Part-time poker player... Full-Time Soldier
Bluff salutes the brave men and women of our armed forces fighting overseas, to whom poker is an important camaraderie builder and a welcome reminder of home. Bluff also salutes (literally) Sergeant Matt Davis, “the Marketing Director of Screaming Eagle Poker”, an organization devoted to spreading poker tournaments for our guys in Iraq.
Matt, is poker a great morale boost for the troops?
Without a doubt. A good number of the soldiers who make up Screaming Eagle Poker are playing in these tournaments between missions. Some of these soldiers have to rely on good eyesight and instinct to spot Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) before they go off, while others have had to provide medical care to their buddies next to them, in life or death situations. I definitely feel this is a good way to take the soldiers’ minds off the grim reality of living in a war zone.
The atmosphere before the game isn’t as serious as it is during the game. Before the tournaments, there’s a sense of relief throughout the room. We’re all glad to have another week we can put behind us, because it also means we’re that much closer to going home.
During the game, the room’s always filled with loud comments and trash talk. All of us know that any person in that room is well-trained and can be counted on to have our back on the field of battle. But it’s fun to compete against each other and, for a few hours each week, put rank and work issues aside, fight across the felt in the hope of winning that coveted “nylon bracelet.”
Do you guys feel there is a similarity to poker strategy and military strategy?
Sure, you can see the similarities throughout the entire game. Before the game, proper strategy and focus are the main objectives, along with getting into each other’s heads with trash talk, and there is a lot of that. There’s a sense of anticipation everywhere; it resembles a room after a pre-mission brief. There’s little emotion during the first few blind periods, since most of the soldiers in the room consider it their “mission” to win.
The soldiers who make up Screaming Eagle Poker all have competitive natures. The next tournament is the sole event some soldiers have to look forward to throughout the week. I hear it all the time. There’s a lot of anticipation for the posting of the newest points leaders. The soldiers will wait in line for more than an hour just to check their standings at the local MWR, which is the civilian-run facility that houses our weekly tournaments.
Had all the people involved played poker before?
No, we offer free lessons to anyone interested in learning the game. Many people have taken advantage of this offer and now play in our weekly tournaments.
What are the buy-ins?
Free. Our players compete for points and prizes. Points accumulate over the weeks, and there is a quarterly playoff between the top 16 players on the points leader board.
Do you play cash games as well?
It would be illegal for us, as soldiers, to gamble while deployed; so there’s never money involved.
Is there a player that everyone fears more than others?
(Laughs) Anyone wearing the nylon bracelet.
Do any of the guys have aspirations to play poker in big events when they return home?
Yes. The SEP leadership is currently seeking sponsors who would be willing to stake entry fees into bigger tournaments upon our return to the States. Some of the top players at Screaming Eagle Poker have been known to enter smaller events and have had success. Since military pay is so low, it is hard to enter the bigger events. I would feel confident putting any of Screaming Eagle Poker’s top players in any big tournament Stateside, and have them compete successfully against the best poker players in the world.
How did you guys get started?
The Screaming Eagle Poker Information Director Sergeant Brian Buschor came up with the name and pitched the idea of starting a poker league back home. About that same time, Screaming Eagle Poker President Sergeant Felix Gutierrez and Vice President Sergeant Andrew Hart were holding their own No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments at Fort Campbell in April 2005. Screaming Eagle Poker Marketing Director Sergeant Matthew Davis and Information Director Sergeant Brian Buschor talked about holding more tournaments and volunteered their help to run them. That same day, Sergeant Gutierrez spoke about his vision of holding tournaments in Iraq, and also getting bignamed organizations in the poker community involved.
When the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault!) arrived in Iraq, there were poker tournaments being held at the main recreation center, but there were no more than ten regular players. The tournaments were poorly run and the director had never even played poker. After four weeks of promotion, the attendance for these tournaments jumped from 17 soldiers in the first week, to over 70 soldiers a week. The Board of Directors was formed and can be credited for getting Screaming Eagle Poker to where it is today.
How can we learn more?
Be sure to visit us at our website www.screamingeaglepoker.org for all the most recent news on our organization, points leader boards, photo gallery, product line, and also to participate in our weekly contests!
Screaming Eagle Poker is also raising money for Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom injured or killed soldiers and their families! Please visit our website to participate in this charitable fundraiser, which we hope to make a permanent part of our organization.
