by Ale Menendez
On Wednesday, Feb. 27, the Castaways hosted their annual Poker and Chess Tournament after school in the cafeteria in hopes of raising funds for their fight against cancer. For any average explorer, this event seemed exceedingly promising, as it offered a chance for anyone with $10 to turn it into a “fortune” in just an hour.
The way tournament operated was essentially through a process of elimination. First, players were expected to “buy in” with $10 and then begin playing. Once they lost that money (which many of them did), it would be contributed to the larger pot until only one student was left standing and got to take home the prize of Castaways merchandise while the pot would be contributed to the Castaways fund.
This was more than just a game to competitors.
“I asked my mom to lend me 5 bucks for this,” says student Zack Smith. “If I lose it, I think she'll kick me out of the house.”
And with living conditions on the line, these players played their hearts out. Through raises and folds, checks and calls, the player pool quickly started to dwindle, and the promise of victory seemed just that much closer for the remaining players.
In terms of the chess side, students battled it out in a game known for logic and mental fortitude. Chess club champions battled it out against Mr. Cantor in hopes to prove their superiority, however, both parties have chosen to withhold the outcome of their games in the spirit of chess being “a gentleman's game.”
Although mainly appealing to students, this event also attracted some teachers with a gambling inclination. Mr. Aviles, Mr. Corazon and Mr. Crossman helped operate and participate in these games, teaching some finance and economic lessons outside the classroom and angering students for the afternoon.
“It’s a great time and it's a great cause,” says Mr. Crossman, “I’m always happy to help with the Castaways in any way that I can but I, myself, am a bit of a gambler, and it's fun for students to get to see their teachers in a different light during events like this.”
Through encouraging the process of absolutely “ethical gambling,” both the Castaways and Columbus provided an experience of fun and value to these students, an experience whose profits or losses can teach a great deal. However, in terms of how the “average Columbus student” chooses to gamble his money in this tournament, Mr. Crossman has identified a trend in his last 2 years of playing, and lets just say that it does not abide by Kenny Rogers advice of “knowing when to hold em’ and know when to fold em’.”
“It’s funny because everyone wants to play small until they get down, once they get down, it’s go big or go home. Very reflective of how they choose to study for my and other teachers' tests,” says Mr. Crossman.
Perhaps it is the absence of country music in students' listening lives that keeps them from success in the field of gambling and test-taking at Columbus.
Despite the insights that gambling may give teachers into students' studying habits, students still manage to have a great time at this event year in and year out.
“I just love playing poker, so it’s great to come out here and be able to share it with all of my classmates,” says Junior Luke Smith.
Despite many, many students reaping $10 losses throughout the tournament, some lucky winners were able to walk away with some Castaways merchandise.
Overall, there is no other event throughout the year at Columbus quite like the Castaways Poker and Chess Tournament. Although many teachers will attest to the fact that many underground online poker games are being played during classes, in the halls and at lunch, the ability to play Poker against teachers provides a unique opportunity for students to see a different side to their teachers.
Through this invaluable and exciting experience, both Columbus and the Castaways are allowing for the simultaneous raising of funds to fight cancer, and honest to God fun between students and teachers that furthers the connectedness of the school and brotherhood as a whole.