required to attract and retain new blood. Once women begin to feel at ease in this new gambling environment, they won't be satisfied with ladies-only tournaments.



In fact, by the third week, some ladies began to suffer from withdrawal symptoms, and it was suggested that men might be allowed to play. Fortunately, sound advice prevailed, and before the floodgates were opened, a few conditions were laid down. A dress or skirt accompanied by high heels would be obligatory. Although welcome, we would not be looking for a fashion statement from the men, just smart casual with no sweaty armpits. Waxed legs definitely were compulsory, and, of course, no facial hair. There was a heated debate as to whether the men would also have to have their hair styled, undergo botox and oestrogen injections, have manicures, and, of course, wear makeup. But in the end, common sense prevailed, and it was decided that lipstick and wigs or head scarves (for the follicly challenged) would suffice. For those brave men allowed to join in, the following subjects of conversation would be absolutely taboo: anything to do with sports (especially football) and anything remotely connected to cars. On the other hand, they would be encouraged to discuss where to go for a good night out, the drudgery of housework, how to encourage children to eat more vegetables, planning the next holiday, fighting the flab, juggling the school run with dental appointments, who's getting hitched to whom, and, generally, important matters like that. So far, though, no one's been brave enough to suggest this to the men, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.



Of course, there are already quite a few women who have succeeded big time in the last couple of years and substantially raised the bar for the rest of us girls. Xuyen Pham (Bad Girl) winning the televised Gaming Club championship in 2004, Helen Chamberlain coming second in the 2005 Ladbrokes Poker Million after only a couple of quick lessons, and, last but not least, Tiffany Williams coming 15th in the WSOP last year and winning $400,000, all from a £10 satellite, just goes to show what can be achieved. So, let's have more ladies-only tournaments so that even more women are encouraged to play and progress to take on the boys.