The Return of Lucky Aces

The steem train charged down iron tracks with golden spikes. The wheels turning tirelessly in mechanical motion, a well oiled machine. The landscape a barren white sand desert, while in the blue sky copper gyro copters kept cameras on the train for the Steemworld broadcast of the Championship Poker Game.

The final table had been set in one of the luxury cars of this steem driven locomotive.

Lucky Aces in his customary white leather suit with a snake skin bow tie. His right platinum cuff link with garnets for the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Hearts; his left platinum cuff link with obsidian stones for the Ace of Clubs and the Ace of Spades.

A steem powered robot dealt the cards wearing a tuxedo. Its bronze clock eyes spun on levers.

Across the clear crystal table with steel supports suspending it in the air, sat a familiar face at the final table. The Shadow Shaman, a black bar shielded his eyes with silver beams that sat on his temples. Long black flowing hair with Eagle feathers woven in. His turquoise polo shirt, khaki shorts, and black and white checkered slip on shoes were of a different culture unknown to most of Steemworld. As an excellent poker player he’d brought his indigenous culture into the spotlight.

“Howdy! And welcome back strangers to the Championship Poker Game. If ya’ll remember we are set for the final table after Ole Tex busted out in the money in third place. We’ve got nine time bracelet winner Lucky Aces heads up on 13 time bracelet winner The Shadow Shaman. And this ain’t the only time these two have met, right Tom?”

“That’s right Bob, these two seasoned poker players have met seven times before in a final table showdown. With The Shadow Shaman, regarded as one of the best players ever, taking a majority of the SBD in those games. We’ll see how Lucky Aces fairs today with a slight chip lead.”

“OK Tom. Once again we are live from Steem Engine #9 going down Chicago Line. Let’s get back to the action!”

Tin birds with camera eyes sat perched around the table. While in the caboose of the train a television crew edited the live feeds for the Steemworld broadcast. Gears turning everywhere.

The cogs on the robot dealer began to spin as the cards were dealt out. The Shadow Shaman sitting in the big blind got his first card a King of Clubs. Then Lucky Aces got an Ace of Spades sitting in the small blind.

“Wow Bob! We’ve got two high powered hands and it will be interesting to see how these two respected poker players go about handling business. The Shadow Shaman with a suited King and Queen, and Lucky Aces with his favorite hand pocket rockets!”

“That’s right Tom, most people would love to have that hand only with a name like Lucky Aces it becomes more meaningful. He’s got the chip lead and the upper hand with 8.8 million SBD on the line, he’s the first to act.”

“Call,” said Lucky Aces pushing some chips into the pot. He felt comfortable with a 334,678 SBD chip lead. And having played against The Shadow Shaman before he looked for clues as to the hand he held.

“What you holding?” Lucky Aces asked The Shadow Shaman who laughed. Must be some face cards Lucky Aces thought to himself.

Once again the whirl of cogs as the robot dealer dealt out the flop. Ace of Clubs, Eight of Diamonds, and the Ten of Clubs.

“Holy cow Bob! Is Lucky Aces looking at three Aces!”

“Yeah Tom, he must be pinching himself. Look at his poker face trying not to reveal anything to The Shadow Shaman who’s chasing a Royal Flush in this hand.”

“I’ll raise 1.5 million SBD,” said Lucky Aces with an ice cold confident stare.

“OK,” said The Shadow Shaman and he pushed in his chips.

The robot dealt the turn card a Three of Hearts.

“This card doesn’t help either player.”

Lucky Aces looked at his hand and at the cards on the table. Three Aces, and a Three of Hearts, he’s known to the world as Lucky Aces and so when he spoke he said, “all in.”

“Whoa! Monster call here!”

“Would you expect anything else!”

“Call,” said The Shadow Shaman coolly. He pushed his chips out and turned his cards over.

“Chasing a Royal Flush! I got you this time bud,” laughed Lucky Aces as he revealed his three Aces.

“We’ll see,” shrugged The Shadow Shaman. “I’m the best because I have a family and this is where I’m from. You’re just some dude that moved here to get lucky.”

“Them sounds like fighten words!” Exclaimed Lucky Aces.

“Just saying. No need to be a hater.” The Shadow Shaman said shaking his head.

“We’ve got fireworks at the table Tom!”

“Another epic showdown at the Final Table! Will Lucky Aces knock out The Shadow Shaman here and now to claim the bracelet at this Championship event? Or will the unthinkable happen? All eyes waiting on the river card!”

The cogs did not seem to move clockwise as each millisecond became an eternity. Zooming inside the robot dealer revealed cogs, gears, levers, all frozen in celestial harmony, like a snap shot of galaxy clusters in the infinite of space. Suddenly things sped up with the heat of evaporating water spinning everything in motion as the river card hit the crystal table for all of Steemworld to see.

“The Jack of Clubs! The Shadow Shaman has done the unthinkable titling the chip lead in his favor 8.5 million SBD with Lucky Aces holding on with a short stack of 330,000 SBD.”

“Incredible Bob! So fast and furious. This heads up matchup that looked to be one for the ages might be over before you can say Steem Power . . .”

The game played out for another 13 hours before Lucky Aces and The Shadow Shaman retired with the poker fans on Steem Engine #9 to cigars and cognac in the adjoining car of the train complete with steem pipe whistles to celebrate the winners of the Poker Championship Game.