You gotta know when to hold em', know when to fold em' because the Student Poker Championships is coming to Fanshawe.

If you think you have what it takes to bluff your way to the top, then be in Forwell Hall on Monday, October 17 for the first round of the Ontario Student Poker Championships.

The tournament, which runs from October until March, is a series of free/no money games and was developed for players to enjoy poker for fun, rather than gambling. Instead of money, the winner is entitled to bragging rights and the privilege of knowing they are the best poker player in any college or university in Ontario.

In addition to the first game this month, there will be games on Monday, November 21, January 23 and February 20, while the championship will be played in Toronto on March 25.

The Fanshawe games will seat 100 people at 10 regular tables and will provide students with a professionally operated tournament. Each monthly tournament will produce two top finishers, who will qualify for the final in March. The eight qualifying players will be given round-trip transportation to Toronto to compete in the overall individual title, as well as the team championship title.

The games will follow the World Series of Poker rules for Texas Hold'em style poker, which has skyrocketed in popularity since the advent of online casinos.

Celebrities like Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Tilly have all raised on a few flops during televised hold'em tournaments, which has not only won them flashy titles, but also helped the popularity of the poker industry.

Players can sign up at the doors before 6pm and the first fifty in line will be guaranteed seats.

Residence tournament players will have fifty seats reserved, but only until 6:30pm; after that time admission is first come, first served. All students interested in playing must bring government issued photo identification and a valid student card to each event. For more information on the rules and regulations visit www.studentpokerchampionships.com.