I spend more time playing free poker online now than casinos, but a few years ago I was on a boozy weekend in Vegas and in my drunken state managed to pull of a poker win and pocket myself $1,000 winnings! I admit, it was pure luck that night as I wasn't exactly playing at my sober best. Anyhow, after collecting my winnings and feeling rather pleased with myself I realised I had a tiny problem… what to do with my winnings as I didn't want to walk around with it and I hadn't taken a safety deposit box at my hotel. I hold a box at another hotel all year round for when I pop to Vegas in the hope of winning some money and this was my only option.

So, having realised I was too drunk, I decided to take the walk to deposit my money safely until I was sober enough to look after it properly. This sort of problem wouldn't be an issue nowadays as Vegas is much more commercial, but in those days there were many people who you wouldn't want to meet on a dark street with that sort of money in your pocket.

I thought I was ok, until I left the hotel and made my way on the street. It was the early hours of the morning and the streets were naked and very very dark. Realising that I didn't have a lot of choice but to walk the one block to the other hotel I just pulled myself together and started to make my way to the Four Queens.

This was the point that I was wishing I was playing free poker online rather than being out in the streets like a crazy man!

Just as I approached the corner, two big, tough-looking guys came around the corner. Both were carrying beer bottles and appeared to be very drunk and looking for trouble. As soon as they saw me, I knew what was coming. I was sure that they were on the prowl for a handout or, with no one else around, maybe something worse.

As I kept walking, they approached me as if they were going to block what was left of the sidewalk.

When they got within a few feet of me, one of the guys asked, "Hey, you got a couple of dollars?"

Not about to inform them of my win, I had to come up with something pretty quick before being beaten to a pulp, so, I took a chance and drunkenly squared up to them shouting 'Don't **** with me… I have just lost $25 in there!!!'. The two guys didn't know what to do and actually looked quite bemused as they parted for me to walk through them.

A few steps later, I turned and loudly shouted another expletive at them. It was a great spur-of-the-moment bluff. Oh, I could have said, "I don't have any money," or given a dozen other excuses, but I don't think that any of them would have worked quite as well as what I did. The bottom line was that these fellows wanted no part of a guy who could be that angry about losing 25 bucks.

It had to be the best bluff of my life, because I am here today retelling the story. If that bluff hadn't worked, well I'd be lucky to be even playing free poker let alone big money!