Mr Chu shows a touch of arrogance

There are few finer sights in poker than when Mr Chu is on form - the cards are falling his way, he’s making good decisions, and he starts to turn in a bit of a performance. The pronouncements become more dramatic, the guttural intonations more rumbling, the hand-arm gestures more expansive and elaborate.

It usually isn’t on show for very long - after a successful run, he is apt to take a two hour time-out, long enough to be allowed to sit back down with a minimum buy-in. Meantime, he’ll have a pensive wander around the roulette tables, occasionally pressing his face against the glass to check out the latest ups and downs of the game, all the while puffing on a cigarette.

On my Christmas return to the Vic, there was one night in particular when we were treated to such a display. He’d been having a good half hour, and then all the money is suddenly in the middle on a J 9 3 2 board when he’s holding KK. The river’s a T, but Mr C stands & cries “That’s fine!”, rakes in the pot and is already stacking his chips before the other guy even has a chance to turn over his QT, so confident is our man in the accuracy of his read. You just can’t teach that sort of thing.