TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

Thanks to televised tournaments such as ESPN's "The World Series of Poker," Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" and the Travel Channel's "World Poker Tour," the classic card game and its variants are making a big comeback throughout the United States.

Some people are even hosting community tournaments.

I saw how popular Texas HoldEm is, and I figured we could put on a tournament to raise some money," said Bob Frank of the Jackson Northwest Kiwanis Club. The club hosted a tournament at Bullinger's, 501 Longfellow Ave., on Oct. 9 to support its charitable programs, its second such tournament. "Texas HoldEm has become very popular."

A version of poker, Texas HoldEm features players each holding two cards, with five more being revealed on the table in the course of the hand. Players try to put together the best hand possible with a combination of the cards they're holding and the ones on the table.

About 30 people came out to play at the Kiwanis game, each paying a $60 buy-in for a shot at the $500 first-place prize. Nonprofits, with a license from the Charitable Gambling Division of the Bureau of State Lottery, can hold poker and other gaming operations.

"We've had more players than we did the first time," Frank said of the tournament.

Interest in poker has become a national phenomenon. Games range from high school students gathering in basements on weekend nights to organized tournaments such as the Kiwanis Club's.

And retailers have noticed the public's renewed interest.

Nationwide, stores such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. as well as Kmart and Borders are stocking up on poker chips, tables and books in preparation for the holidays.

Terry Gattshall, the owner of Midwest Amusement Co. in Jackson, said poker supplies have been a hot seller in his store, which also sells pool tables and billiards equipment, for the past year.

"I saw it on TV, and I had my employees place a big order for the chips," Gattshall said. "I sold out in two months."

Gattshall said he used to sell 15 to 20 poker tables a year, compared to 50 or 60 since the trend began.

"Sales are quadruple from what they were," Gattshall said.

The majority of people purchasing the equipment are 21- to 55-year-old males, Gattshall said, most looking to play at home.

He said the sale of Texas HoldEm tables is picking up, as well.

"It's a simple game to play," Gattshall said, "and it's a good way to get people together."

Gattshall thinks seeing celebrities playing on TV is part of what has renewed interest in the game.

"People like to emulate these figures," Gattshall said.

Past guests on "Celebrity Poker Showdown" include "Friends" stars Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, TV host Ricki Lake, "ER" star Maura Tierney, rocker Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction), comedian David Cross, pro-skater Tony Hawk and film star Ben Affleck.

The popularity of the game has picked up in casinos, as well. Detroit's MotorCity Casino opened a new poker room on July 4 featuring eight tables for Seven Card Stud, Texas HoldEm, Omaha Hi-Lo and Pineapple.

"The games are full every day," said Keith Farnkel, pit manager in the poker room. "HoldEm is pretty much the game of choice. We've been losing lower-end games because we have so many people wanting to play no limit."

Farnkel said there has been talk of expanding the room next spring.

Online casinos and game sites are also jumping on the trend, although legal questions have been raised.

Officials at the county prosecutor's office, state police and state attorney general's office declined to comment directly on the legality of playing poker for money over the Internet. A state police spokeswoman said, "There's not an easy answer."

Federal law comes into play, depending on the circumstances, but appears to take aim more at operators than gamers. Officials at the U.S. attorney general's office in Washington, D.C., could not be reached for comment.

Whatever form the play takes, millions are doing it regularly across the country.

David Weaver, who lived in Jackson until 1976 and now lives in Fayetteville, N.C., said Texas HoldEm is "about the most popular game right now when it comes to poker."

Weaver said he tries to learn more about the game by reading books and plays a conservative, informed game.

Bill Warren, a Jackson resident, said he has been playing poker for 40 years.

"If you're playing with your friends and play it low-key, it can be a lot of fun," he said.