| The prize money is very attractive (and | | | | will vary a great deal. If you learn to play |
| becoming more so all the time, I might add) | | | | all these people with their different ways of |
| but there are other benefits for a player | | | | playing, when you go back home or back to the |
| entering a gin tournament. For one thing, you | | | | club or whatever, you're going to have a |
| are going to spend several days in a posh | | | | helluva edge in knowledge because you've |
| hotel with people you know you are going to | | | | learned from the players-the very best |
| find interesting: other gin players. And you | | | | players around-at the tournament. When you |
| are going to be playing gin players from all | | | | make a play the player you're playing with |
| over the country and from around the world. | | | | will be anticipating one thing and all of a |
| In fact the chances are you're going to draw | | | | sudden you're doing something else, something |
| and play at least one of the better players | | | | he's never seen before you've become a more |
| in the world. Whether you end up in the money | | | | knowledgeable gin rummy player! One final |
| or not, you are going to learn and you will | | | | note before closing our chapter on |
| improve your game. | | | | tournaments: The numbers of games to play, |
| | | | the number that go into the finals or |
| There is always a strong camaraderie among | | | | semi-finals is based on the time element and |
| gin players. Many observers, being players | | | | the number of people in tournament play. Gin |
| already finished with their own games, will | | | | rummy tournaments can be held almost |
| join the galleries and will sit together for | | | | anyplace, at any time and with any number of |
| hours, reminiscing about a good hand, bad | | | | people. There are afternoon tournaments, |
| hand, good play or a bad play. Good, bad or | | | | there are evening tournaments, one day |
| indifferent, one can always expect advice | | | | tournaments (like on a Sunday, perhaps) or |
| from another gin player, and since most | | | | even a weekend tournament where, say the |
| consid- er themselves the best, they are | | | | players might play Saturday night and again |
| always eager to lend a helping hand. Most | | | | on Sunday-a two-day tournament in reality. It |
| players come to tournaments to renew old | | | | all depends, basically, on your numbers. |
| friendships and are chomping at the bit for | | | | |
| the competition. If you're a real gin buff | | | | If you've got thirty or forty people you'd |
| and looking for some extra excitement, come | | | | probably play four games to qualify. When we |
| to a gin tournament. I assure you, you won't | | | | have a hundred and fifty or two hundred |
| be able to wait for the next one. Another | | | | people we use sixteen games to qualify. The |
| advantage of trying your hand at a gin | | | | reason for this is, the more games, the |
| tournament is the opportunity of greatly | | | | better chance of the skill coming to the top. |
| improving your Gin Rummy game. If you're like | | | | If an Elks Club or a Country Club or anybody |
| most of us you play the same people | | | | wants to write to me for help in setting up a |
| regularly; friends or other club members if | | | | tournament I'd be glad to help in any way I |
| you belong to a club. You know the style of | | | | can without charge. For help in setting up a |
| the people you play with most of the time. | | | | tournament or if you have any questions about |
| | | | gin rummy that you would like for me to |
| Now if you go to a four day tournament, you | | | | answer, please write. I also appear as a |
| will play sixteen different people (at least) | | | | guest speaker and, of course, conduct gin |
| and they all have a different way of playing, | | | | rummy tournaments. |
| some of which may be similar and others which | | | | |