The typical daily grind means winning or losing a couple of hundred bucks in a few hours playing against a doctor or accountant in one of the local clubs. Not bad for a Sunday. But the real action is found in the impromptu side games. The Ace Point, on East 60th, is bright and homey, with watercolors and a buffet table, sort of like a retirement home in Florida. The smoking section is to the left.
People have to mind their p's and q's.
Sometimes players pay out of pocket, but they often use the Ace Point to transfer funds. After each game, a score sheet gets turned in at the front desk and the Ace Point cuts a check for the winner and deducts the losses from the account of the loser. The Ace Point recently sent a tournament winner to Paris. He declined to put a dollar figure on his annual take, but hinted it was in the six figures. As a result, the players asked that they not be identified by name.