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The game is “No Limit Texas Hold’em.” The “Cadillac” of poker. It’s a game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

Of course, I’m referring to ultra-high stakes gambling. And thanks to the “World Poker Tour” being televised on The Travel Channel and some sports channels such as Fox Sports Net and ESPN, the game is taking off.

Not only are people tuning in to watch others play cards, but the game is exploding into private homes.

So what is all the excitement about? The second season of the “World Series” began a couple weeks ago.

Upon moving to Colorado, it is important to learn how to speak skier or snowboarder; but in the past year, I have learned to speak poker. So, I figure I now know three languages.

For those who think I’m crazy, here’s an example: the dealer deals you two ladies. One of your opponents raises the pot $25,000 on the blind to which you call. On the flop comes a third Queen plus a King and a deuce. You raise a large amount of $87,000 in chips. The dealer turns over the turn, a jack, and the river, an ace. Just when you think the pot is yours, your opponent turns over a suited 10, queen to show you the royal straight to the ace.

That, my friends, is poker.

So how is the game played? Each player is dealt two cards face down and then five cards face up, known as the community cards which every player can use. You combine your two cards with the five community cards to make the best poker hand.

Not sounding too exciting yet? Let’s add some money into the mix. The first two cards that are dealt face down set off the first round of betting while many people fold after looking at their cards.

Then comes the flop, the first three community cards which initiates the second round of betting. The fourth community card, known as the turn or fourth street, sets off the third round and with the river or fifth street, sets off the final round of betting.

Want to make it more exciting? The game is no limit hold’ em. At any time, players can raise the pot by as much money as they desire including going “all in.”

The problem with watching this sport is that it makes you want to learn to play, and more importantly, makes you want to win.

Poker is not a difficult hobby; it does not take tons of money to get involved. It is not a sport like sailing or hockey which requires skill and expensive equipment-it is more like golf. It is fairly relaxing and a great way to spend an afternoon. Furthermore, anyone can learn to play. Just look at the “World Series of Poker,” you have a young Asian-Canadian woman, an older woman from Britain, an older hair stylist and a young dot-com man who is worth a fortune but plays for fun.

I decided to see what all the excitement was about, so I joined a neighborhood game. I threw my $10 into the pot and took my chips. Within a few hours I went from being on the short stack to the chip leader, and then came the hand I was waiting for. I was dealt kings and a king came on the flop. I was aggressively betting and my opponent raised through each round of betting. Then on the river, he went all in which forced me to go all in as well, just to see what he would do.

I revealed my hand of three kings only to see his straight and there it was. He won. I gracefully shook hands and walked away from the table.

That’s what I would call exciting. That’s poker. But like anything you do, you have to love it. It’s a tough way to make an easy living.