We hear you’re an accomplished Texas Hold ’Em player. How did that come about? I was a big blackjack player but got bored and hated stupid players that could influence my winnings without thought, so I wanted more strategy and more control over the betting, which Hold ’Em does. Plus, I found I’m pretty good.

What are the poker tournaments like? The tourneys at Yokota usually have over 160 or so players. I know at most of the military bases across Japan and the Pacific there are poker tourneys. At Yokota, we have players from all over.

Why has Texas Hold ’Em become such a cultural phenomenon in the United States? Because it’s very easy to learn, it gets your heart pumping, you have a mix of skill and luck. And it’s just a good time hanging out with friends, having a few drinks, and maybe winning some money, along with bragging rights.

What is your ranking? I don’t have a ranking. Lt. Col. Loren Darmofal plays in our informal poker game, and he won the first Yokota tourney. We have a varied mix of players.

What’s the most you’ve ever earned? With friends, about $100 or so. In casinos, a couple of thousand, which was just recently.

Do you have any cool table trademarks? I’m loud, brash, play somewhat aggressive, but I have no little gimmicks or anything.

OK, what’s the better movie, “Rounders,” “The Sting,” or “Casino”? “Rounders” for sure. “The Sting” is fake gaming, and “Casino” has no real gaming.

Is gambling just about luck? Texas Hold ’Em does take a good amount of luck, like when a fish draws out on the river with a hand he had no business being in or when you get a full boat with a 7-2 off suit. The skill actually comes in with the way you bet, the way you are able to read the other players, and if you are able to keep your emotions out of the game.

Some believe gambling is simply a vice. What do you think? Anyone is fooling themselves if they say it’s not. But like any vice, its about control and moderation. I tell my wife that it’s better than me going out drinking or “clubbing” downtown. Plus, she gets the money anyway!

How did you choose the military as a career? I was offered a full ROTC scholarship right out of high school. It was either that or live at home and pay rent to my dad, so it was an easy choice.

Tell us about your previous assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. The absolute best job I ever had in the Air Force.

Any cool stories from your time there? I’ll give you one example. Gen. Foglesong, vice chief of staff of the Air Force at the time, was traveling through our AOR. We politely asked him to make a visit to the embassy as well as visit with Pakistan’s president. It took some work, but we got him scheduled in. As a little bonus, he asked if he could bring us anything. I got him to bring about 100 pounds of choice USDA steaks for us and the Marines. Needless to say, we had an awesome barbecue the next weekend!

Capt. Stephen KingAge: 31Title: 5th Air Force Deputy Director of Communications and InformationDuty Station: Yokota Air Base, Japan

Pacific readers: Know someone whose accomplishments, talents, job, hobby, volunteer work, awards or good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of fame? How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the ordinary — even, dare we say, oddball? Call Paul Newell at Stars and Stripes with the person’s name and contact information at DSN 229-3158 or e-mail him at: newellp@pstripes.osd.mil.