What is the importance of the River Club in the novel, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop?

The River Club is the bar to which Idgie likes to go to drink and play poker. Ruth becomes tired of Idgie’s behavior and warns her that if she goes again, she will take Buddy and leave Idgie. After Idgie is almost bitten and killed by a water moccasin, she decides to have just one drink in the club. Because Ruth is out of town at a Bible camp, Idgie does not think Ruth will ever know. Arvel, Idgie’s enemy, is at the club that night. He manages to pressure Idgie into playing a game of poker against him. At one point, Arvel has won everything that Idgie owned. Idgie wins the next game, however, and wins her possessions back plus the twenty-acre piece of land that Ruthie and Evelyn will later need to revitalize Whistle Stop.