By Cathy Bayer/ Staff Writer
thedailyeasternnews.com

With poker tournaments now televised, people are becoming more interested in the game.

Poker is becoming America's top card game and is growing in popularity both on and off campus, Krieger said, and students at Eastern have definitely caught the craze.

Poker "blew up a few years ago" with tournaments on ESPN, said Erik Homiak, a sophomore public relations specialist major.

Homiak began playing poker with his friends in high school and continues to play at least once a week, and up to four times if it's an "on" week, he said.

Rob Davis, a sophomore secondary education history major, got into poker because of his uncle, who is a professional poker player in Las Vegas.

Davis plays with Homiak, but neither of them enjoy online poker as much as the real thing.

"I don't like that kind of poker," Davis said.

Doug Shrader, a senior communication studies major, is no stranger to poker competitions, both in person and online.

Shrader started playing poker three years ago in Thomas Hall, playing Texas Hold'em for fun.

Over Winter Break in Florida, Shrader realized his talent when he sat down at a table in a room of 200 people at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino at a game where blinds were $2 to $4, and he was up $50.

"At that point, I realized my potential," he said.

He was reassured again in February in a $5 tournament, which turned into $60 profit three days later. Two months later, he was up $250 from playing multiple tournaments, he said.

Poker takes time and patience, and there is much to learn about the game.

Shrader said his keys to success are to diversify your play, play with as many people as you can and learn from the other players.

"Play the man as well as the cards," he said.

He learns a lot of skills by watching tournaments on television, including the World Poker Tour.

"It helps to know the hand percentage as well as the pot odds," Shrader said.

Shrader said he never forgets to look at the big picture when he plays.

"The important thing is to realize it's just a game - don't risk your life; don't risk what you can't afford," he said.

Upon registration of the Second Annual College Poker Championship, students are issued a "ticket" for the Lucky Draw contest to win one of 25 iPod Minis. The Lucky Draw contest ends April 30, the drawing will be held May 3.