DEAL 'EM IN DOZENS ANTE UP FOR CHARITY POKER.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The ante has been upped for a new fund-raiser even before anyone has shuffled the deck - and the pot's right for a five-way win for local charities.

The Santa Clarita Valley Texas Hold'em Mania is set for the city's activities center on March 18, and the tables are so hot that organizers have already had to double the number.

Chairman R. J. Kelly said that now 300 players can be accommodated in the tournament, originally intended for 150 players and modeled on the poker mania gripping the country.

``We were looking for something different,'' Kelly said. ``There are almost 50 golf tournaments now, and charities are always knocking on doors, looking for something to help them raise money. We saw the Texas Hold'em craze that all the casinos are picking up and wanted to see what value it had in our community.''

Through word-of-mouth and e-mail, the tournament's popularity shot up.

``We've already got 210 reservations for players,'' Kelly said. ``We can seat 300 players, with about 50 in our spectator gallery. Keep in mind the spectators will increase as players are eliminated.''

Players buy in for $150 and receive $15,000 in chips for play for the evening. When players sign up, they indicate the charity they would like to support, choosing from the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, the School and Business Alliance, Children's Network International, Carousel Ranch and Single Mothers Outreach.

The buy-in money is divided immediately - with 25 percent going directly to the charity chosen by the player and 75 percent into a pot that will be split among the five nonprofit organizations.

After play begins, elimination rounds will take a number of tables out of play. By the end of the evening, players will have moved to higher-level tables until only 10 finalists remain.

Five of the 10 finalists will emerge victorious. The first-place winner's charity will receive at least $10,125, or 30 percent of the buy-in balance. Each of the other four must designate a different charity - no duplication - with at least $8,437.50 for the second-place winner's choice; $6,750, third place; $5,062.50, fourth; and $3,375, fifth. Kelly said that sponsorship money may increase those figures, and several businesses have donated their goods or services.

Along with bragging rights and trophies, the top five players will win an invitation to play in the next tournament without paying an entry fee.

``We wanted to make sure each charity benefited in some way,'' Kelly said. ``They have been working together on this so well. Because this was a first-time event, my philosophy was that we start with a few strong charities and some who didn't have a big event already.

``Each of the charities is handling a different aspect of the event, based on their strengths,'' he continued. ``My concern was that we'd have groups not performing up to par and still generating income, but I had nothing to worry about. The support from every group has been phenomenal. Their philosophy is that we're all in this together, and we're going to share it together. Everybody is working really hard.''

The event will include a small buffet dinner, silent and live auctions and opportunity drawings. Live auction items include a 10-day Holland- American cruise with an outside cabin, valued at $7,000; a private airplane trip for two to Catalina Island for lunch; and a weekend in a cabin at Big Bear.

Kelly said that the event won't be without a bit of controversy.

``I've heard a challenge from a few lady poker players who said they're going to kick some butt in this game,'' he said.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

Tickets for players, spectators and sponsorship opportunities for Texas Hold'em Mania are still available. Player tickets cost $150 per person and spectator seats are $25. Call [phone] for reservations and more information.

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IF YOU GO (see text)