Chips are down for card aces

TWO Pakenham men have played their cards right to put themselves in the running for $500,000 worth of cash and prizes.
Darren Hughes and Paul Manson have qualified for the Wild Turkey Grand Slam, the main event of an Australian Poker League festival to be played out at Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment Complex.
The two are old hands at the Texas Hold ’Em game – they have played in Pakenham pubs regularly for the last three years and have about 60 trophies between them.
When asked about the secret to the pair’s success, Mr Hughes kept his cards close to his chest.
“You just have to try not to bluff too often,” he said.
“You have to play the right cards.”
Mr Hughes and Mr Manson will be among more than 500 poker players expected to take part in the grand slam, vying for a $100,000 first prize.
There will also be one seat up for grabs for every 100 qualifiers into Team APL, which will compete in the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.
Mr Hughes said he hoped they had a good chance to win.
“You’ve got to be in it and have a show,” he said.