For many, the dream of becoming a world champion poker player is out of reach, but the Mighty River Poker School is teaching students to become poker masters.
Paul Dutsch and Lee Davidson founded the Mighty River Poker School earlier this year and have conducted seminars across Baton Rouge on the fundamentals of the game.
“We teach the poker basics to beginners and intermediate players in a seminar-type class,” Dutsch said.
Dutsch said they host the classes according to the demand from people. That demand has grown, allowing Dutsch and Davidson to put on four classes within the past two weeks.
“We just had a ton of interest and had one class immediately set up,” Dutsch said.
Dutsch said the classes they offer are open to people of all ages, and many University students come to learn poker techniques.
Daniel Maranto, an accounting junior, plays poker with his friends every week and said the seminars could be valuable, especially for people too young to go to casinos.
“You can only learn so much from TV, and classes like these help teach the techniques to those people who are too young to play in casinos,” Maranto said.
In addition to the seminars, The Mighty River Poker School is starting a Statewide Poker League with hopes of sending the league champion to Las Vegas for the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament.
“There are just a ton of people playing in Baton Rouge and the LSU campus, and this will bring the poker community closer together,” Dutsch said.
Dutsch said he expects around 1,000 poker players to attend the tournament, which will begin April 24.
Instead of money, the tournament will use a points system to determine the eventual winner. Because money is not being exchanged, the tournament is open to people 18 or older. But, because the tournament winner will be sent to Las Vegas, if a player under 21 wins, they must forfeit their spot to the World Series of Poker Tournament.
“I think the idea of the state tournament is a cool idea. It would be a great opportunity to play against some veteran poker payers,” Maranto said.
Dutsch attributes the game’s growing popularity to the poker tournaments on television.
“The World Poker Tour and ESPN have really brought poker to the front line,” Dutsch said.
He also said the game offers the opportunity to play poker’s best competitors and have an even chance of winning.
“It’s something the average person thinks he has as good a chance to win as the seasoned professional,” Dutsch said.
The Mighty River Poker School will host a free informational session and poker workshop Monday, Mar.ch 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Days Inn on Airline and I-12. For more information, contact their Web site at www.mightyriverpoker.com.