Shuffle up and deal! Thats tournament pokers equivalent of the Indianapolis 500s Start your engines! The World Series of Poker (WSOP), the World Poker Tour (WPT) and other poker events are now televised and viewed by millions. This coverage has sparked a renewed interest in poker, especially Texas Hold Em tournament play.

If you have wondered what it would be like to play in a tournament, now is your chance. The Tryon Downtown Development Association (TDDA) is hosting a new fund-raising event to benefit downtown projects and operations. The First Annual Tryon Texas Hold Em Tournament will be held on May 8, at 1 p.m., at the Kyoto pub on the lower level of Shops of Tryon.

The tournament is an event played with tournament poker chips which have no cash value, but simply a means of keeping score. To enter the tournament, players will make a donation to TDDA. Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers. The tournament is open to women and men, age 21 and over, and will be limited to the first 40 players who sign up on a first come basis. A list of alternates will be used to fill any cancellations.

To sign up for the tournament and/or to receive more information, email viclar@windstream.net. You can also contact Larry Siler at 894-5221. Entry fees will be collected at the tournament.

For poker players who have not played Texas Hold Em or are unfamiliar with the tournament version, a short orientation will be held at 1 p.m. immediately preceding the start of the tournament. Experienced players will be on hand to answer any questions. Also, an internet search for Texas hold em tournament rules will list numerous sources of information.

So come join us for a fun event that benefits our downtown. Who knows? You may even discover a new interest and wind up at a final table in the World Series of Poker.