I donât own any of these characters. Paramount does. Iâm just borrowing them for a little while. I will return them when I am done and I will try not to break them.
The weekly ritual was underway. Poker night in Commander Rikerâs Quarters. Riker, Doctor Crusher, Deanna Troi and Data were seated around the table, Data wearing the ridiculous visor.
The night had been going well for Deanna and Riker. Both were up quite a bit. Dataâs inability to read poker faces, as was often the case, was making him the big loser so far this evening.
Data was holding three fives and had no wilds. The bet was to him. âCallâ he said as he added a $5 chip.
Troi folded and the Doctor raised another five.
âToo rich for my blood,â Riker said as he threw down the cards.
When he first heard the expression, he was confused what the human circulatory system and availability of funds had in common, but having played Poker with his crewmates for 5.375 years, he came understand the saying, if not its roots. âMy blood as well,â he said as he laid down his cards.
âData,â the doctor chimed in, âyou donât have any blood.â
âTrue, Doctor. Nevertheless I have opted to fold, being that my hand is not very strong.â
The doctor beamed as she slid her winnings toward her. She knew she was not obligated to show her fellow player what she had, but wanted to make a point to Data. âData, we have been telling you for years that a string hand is not always the winning hand. I was bluffing.â She laid down her cards. She didnât even have so much as a pair.
Riker and Troi both smirked. While they valued Dataâs friendship, it was always a little funny to them when he was duped this way. He never could get a read on a bluff, and he was horrible at it himself.
Data just put on a sheepish grin. âThe bluff, another human behavior that I cannot emulate.â
The door chime sounded. Riker called out, âCome in!â
In walked Captain Picard. The group was surprised. He, like all the senior officers had an open invitation to the game but he very rarely joined them.
âGood evening sir,â the said in unison. Riker continued on his own, âwould you like a drink Captain?â âNo Will, Iâm fine, thank you. I would like to sit in for a hand or two if you donât mind.â
âOf course not sir, Iâll get another chair!â Will usually kept the players in his Poker games to four. Five changed the odds and made gambling riskier, but he had no problem making an exception for the Captain.
Data interjected, âCaptain, would you care to deal this hand?â
âYes Mr. Data, I would.â Picard began shuffling the cards. âOkay, weâre playing Romulan Widow this hand, everyone know the rules?â
Crusher looked at him. âWhat the hell is Romulan Widow?â
Picard smiled. âRomulan Widow, Beverly, is where we play off a âwidow handâ in the center of the table. I deal each of you three cards and lay out a hand of five, face down, in the center of the table. Each round of betting we flip one card in the widow hand and we wager again. You have to play at least two, but no more than four cards out of the widow hand.â
Beverly thought it over. âSounds like fun! Whatâs wild?â
âWild?â Picard asked. âOnly Ferengi play wilds! No wilds this hand.â