Dialing Up Your Poker Face (NAPSA)—You don’t need to be a professional poker player to end up in a million-dollar tourna- ment—it’s simply a matter of playing yourcardsright. Amateur poker players have won a number of professional tournaments over the past several years by first winning online satellite tournaments. In many cases, their winnings have been substantial and some have even been launched into a sort of celebrity status on the pokercircuit. In August, a new amateur poker player mayfollow suit. The World Poker Exchange London Open will be broadcast on Bravo UK and feature a minimum $2 million shared pot. The tournament will include a number of social outings after play ends each night, and it is expected to attract celebrities from around the globe. Poker players can visit the Web site www.worldpx.com to sign up for the London Open. While anyone can sign up for the tournament and practice online, it always helps to know the basics. Here’s a breakdown of poker hands: Poker 101 Royal Flush—Thebest possible straight flush: Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the samesuit. Straight Flush—Cardsoffive consecutive ranks, all of the same suit. Four of a Kind—Fourcardsof All In—Winning a popular satellite online poker tournament can get you invited to London for a high stakes $2 million minimum offline celebrity tournament. any one rank and any other card. Full House—Three cards of one rank and two cards of a second rank. Flush—Five cardsof the same suit that don’t makea straight. Straight—Cardsof five con- secutive ranks when notall five are of the samesuit. * Three of a Kind—Three cards of the same rank and two unrelated cards. Two Pair—Two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank and fifth. One Pair—Twocards of the same rank and three other unrelated cards. High Card—Known as a “Busted Hand,” the player holds five unrelated cards. For more information, visit www.worldpx.com.
