Many states across the country, including several in the Midwest, have experienced the same growth in gaming and poker that the rest of the United States has over the past decade or more. Some states offer casinos on native American reservations only; many others, including the subject of this edition, Michigan, have approved gaming in other parts of their states as well.

Hannibal Hamlin was named after the brilliant Carthaginian general who used elephants to get his army across the Alps and attack the surprised Romans about 200 B.C.

Born in 1809 in Maine, Hannibal grew up in a prosperous family. His father was a Harvard-trained physician. He excelled both academically and athletically.

What really is a bad beat? Well, the definition from the glossary of Doyle's Bible is, "When you get a big hand cracked (beaten) by someone who was a big dog against you and made his longshot draw...you're said to have had a bad beat". Sklansky and Malmuth in their glossary of terms add another dimension to the definition which I believe is critical. They add, "Especially when the person drawing was playing incorrectly by being in the pot in the first place". Every time I see a big hand cracked several players around the table lament what a bad beat the loser of the hand suffered. Hogwash!

Carol, we have been invited to return to Tulsa to host a "The Seniors" World Championship of Poker tournament at the Cherokee Indian Tribe's new poker room this year. The Cherokee Nations Enterprises (CNE) will be in operation soon. This will be the Foxwoods of Oklahoma.

Each year we go back to Foxwoods to host "The Seniors" WCOP at the Foxwoods-World Poker Finals. It will be wonderful to return home to Oklahoma and host a "The Seniors" WCOP each year in my home town.

I logged onto a popular online poker website to play some Hold 'Em or Omaha a few evenings ago. Although thousands of players were logged on to play the same site on this particular weekday evening, I was having trouble finding a $5/10 table which had more than a couple of players seated. In fact, the Omaha tables were nothing more than a collection of empty chairs. Even the low and medium buy-in No Limit tables were sparsely used. I began to click through the menu lobby to attempt to see where the heck all of the players were located! Of course, the lowest limit tables were predictably busy.

After having read Jennifer's column ("Fresh Young Face'), I have to admit it; she's really a gung ho, (rah-rah) type of female. However, what she was alluding to in my comments about her may have fallen on deaf (eyes). To describe this woman, who I just recently met in person, requires that I draw a picture. Jennifer exemplifies a grown-up cheerleader type who brings gusto to the words, positive mind-set. Sort of like, "go life go, you can do it" rah, rah, rah, quality. Better yet, she could be described by using this analogy.

When I'm on tilt, I describe myself as "a cork, bobbing on the sea of poker." Here's how I went corking last night, and please note how my own good fortune triggered the event in the first place.

After three weeks I still hadn't heard from Bailey Mack, the TV producer who signed me up to do the concept for a poker game show. I got burned once before by Hobby's friend. I should have known better than to give him another shot at me. I visited Hobby to share my grief.

"Why didn't you tell me Bailey wasn't returning your calls?" he asked. "Maybe I didn't want to admit I feel like a schmuck. His office phone is a bust. Can you get in touch with him?"

"I've got his home number. I'll call," Hobby offered.

As he dialed I said, "If you get him, tell him I'm pissed."

Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein 2005, 316pp, $25

Barry Greenstein, one of poker's most successful, respected money players on the planet--and a top tournament player as well-- is one of the most well-regarded, educated and unorthodox individuals ever to play poker. Doyle Brunson calls him "the consummate professional poker player," adding "His attitude, demeanor at the table, and approach to the game sets him apart from most pros."

We've stood toe-to-toe and side-by-side. Now, the British have launched the most exciting new challenge to American poker players since the Beatles sang "I Wanna' Hold Your Hand."

When it comes to sailing the seas of online gambling, the class of the United Kingdom is WILLIAM HILL. Sophisticated, secure, yet simple, it launches a virtual Royal Armada of betting opportunities from its web site: www.willhill.com.