Andre Lewis

For eight years I dealt blackjack and poker on the Atlantic City casino floor, which means I can shuffle in my sleep and explain a rule three different ways without getting impatient. When I came home to West Orange I wanted daytime work with people I could actually get to know, so I started teaching card games and got certified as a personal trainer around the same time.

Most of my students already played something years ago and just need the rules dusted off. I lay the cards face up for the first few hands so we can talk through every choice out loud. Once the scoring clicks, I stop helping and start trying to win, because that is more fun for everybody. For folks who want it, I add ten minutes of seated band work between rounds to get the shoulders moving.

On weekends you will find me at Verona Park with my two boys and a deck of cards in my jacket. My grandmother taught me cribbage on a board my grandfather carved, and I still bring that board to lessons.