Section 1: The Plan
“Sun City Card Club is a real place. It’s in El Paso, but wow, I can’t believe this is for real,” Detective Johnson said to himself as he went through the Sun City Card Club website that he found on a google search. “Obviously, I have to go. Anyone would do the same if they were in my situation,” Detective Johnson tried to convince himself.
Detective Johnson was known for his dedication and integrity as a decorated cop in Houston. He even saved a young boy’s life by pulling him out of a burning car. Outside of his demanding job, he enjoyed playing poker, finding solace in the strategic complexities of the game. His love for poker extended beyond the cards; he had recently taken up refurbishing poker tables and reselling them for a bit of extra income. It was a hobby that combined his love for the game with his knack for handiwork.
One afternoon, Johnson arrived at a residence to purchase a poker table he saw for sale online. He was excited because it was super cheap, and looked to be in great condition. Surely he would be able to flip it for a nice profit. The seller was a woman, probably in her late 20s, who seemed not at all interested in poker, yet there was a bunch of poker paraphernalia in the garage. “Just curious, how do you have all this poker stuff if you don’t play?” She answered, “It belonged to my ex husband, and he hasn’t come to pick it up and I’m tired of holding it, so I just want to get rid of it.” Johnson began looking around, and saw what appeared to be a case of poker chips. “Do you mind if I open this?” “Go ahead,” the woman answered. He opened the case, and the entire case was filled with red chips. He picked one up to examine it. They were $5 chips and they were marked with Sun City Card Club. “Imagine this was a real club,” he thought to himself, “but it is probably some kind of promotional fake club chips.” He figured he could find a private game that can find use for them. “How about I give you an extra $50 for this set of poker chips.” “Sounds good to me!”
Back at home, curiosity got the better of him. He typed “Sun City Card Club” into Google and was surprised to find it was a real club in El Paso. The website showed photos of what appeared to be a bustling club with multiple tables and a vibrant poker scene. The prospect was tantalizing. Here he was, a cop with $10,000 worth of legitimate poker chips. The thought of quietly introducing them into a game and walking away with a profit was too good to ignore.
“I’m not a criminal,” he reassured himself. “Just a poker player who got lucky.”
He packed the chips into the trunk of his car, the weight of them a constant reminder of the potential windfall. As he closed his trunk shut, he couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease. “It’s now or never,” he said aloud, grabbing his car keys, and getting into his car.
The drive to El Paso was long and monotonous. The Texas landscape rolled by, barren and unchanging, giving him too much time to think. He rehearsed his plan, considering every angle and possible scenario. By the time he arrived in El Paso, dusk was settling over the city, and he felt a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Section 2: The Arrival
Detective Johnson pulled into the bustling parking lot of the Sun City Card Club, nestled in a shopping center in El Paso. The exterior was well-maintained, with a modern facade that matched the upscale photos he had seen online. It was as expected, yet he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease.
“Looks pretty legit,” he muttered, adjusting his backpack on his shoulder, which contained about $500 worth of poker chips. He took a deep breath and walked towards the entrance.
Inside, the club was welcoming and lively. The interior was stylish, with well-lit tables and a friendly atmosphere. Patrons laughed and chatted, the air filled with the sounds of clinking chips and shuffling cards. It was a mix of locals and the occasional out-of-towner, including another player who was there on business.
Johnson approached the registration counter, where a friendly receptionist asked for his ID. He handed it over, watching as she entered his details into the system.
“Welcome to Sun City Card Club, Mr. Johnson,” she said with a smile, handing back his ID and a membership card. “Enjoy your game, and good luck!”
Johnson made his way to the main room, where two tables were in play. It seemed that the number of active tables was fewer than he had anticipated. He found an open seat at one of the tables, the players welcoming him warmly.
“New player, huh?” one of the locals said, extending a hand. “Welcome! Always nice to have fresh faces.”
The atmosphere was lively and friendly, the players engaging in cheerful banter. Johnson played well, his skills and charm quickly winning him favor. He tipped the waitress and dealers generously, blending in seamlessly. As the night progressed, he carefully introduced a small number of his own chips into the game, ensuring not to draw any suspicion. By 2 AM, he had won a decent amount just by playing poker, his stack a mix of legitimate and his own chips.
“Calling it a night?” the dealer asked Johnson as he began to rack up his chips.
“Yeah, gotta get some rest,” he replied, carrying his rack of chips and heading to the cashier. “I’ll be back tomorrow.” He cashed out the entirety of his chips, and stuffed the cash into the pocket of his jeans.
The owner of the club approached as he was leaving. “Hey, we have a morning game at 11 AM,” the owner said. “First six players get a $100 promo. You should join us.”
Johnson nodded, making a mental note. He returned to his hotel, pondering his next move now that he had a better understanding of this particular club’s dynamics. He realized it was going to take forever to sneak in $10,000 in poker chips into this club. He began scheming in his head. Thinking he will have to pull aside one of the dealers or waitresses and make a deal with them.
Section 3: The Play
The next day at 10:30 AM, he was back at the club, ready to claim his promotional offer.
He settled into his seat, his mind still working through the details of his plan. He handed his membership card to the poker dealers who were not the same ones as the night before. “How much would you like to buy,” the dealer asked Johnson. “Oh I’m good I still have my chips from last night.” And he began to pull out chips from his backpack and stack him on the table. The dealer thought it was weird, but it was certainly possible. The game progressed smoothly, the players getting animated and the energy high as the coffee was being poured liberally. Johnson continued to play well, keeping the mood light with good conversation and generous tips.
Unbeknownst to him, the game he had left at 2 AM had continued until 6 AM. During the morning audit, the staff noticed a discrepancy between the chips bought and the cash accounted for. The owner, exhausted, had brushed it off, saying, “We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
By the time the owner arrived at 4 PM the next day, Johnson was still at the table, having been playing since the 11 AM start.
Section 4: The Suspicion
By mid-afternoon, the Sun City Card Club was in full swing. Johnson, having played since the 11 AM start, felt a surge of confidence. He was careful, only introducing a few more of his own chips into the game. The players were friendly, and the atmosphere remained lively.
Around 4 PM, the manager arrived, fully rested and began greeting everyone warmly.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Johnson. How’s the game treating you?”
“Pretty good,” Johnson replied, returning the smile. “It’s a great crowd.”
The morning dealer that checked in Johnson caught the owner’s attention and whispered something in his ear. They both glanced subtly towards Johnson, who pretended not to notice but felt his pulse quicken.
The owner and dealer stepped into a back room, leaving Johnson with a growing sense of unease. “They’re onto me,” he thought. “Time to cash out and get out of here.”
Section 5: The Confrontation
Johnson stood up and made his way to the cashier, his face a mask of calm despite the turmoil inside. He handed over his chips, the cashier beginning to count them.
Suddenly, the owner appeared at his side. “Hold on a minute,” he said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “Where did you get these chips?”
Johnson felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. “Can we talk in private?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The owner nodded and led him to the back office. Once the door was closed, Johnson took a deep breath and pulled out his badge. The owner and the dealer, who had joined them, looked stunned. The owner had a million thoughts racing through his mind about what this could be about before Johnson began to explain.
“I’m Detective Johnson from Houston,” he began. “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble. I came into possession of these chips by chance. I thought I could use them here without any issues.”
The manager folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “And how exactly did you get these chips?”
Johnson explained the situation, explaining his entire background, the woman poker table seller, and how he had acquired the chips thinking they were promotional items. “I didn’t realize the implications until I got here, but let’s be honest. You would have done the same thing. Anyone would,” he said.
The owner replied, “Let’s cut the bullshit. You said you have about $10k in chips sitting in your hotel room. How much do you want for them?”
“I’m willing to make a deal,” Johnson replied. “I’ll sell the rest of the chips to you for $3,000, and we can all walk away from this.”
The owner and dealer exchanged glances. After a moment, the manager spoke. “Nah, that’s way too much. We’ll give you $1,000. Take it or leave it.”
Johnson knew he had no leverage. “Alright, $1,000 it is.”
Johnson left for his hotel room, and returned with the case of poker chips. He went to the club’s backroom with the owner, and sure enough, there was nearly $10,000 in Sun City Card Club poker chips. This is the moment the owner realized where these chips came from.
This club had originally opened with another business partner. When they first purchased their poker chips, they realized they had purchased way more than they needed, and the owners split up the extra chips, each putting them safely away in storage. Well, that business partner ended up stepping down from the card club business and relocated to Houston with his wife at the time, with the extra poker chips forgotten about. Until now.
The owner wrote him a check, which Johnson accepted with a mix of relief and resignation. He left the office and exited the club, feeling the weight of his actions settle heavily on his shoulders. At his hotel room, he made a mobile deposit and it appeared to go through. He then proceeded to check out of the hotel, so he could head back home.
As he drove back to Houston, his phone buzzed with a notification. The check had been canceled.
“Damn,” he cursed, gripping the steering wheel. The thrill of the scheme was gone, replaced by the bitter taste of failure and the looming threat of exposure.
To be continued…
El Paso Poker Blog 
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