{"id":19789,"date":"2019-01-07T14:02:58","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T15:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=19789"},"modified":"2019-01-08T16:17:51","modified_gmt":"2019-01-08T16:17:51","slug":"keyboard-conquest-jacki-burkhart-pens-winning-mypokerstory-for-platinum-pass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/keyboard-conquest-jacki-burkhart-pens-winning-mypokerstory-for-platinum-pass\/","title":{"rendered":"Keyboard Conquest: Jacki Burkhart Pens Winning #MyPokerStory For Platinum Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"
Despite living in a town named Boring, Jacki<\/strong> Burkhart<\/strong> is anything but dull. She\u2019s a snowboarding, skateboarding mom who loves to play poker.<\/p>\n Now she\u2019s the owner of a PokerStars\u2019 Platinum Pass<\/strong> after her tale was named\u00a0the winner of #MyPokerStory<\/strong>. The promotion was designed by rising poker star Maria<\/strong> Konnikova<\/strong>\u00a0in mid-October.<\/p>\n \u201cI still can\u2019t believe it,\u201d she told USPoker<\/em> before heading to the Bahamas. \u201cI was actually going to do a couple of those other PokerStars\u2019 challenges to have a better shot at winning a Platinum Pass. But as it turned out, I put so much time into the story that it took all my free time. It took about three weeks, so I ended up putting all my eggs in one basket \u2013 and won.\u201d<\/p>\n The effort paid off and the $30,000 Platinum Pass includes a $25,000 buy-in to the PokerStars Players NL Hold\u2019em Championship<\/strong> at the PCA in January, six nights\u2019 accommodation at the Atlantis<\/strong> Resort<\/strong> in the Bahamas<\/strong> and travel expenses.<\/p>\n Poker isn\u2019t Burkhart\u2019s full-time job. She also works as a dental<\/strong> hygienist<\/strong> and only plays<\/strong> poker<\/strong> part of her time. Not a writer by training, though she enjoyed some creative writing as a youngster and teenager. She journaled a lot and even attended a creative writing summer camp.<\/p>\n Her interest in writing faded as she grew older. Obviously, with the recent win, her<\/strong> talent<\/strong> remains.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure I was going to do it or not because I knew there were going to be hundreds of entries, and I didn\u2019t really think I had anything exciting to say,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I thought maybe it would be nice to write the story anyway just so I\u2019d have it later in my life \u2014 something to look back on.\u201d<\/p>\n She was soon pounding on the keyboard.<\/p>\n \u201cShuffle Up and Deal\u201d<\/strong> chronicles how Burkhart learned<\/strong> the game<\/strong> from relatives at an early age and what it means<\/strong> to her.<\/p>\n The story begins when she\u2019s 9 years old. Her family\u2019s get-togethers often involved card games, but after dark, the adults broke away and played US poker for real<\/strong> money<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Burkhart longed to play with them but faced one hurdle in order to earn a seat<\/strong> at the adult\u2019s table<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cI must learn to shuffle<\/strong>, riffle<\/strong>, cut<\/strong> and deal<\/strong> if I want to play with the adults,\u201d she writes. \u201cAnd I must learn in the next few hours. I don\u2019t know if it was middle-child syndrome or just my innate gambler that craved this, but the urge<\/strong> to play<\/strong> was stronger<\/strong> in me than my sisters or cousins.\u201d<\/p>\n For Burkhart, poker meant more than a chance to make a few bucks. Like many Americans<\/strong> who grew up playing with their moms and dads\u00a0or grandparents on card tables and in basements, poker was about spending<\/strong> time<\/strong> with loved<\/strong> ones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cCards and games were an integral part of my family life growing up,\u201d she writes. \u201cWe didn\u2019t play every night, but if there was a get together of any kind, we always played something. Michigan Rummy, gin rummy, hearts, dominoes, dice or dealer\u2019s choice poker. Poker nights were my favorite and I always clamored for it, but usually, I didn\u2019t even need to \u2014 it was automatic.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dad kept a huge change<\/strong> jar<\/strong> on his dresser. Every day, he would empty his pockets and toss the change in there. Then when we\u2019d play poker, he\u2019d cash people in and out from their paper money via the change jar. We never used poker chips and we never played big stakes (except very occasionally a pot would get out of hand and top $50).\u201d<\/p>\n The story brings warmth<\/strong> and humor<\/strong> to the game. It describes how important it can be in bringing families together and coping with life\u2019s highs and lows. Her love of poker continued to grow and she now teaches the game to younger family members.<\/p>\n \u201cShuffle Up and Deal\u201d also tackles a bit about her mother<\/strong>, who has developed early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s<\/strong>. Her mother even still plays in those games with help from other family members.<\/p>\n For them, poker is about being part of the family and still brings<\/strong> them together<\/strong>. Burkhart has pledged to donate 10 percent<\/strong> of any winnings in the Bahamas to Alzheimer\u2019s research.<\/p>\n \u201cJacki, a huge congratulations and I\u2019m looking forward to meeting you in the Bahamas and congratulating you in person,\u201d Konnikova said in announcing the winning writer.<\/p>\n I have no words this is unreal! Truly so honored and excited. I had really tough competition and loved all the entries. I\u2019d like to offer the other 5 finalists a 1% freeroll on my tourney results. @KristyArnett<\/a> @LeftyWriting<\/a> @gaucho2121<\/a> @aseefo<\/a> @JustChristyB<\/a> DM me for info https:\/\/t.co\/0tQYjxe9cT<\/a><\/p>\nTelling her story<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n