Mayfair Club
Encyclopedia
The Mayfair Club was a cardroom in New York. Originally starting as a bridge
and backgammon
club, it eventually became "the most touted card club
in New York" until its abrupt closing by authorities in 2000." Unlike the other gamehalls in the city, The Mayfair Club kept a low profile in a basement. The games and tournaments were dealt by the players as opposed to professional dealers in a casino
environment. Mayfair Club's games were also noted for their high stakes and elite competition.
The Mayfair Club developed a reputation as a training ground for poker
players in the mid eighties as a result of a small group of elite players who played at the club. In the 1987 World Series of Poker
, Mayfair Club regulars finished very high in the Main Event. Jay Heimowitz
finished in 11th place, Mickey Appleman
in 8th, Dan Harrington
in 6th, and Howard Lederer
in 5th. This strong showing was repeated in the 1988 World Series of Poker
when Jay Heimowitz
finished in 15th place, and Erik Seidel
in 2nd place. Heimowitz had previously finished in third place in the 1980 WSOP
Main Event and in sixth place in the 1981 WSOP
Main Event. As of January 2009, these five former Mayfair Club players have won a total of 22 World Series of Poker
bracelets, four World Poker Tour
titles, and numerous other poker accolades. In 1995
, Dan Harrington
won the WSOP Main Event, and he went on to make the final table of the main event in 2003
and 2004
, for a total of four WSOP Main Event final table appearances. They have also written numerous books and articles. The Mayfair was also home court for business executive Wendeen Eolis, the first woman to cash in the main event of the World Series of Poker in 1986
. Other famous players such as Noli Francisco
, Stu Ungar
, Steve Zolotow
, Jason Lester
, and Paul Magriel
became club regulars, too, further enhancing the club's reputation as the premier poker club in New York. Later, the Chesterfield Club in the film Rounders
was modeled after the Mayfair Club.
In October 2008, TV show Poker After Dark
featured "Mayfair Week" with six prominent players who had their beginnings at the Mayfair Club.
As the state of New York considers poker to be a game of chance, it is legal to play, but illegal for the host to garner a profit. In other words, one can legally play and win, but operating a poker club is illegal. For years, The Mayfair Club and other established underground poker
clubs, were an "open secret among law enforcement officials". Prior to 2000, whenever a poker club was closed down by the police, it was due to criminal offenses (usually drugs or weapons). In 2000, Mayor Rudy Giuliani's
"Quality of Life" campaign led to the closure of the Mayfair Club and other game halls in New York.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
and backgammon
Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
club, it eventually became "the most touted card club
Cardroom
A cardroom or card room is a gaming establishment that exclusively offers card games for play by the public. The term poker room is generally synonymous, since the gambling games played in such establishments are typically, and sometimes exclusively, variations of poker such as Texas hold 'em.Such...
in New York" until its abrupt closing by authorities in 2000." Unlike the other gamehalls in the city, The Mayfair Club kept a low profile in a basement. The games and tournaments were dealt by the players as opposed to professional dealers in a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
environment. Mayfair Club's games were also noted for their high stakes and elite competition.
The Mayfair Club developed a reputation as a training ground for poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
players in the mid eighties as a result of a small group of elite players who played at the club. In the 1987 World Series of Poker
1987 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 152 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
, Mayfair Club regulars finished very high in the Main Event. Jay Heimowitz
Jay Heimowitz
Jay B. Heimowitz is an American poker player from Bethel, New York. Heimowitz was one of the original players to help establish the Mayfair Club as a premier poker house....
finished in 11th place, Mickey Appleman
Mickey Appleman
Mickey L. Appleman is an American professional poker player, sports bettor, and sports handicapper now living in Fort Lee, New Jersey...
in 8th, Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington is a professional poker player, best known for winning the main event world championship at the 1995 World Series of Poker. He has earned one World Poker Tour title, two WSOP bracelets, and over six million dollars in tournament cashes in his poker career...
in 6th, and Howard Lederer
Howard Lederer
Howard Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S...
in 5th. This strong showing was repeated in the 1988 World Series of Poker
1988 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
when Jay Heimowitz
Jay Heimowitz
Jay B. Heimowitz is an American poker player from Bethel, New York. Heimowitz was one of the original players to help establish the Mayfair Club as a premier poker house....
finished in 15th place, and Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title.In 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
in 2nd place. Heimowitz had previously finished in third place in the 1980 WSOP
1980 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 73 entrants to the main event, with each paying an entry fee of $10,000. This would be Ungar's first of three wins.-Final table:...
Main Event and in sixth place in the 1981 WSOP
1981 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 75 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. The final hand saw Green with 10 9 and Ungar with A Q, and the board was 7 8 4 4 Q. -Final table:-Other High Finishes:...
Main Event. As of January 2009, these five former Mayfair Club players have won a total of 22 World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
bracelets, four World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
titles, and numerous other poker accolades. In 1995
1995 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*...
, Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington
Dan Harrington is a professional poker player, best known for winning the main event world championship at the 1995 World Series of Poker. He has earned one World Poker Tour title, two WSOP bracelets, and over six million dollars in tournament cashes in his poker career...
won the WSOP Main Event, and he went on to make the final table of the main event in 2003
2003 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 839 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter what was the largest poker tournament ever played in a brick and mortar casino at the time...
and 2004
2004 World Series of Poker
The 2004 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe after Harrah's Entertainment purchased the casino and the rights to the tournament in January...
, for a total of four WSOP Main Event final table appearances. They have also written numerous books and articles. The Mayfair was also home court for business executive Wendeen Eolis, the first woman to cash in the main event of the World Series of Poker in 1986
1986 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 141 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
. Other famous players such as Noli Francisco
Noli Francisco
Noli Francisco is a Filipino American poker player. He has worked as an importer, architect, and real estate entrepreneur...
, Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar
Stuart Errol "Stu" Ungar was a professional poker and gin rummy player, widely regarded to have been the greatest Texas hold 'em and gin rummy player of all time....
, Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow is an American businessman and professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker. He was one of the regulars at the famed Mayfair Club while he lived in New York City.-New York Years:...
, Jason Lester
Jason Lester
Jason Lester is a professional poker player who has lived in New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. He is also an exceptional backgammon player and has won many tournaments in the past, but now he focuses on poker. He came in 4th at the 2003 World Series of Poker , the year Chris Moneymaker won the...
, and Paul Magriel
Paul Magriel
Paul David Magriel Jr. is an American professional backgammon player, poker player and author based in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Chess:Paul was New York State Junior Chess Champion at the age of 19, while a student at New York University....
became club regulars, too, further enhancing the club's reputation as the premier poker club in New York. Later, the Chesterfield Club in the film Rounders
Rounders (film)
Rounders is a 1998 film about the underground world of high-stakes poker. Directed by John Dahl and starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, the movie follows two friends who need to quickly earn enough cash playing poker to pay off a large debt...
was modeled after the Mayfair Club.
In October 2008, TV show Poker After Dark
Poker After Dark
Poker After Dark was an hour-long poker television program on NBC. The show made its debut on January 1, 2007, and was cancelled as another victim of the "Black Friday" criminal case due to the show's sponsorship by Full Tilt Poker, one of that case's defendants. on September 23, 2011 For its first...
featured "Mayfair Week" with six prominent players who had their beginnings at the Mayfair Club.
As the state of New York considers poker to be a game of chance, it is legal to play, but illegal for the host to garner a profit. In other words, one can legally play and win, but operating a poker club is illegal. For years, The Mayfair Club and other established underground poker
Underground poker
Underground poker rooms are venues not operating in accordance with state gaming laws. They usually profit from offering side games such as blackjack or craps or collecting rake, or both, while not being a licensed gaming operator....
clubs, were an "open secret among law enforcement officials". Prior to 2000, whenever a poker club was closed down by the police, it was due to criminal offenses (usually drugs or weapons). In 2000, Mayor Rudy Giuliani's
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
"Quality of Life" campaign led to the closure of the Mayfair Club and other game halls in New York.