Hi Ron, let me enlighten you. First of all, The Rancho Club owned by Ruben Marquez, has struggled from the time he owned the card room--some 14 years ago. I am relatively new to the area, but have played at the Rancho Club many times and have always enjoyed myself.

Contrary to what you may think, there has never been any trouble anywhere near his club for all the time he has been in business. He usually has two games going during the evening and one during the rest of the day. He is expanding the adjacent room to accommodate a total of 7 tables.

The chips he showed you from the Antique Rose, West, Camino club and I forgot the other one, came from other clubs he has owned. Yes licences are required both by the state and the individual cities.

True, this "casino" cannot be put on par with the hugh 200 table poker clubs in Southern California, but it is a one man operation just trying to make a decent living. Ruben normally works 10 to 18 hours a day providing entertainment to his patrons and jobs for many emmployees and has for many years struggled to keep the place open.

When you decide to try it in business for yourself, then I think your comments would be much more acceptable.

As far as the Don Juan Club is concerned, it is a newly opened card room, owned and operated by the owners of the Lucky Derby, who by the way, has Leo Chew (the owner of Hollywood Park Casino and the Crystal Park Casino in Southern Calaifonia as it's major stockholder.) They are seeking another location to accommodate 7 tables. Althought the outside of the place has a lot to be desired, you must admit the interior one room card club is clean as a whistle--again although not necessarily in the best part of town, if is free of any problems.

I park my Jag and Bill parks his Lexus outside of both those places day and night without any hesitation.

I don't know who you are afraid of but your fears are self intended. I can get you all the chips you want from both places and in fact offered DJ's chips to all the people on the chips at face list when they opened several months ago.

If your scared of these two places, then don't go near the Silver Fox in the evening or Duffy's or a couple of the other places, but these two you described are safe by any means.

And I might as well denounce your impression of the Phoenix and Lucky Derby as well. I've been playing there for quite a long time and never, never, never had any trouble.

No, these are not like the casinos in Las Vegas or some of the larger Indian Casinos, but they are safe by all reqards with women of all ages playing there without regard to some fantasy problems you have conjured up on your mind.

I don't know just where you live, but I feel very fortunate to have these many local card rooms available for me to play it--one, the Lucky Derby just 3 miles from my home in Citrus Heights and 4 miles from the Phoenix Club.

By the way, both Bill and I will be at the Derby tomorrow morning playing in the Saturday no-limit tournament (starts at 9:00 A.M.). I would love to meet with you--just ask for "Doc" Doctor Paul or Bill O'Day. All the floor people know who we are. From there, we'll probably be going to one or two of those "dingy places" to play for the rest of the afternoon. We'll be happy to escort you around. As a matter of fact, here is my cell phone 916-300-5755. I'll have it on in the morning so you can call me anytime or you can call the derby directly at 916-726-8946 and just ask for me. I'll be looking forward to seeing you.