Small business owners are, by definition, gamblers. Every day they risk substantial investments on the prospect of a favorable outcome and taking home more than they put in.
Members of the Montana Tavern Association are small business owners and so are also gamblers. But beyond rolling the dice with business risks, many of them also enjoy a good game of chance, one of the staples of the entertainment options offered in most licensed businesses.
The annual MTA Roger Frampton Memorial Texas Hold 'Em Tournament has become a significant part of the annual MTA convention and actually draws members to the gathering, this year in Kalispell Sept. 10-13.
Sandy Jones, owner of the Best Bet in Missoula and an avid poker player herself, for the past five years--and again this year--will be organizing the substantial event. She laughs when she says she is a "committee of one."
Town Pump provides the tables and Summit Gaming delivers and sets them up. Jones brings cards and chips and arranges for the dealers, including their pay and rooms, which is covered out of tournament proceeds. Kent Frampton, also of the Best Bet group, provides trophies for first, second and third places and also furnished the big traveling trophy awarded to the champ.
Jones said this year the MTA will run six tables--one more than last year--of 10 payers each in the Monday night, Sept. 10 qualifying round which begins at 9 p.m. This takes a good-sized room, eight professional dealers many decks of cards and plenty of chips.
After qualifying, the remaining 20 players will vie for the money, trophies and bragging rights the following evening also at 9 p.m.; that will be two tables of 10 players.
It costs $100 to buy in and another $100 buy-in is optional at the end of four additional rounds. Players are advised to pre-pay with MTA to assure they have a seat at the table, though some seats will likely be still available as the convention gets underway. MTA can be contacted at 406-442-5040.
With a tournament of this scope, Jones predicted the winner could take home up to $2,500 of the total anticipated prize money of $5,000. Tournament proceeds are split between the MTA and winners after dealers are paid. The champion, then, gets 50 percent of the prize money, with second place taking 30 percent and third pocketing 20 percent.
Jones has added a couple of new twists this year. Dealers will be on hand at 7:30 p.m. for those looking for some pointers on how Texas Hold 'Em works.
"They will show anyone interested the basics of the game, how the 'blinds' work, what the betting structure is and other game-play basics," Jones said, including some take-it-or-leave-it advice on how to theoretically play potential hands.
She emphasized this tournament is primarily about having fun so even novices shouldn't feel intimidated or fear that they may slow the game down.
"We also want to remind everyone that this tournament is a fund raiser," Jones said. "We don't care if you don't know all there is to know. That's why we pay professional, friendly dealers who are always considerate and understanding with the less experienced player."
Jones said another new twist this year will be accepting "bounties" on targeted players. You can put a "bounty" on a player you want to see "busted out" of the tournament. The player who takes out a bountied player will receive 75 percent of the bounty amount placed on that player's head, plus a "classy" T-shirt that says, "I took out...(so and so)." Jones said players could take out more than one bountied opponent and collect several times.
The late Roger Frampton was a world-class poker player and devoted MTA member. He almost inevitably ended up in the finals, taking things right to the wire. He especially enjoyed vying at the gaming table with his bother, Kent Frampton, and his sister-in-law, Mary Frampton.
Roger's stoic, even uninterested, poker face will be remembered when the 2007 tournament commences.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, September, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.