Poker Comedian Rodney Rodd will be "Professor"

Commerce, CA -  Are you tired of losing money to more skilled poker players in your home games? Or perhaps you're too intimated to even venture into a poker game? Then, welcome to Commerce Casino's University of Poker (CCUP), a tuition-free institution where you can study all you want, never lose a penny, and laugh till you can't stop.

That's what's in store for the students who sign up for the "No Beginner Too Green" and "Intermediate" classes being taught at the world's largest poker casino, beginning Tuesday, November 4. There are no prerequisites, no 12-hour entrance exams, no term papers, and best of all, no cost to attend. It's a free University that teaches students how to play poker and win money. At Commerce Casino's University of Poker, you can avoid taking the expensive path of "paying for your lessons" in a poker game-- where every mistake has a price tag.

The professor is none other than the highly respected "Poker Comedian" Roger Rodd, Hollywood's "Instructor To The Stars." He teaches the game to the Hollywood elite and served as behind-the-scenes poker coach for the movie "Lucky You," with Eric Bana and Robert Duvall.   

"Our switchboard receives at least a handful of calls every day from people asking if we will teach them to play poker-and asking what it costs," explains Dave Mosikian, the Commerce Casino's Player Relations Manager. "Since people want to learn the game, we decided to offer instruction to them for free. At our University of Poker, Commerce Casino mixes first class instruction with laughs-and there is no intimidation whatsoever. Come learn and have fun!"   

NO BEGINNER IS TOO GREEN!!!
In the Beginner's Class, Rodd demystifies all facets of poker for any aspiring new player. Starting with the ranking of hand values and continuing through an explanation of fundamentals and blinds, students will soon be fluent in the colorful jargon of the game. The class ultimately moves into actual casino formatted poker playing, with the initial goal to establish the concepts of hand values, antes (blinds), betting fundamentals and rounds.  Upon unanimous student comprehension, the class is taught the process of how pots are built and awarded, with an emphasis on Texas Hold 'em. Through the use of visuals, lecture, Q& A, and classroom mock poker games, the pupils are then ready for their "Final Exam"- a student-only freeroll tournament for prizes and the "CCUP Valedictorian Award."

INTERMEDIATE HOLD 'EM--TIME TO STEP UP YOUR GAME
If you're already a player who doesn't need to learn "from the ground up," but you're getting "ground up" either in a live game or online, CCUP offers an Intermediate Class. CCUP presents the class for the existing home game, online, or casino poker player who wants to improve results or go to the next level. As Mosikian notes, CCUP wants to educate Intermediate players on how the pros play "top set against a double double, an overpair in the two hole, and a donkey playing an airball who just picked up color with one to come!" Categorized by four criteria; Limit, No Limit, Tournament Play, and Live Game Play, each class will focus upon the singular and common aspects of that format of play. A comprehensive menu of necessary elements for winning play will be closely detailed and examined, as will specific strategic situations. Combining oral and written questions with a student-only freeroll tournament, CCUP will present prizes and the cherished "CCUP Graduate Student Valedictorian Award."

All sessions are taught in a private room with no intimidation or distractions. Enrollment will be limited to 25 students in order to insure maximum personal attention. Beginner's Classes meet on Tuesdays from 7 PM - 9 PM, while Intermediate Classes are on Wednesdays from 7 PM - 9 PM. To register for classes or for more information, go to: http://www.commercecasino.com/pokerclasses.aspx. The Commerce Casino, seven miles south of downtown Los Angeles, is located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040, just off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Washington Blvd. exit. Phone (323) 721-2100.  For more information, go to www.commercecasino.com.