Cheri Dokken

 LPA:  Why did you choose to be part of the LPA?

CD:  The Ladies Poker Association is a wonderful website for women to gain information and knowledge about upcoming events, poker tips, and poker lessons, and the LPA provides a professional atmosphere.  It’s a great website for all women, but especially for women who are serious about their poker playing and want to improve their game or are ready to play at higher levels. 

LPA:  If you could change one thing in the world of poker, what would it be?

CD:  Get more women to feel comfortable playing from women-only events to mixed tournaments.  I believe the LPA has the same goal for women in poker as I do; that is, move them from playing only in home games and online to viable casino play. 

Women have the skills to play poker.  If they can deal with children, their families and jobs, they definitely have the skills to play poker—to play serious poker.  The only thing women lack at the table—cash games or tournaments—is aggression.  Most men that play have a “go for the throat” mentality; women being nurturers, do not.  Women need to feel more comfortable with mixed company and to compete in bigger buy-in tournaments, because there are far more opportunities in mixed tournaments than in women-only events to make money.

LPA:  What personal goals do you have in the world of poker?

CD:  Poker has grown so much since the start of the combination of the World Poker Tour and online gaming.  The World Poker Tour started the poker boom.  It took poker from a smoke-filled backroom atmosphere—which is what most people thought of cards rooms—to main stream. 

Because of the TDA (Tournament Directors Association) and the changing environment of the poker rooms, women are now comfortable without being intimidated.  I would like to continue providing a good environment to all poker players.  My job as a tournament director is to give even playing field to everyone, regardless of their skills, abilities or gender.

I would also like to help take poker from a game of luck and turn it into a true game of skill.

LPA:  Tell us about yourself.

CD:  My mom and dad were poker players and used to come to the Commerce to play.  Dad would only allow me to play home games, so when he passed away I used to accompany my mom here.  While playing 7-Card Stud, I discovered how great playing cards was:  You sit on your butt all day, you keep your clothes on, it’s legal and people throw money at you.  

Deciding that this could turn into a career, my husband and I attended dealer school.  My husband worked as a dealer at a couple of clubs, then went back to his former career of carpet-laying.  As for me, after many years working as a commercial air-conditioning estimator for my dad’s company, I never looked back.

I have been with the Commerce for fifteen years.  I started out as a dealer, then lead dealer, dealer coordinator, floor person, floor coordinator, then moved on to assist Jack McClellan run tournaments.  When Jack retired, I was asked to take over as the tournament director.  I was very proud when I took over, because Jack was the best in the business and is still considered the best in the world.  I have been the tournament director for the Commerce for three years, and I love it.