The photograph you see in the Gambling Addict article is a picture of the Poker Game at the world famous Oxford, on Higgins and Pine, better known as the "Ox." Denny was dealing when the picture was taken. He doubles as a bartender. The poker table sits right in the front window.
The Ox has not locked it's doors for over one hundred years. It's a beer and shot bar, it's a 24 hour greasy spoon, and the oldest poker game in town that starts at 8:00 PM sharp every night. It's a spread limit quarter to 3 dollar dealer's choice game. Holdem, Omaha 8, 7 Stud, 7 Stud 8, 3 card low, double draw. The game goes to the wee hours of the morning.
The greasy spoon is one of those counter operations where they cook the food right in front of you. Jamie, who doubles in the cage, is a world class line cook. It's a pleasure to watch him.
In short, the Ox is the cream of the crop of the grungy dive joints of Missoula. And my favorite watering hole here. To hell with them candy a-- yuppies at the Marriott, I like drinkin' with the real people--the down and outers, the homeless, the workin' stiffs. Need a pack of cigarettes? They sell them in the cage. Need a pack of Top Rolling Tobacco? They sell it in the cage. Need some rolling papers? They sell 'em in the cage.
YA CAIN'T SIT AT THE BAR IF YA AIN'T DRINKIN'. You are welcome to sit anywhere else but not at the bar. That's reserved for booze hounds. My usual routine when I hit the Ox is to stand at the bar swappin' lies with all my old buddies while downing shots of V.O., chasing with Moose Drool. The juke box is good, anything from Sympathy for the Devil to North to Alaska.
An old Oxford line:
"How ya doin' today?"
"Man, I'm all hung over, I made the cage last night."
At 2:00 A.M. everyone moves away from the bar and an easily assembled cage is resurrected around the bar. The bar is now closed, but the rest of the joint is still open. That's about the time I get a hankerin' to play a little poker. I even beat the game once for $20. Hey, it's a 3 dollar game with a four dollar rake--and I'm always drunk.
The game usually peters out about 4 or five in the morning. That's about the time I get a hankerin' for some steak and eggs, hopefully by the world famous Jamie. Then a cab ride home.
You know what? It's about 7:30 PM here. I think I'll get a cab down to the Ox and....well, you know what I'm gonna do.