SUN CITY – A simple question asked at a Christmas party was the only spark Betty Barnett, of N. 22, needed to get the residents of Sun City holding, folding, and dealing in poker games throughout the community.
While there are numerous groups playing poker in Sun City today, Barnett originally intended to make one group, after a request came from a neighbor.
“When this gal approached me to start a poker game, I thought back, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I don’t think I have played poker for 30 years, if not longer,’” Barnett said. “But I thought, ‘Well, it comes back to you.’ It’s not like you forget.”
Barnett quickly picked up the game again, creating Ladies’ Poker Group #1, the first in her neighborhood. Soon, Barnett formed more groups for men and women.
As interest grew and the ante was upped, Barnett decided it would be a good idea to sign players up as substitutes, in case others could not make it to games.
Reaching out to the rest of Sun City to find substitutes, Barnett once again received a huge response.
“I didn’t realize what I opened up, because by doing that, I now was just bombarded with poker players,” she said.
At first, Barnett personally welcomed all the new poker groups by inviting them to her home and sharing cake and coffee.
“And then it just started to snowball more and more, and pretty soon, I was just taking applications over the telephone,” she said.
Barnett said that after giving new groups contact sheets, schedules, and some information on the game, she prefers to let them develop on their own.
Today, there are 16 women’s groups and ten men’s groups playing poker in Sun City.
In addition to men’s and women’s groups are two couples’ groups, which gives Sun City couples a chance to mingle.
“It’s a nice way for a couple to meet other people,” Barnett said. “And the same with the men and with the women; you meet other people.”
Although poker is often portrayed as a cutthroat, competitive game, Barnett said the groups have a great time playing.
“We have a lot of fun,” she said. “I mean, we just have a lot of laughs playing.”
Barnett acknowledged Ed Serafin of N.2 as a key partner in starting the leagues by providing her with cards. She added that if any groups are in need of cards, they should not hesitate to contact her.
Barnett’s own personal touch is what has dealt Sun City’s poker groups winning hands.
“The nice part I think about it is that unlike a lot of the clubs, which take place in the clubhouse, you are in somebody’s residence,” she said. “So it’s more personal and more friendly.”
