Plenty of Poker Faces in Aldie

Plenty of Poker Faces in Aldie

By Leonard Shapiro

There were many memorable lyrics in the iconic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, including a paean to the “Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.” Locally, just make it the Oldest Established Permanent Floating Poker Game in Aldie.

It’s the 30th anniversary of a monthly neighborhood game called “The Retired Gentleman’s Afternoon Poker Game,” or RGAP. The first group was called RGAP1, and it’s now up to RGAP3.

Tucker Withers, owner of the Little River Inn and the unofficial mayor of Aldie, has been all-in from the start. The Gentleman portion is no longer applicable. His wife, Mary Ann, is now a regular, and for good measure, their son, 35-year-old Calder, also plays.

The game had its origins at the annual Christmas Shop at Middleburg’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church. A congregant, the late Andy Bergner, recruited some friends to serve as bartenders. Then he asked if any of them played poker.

Tucker already sat in on several games, but joined immediately, as did his late father-in-law, retired Admiral George Shick. The late Rev. Neale Morgan, Emmanuel’s rector, also was an enthusiastic participant. Tucker is the only survivor from that first bunch, the rest surely playing and, of course, never losing at heavenly RGAP sessions on high.

“The first time we played, Andy laid out some cold cuts, chips, pickles, beer and soda,” Tucker said. “After three hours, he looked at me and George and said, ‘Do you two guys already know each other?’ He didn’t know George was my father-in-law.”

Tucker comes by poker naturally. His late mother, Virginia, loved to play. “She has a full house on her tombstone,” he said. “Three queens and a pair of sevens.”

The Retired Gentlemen’s Afternoon Poker Game began thirty years ago with Middleburg’s town crier, Andy Bergner. Today’s game has a more diverse group of poker players: (from left to right) Dale Thompson, Mary Ann Withers, Calder Withers, Bruce Cameron, Bill Withers, Tom Santmyer, Tucker Withers.

Photo by June Thompson

Another player actually put in his will that his son would inherit his seat.“But he never played,” Tucker added. “Too intimidated.”

Over the years, names and faces have obviously changed, and so have some of the games, not to mention the food. There is only one lunch staple. “It’s always served with beer,” Tucker said.

The stakes are usually nickel, dime, quarter, though the dealer can call the ante to start the pot for a few dollars more. On a good afternoon, a player can take home $30 or $40, though winners and losers all seem to even out over the year.

“It’s not totally equal in terms of skill level,” Mary Ann Withers said. “But when you’re with the same people, after a while you can tell the more conservative players. When they think they don’t have a very good hand, they’ll get right out.”

Most games are best five-card hand. They play Omaha, Aldie 2-2-1, Widow’s Walk, Guts and Riggo, among others. The latter is named for Hall of Fame Washington running back John Riggins, who wore No. 44 on his jersey. Each player is dealt four cards down, with four cards face up. Ergo 44.

There are lots of laughs during the four-hour sessions

At one point, a county sheriff, a Boy Scout leader and the late Jeep Craun, then Middleburg’s only full-time cop, played in the same game.

“We were at my house, and I had a pet goat in the room,” Tucker said. “There were some dollar bills on the table in front of Jeep, and the goat jumped up and grabbed a bunch and started eating them. Jeep actually pulled the money out of his mouth.”

The good news: the goat abstained from the beer.