03-26-2023, 11:23 PM
As soon as the dealer indicated the round was past, Maksim joined the table. The server folded the napkin for his drink to avoid dampening the felt, to which Maksim showed his gratitude with a tip. He hadn’t played Hold’Em in a while, but the energy was right among the players according to the host. Maksim always took the recommendation when offered.
He nodded politely to the other players. Each of them paused long enough to sip their own drinks, and they took the opportunity to shake hands. It was the proper thing to do. A gentleman’s game.
“Maksim Marveet,” he said to each of them in turn. Andrei and Leonid were regulars. The three of them basically traded money. The other two were foreign. A man with an accent so thick, Maksim barely registered the name. They dealt with Asians at work often, but he never really grasped the nuances of their names.
The other was also foreign. They shook hands, “Maksim,” he added again. He didn't linger on the man long, except noting that he was European, Swedish or something like that.
The first game was over fast. The 20k fell like sand through his fingers. No big deal.
He nodded politely to the other players. Each of them paused long enough to sip their own drinks, and they took the opportunity to shake hands. It was the proper thing to do. A gentleman’s game.
“Maksim Marveet,” he said to each of them in turn. Andrei and Leonid were regulars. The three of them basically traded money. The other two were foreign. A man with an accent so thick, Maksim barely registered the name. They dealt with Asians at work often, but he never really grasped the nuances of their names.
The other was also foreign. They shook hands, “Maksim,” he added again. He didn't linger on the man long, except noting that he was European, Swedish or something like that.
The first game was over fast. The 20k fell like sand through his fingers. No big deal.