Hosting a poker party is an essential science

[Eric]

In fact, Vanderjagt is preparing to launch a new career -- as a poker
player.

Vanderjagt, of Oakville, Ont., was the most accurate field-goal kicker
in NFL history and was the leg behind two Grey Cup championships with
Toronto before obtaining his release from the Argonauts last week.

At 39, Vandy plans to take his poker game outside his own parties and
into the limelight.

Poker parties are cool, incidentally. Can't think of better excuses to
get together with friends, but keep these tips handy:

* Don't over-invite. Plan for eight per table and have enough chairs.
If you don't have genuine poker tables, use regular tables but cover
them with either a sheet of felt or a tablecloth.

* Sharpen your skills. Practice online at a site such as
PokerStars.net, where you can play for free.

* Use new decks of cards. And use poker chips instead of cash. You'll
want 75 to 100 chips per player. Use the casino denominations of $1
for white, $5 for red, $10 for blue, $25 for green and $100 for
black.

* Supply refreshments. They definitely enhance poker parties.

Of course, if you prefer, online poker is available any time and, at
PokerStars.net, about 400 of us partied through the free York Report
Poker Tournament last Saturday.

The winner: AmatureHour who collected $96.75. I finished 17th.
Golfer1956 knocked me out, winning $50 in the process and finishing
fourth.

The next York Report tournament, also free, will be June 27. The
password will be York. You can win a trip for two to Las Vegas and
$500 cash.

In the meantime, you can also qualify for the World Series of Poker
for free. PokerStars.net is running WSOP freerolls and winners are
being sent to Vegas for the event. I'll be there myself to cover the
WSOP. Should be interesting.

marty...@live.ca.
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