What's a "dealer button"?  What's "all-in"?  What the heck is this weird poker game they're playing?  Well, I'll do my best to give the rookies out there a run-down while maintaining the flow of the hands for the veterans.

From the Palms Casino in downtown "Sin City", the Bravo TV network, in association with the National Broadcasting Company, presents the gambling stylings of Kevin Pollack and CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN. From the beautiful Gold Yellow Copper Steel Iron Auditorium of the Palms Casino in downtown Vegas, overlooking the uptown section of downtown Mustang Ranch. Stay with us, won't you, and enjoy the coolest poker this side of Binion's Horseshoe or the Bellagio.  Ah, there's laughter, concentration and gaiety at the Palms weekly.  Now, to get things underway, Kevin will introduce the five entertainers vying for the spot at the Final Table and the lion's share of the $250,000 prize pool for his/her charity.  These beautiful pictures and lovely lyrics portrayed vocally by Chris Wolvie.

And, guess what, folks?  It's West Wing night on Celebrity Poker Showdown!  All five competitors are on the long-running hit NBC drama series (the one whose reruns are played now on Bravo)!  Let's meet the cabinet:

CELEBRITY	BIO
Timothy Busfield playing for Planned Parenthood Federation	Busfield plays Danny Concannon, a member of the White House Press Corps and writer for the Washington Post.  Will he make the others misquote and use it against them?
Allison Janney playing for the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund	Janney plays C.J. Cregg, the White House Press Secretary.  She makes sure the Prez doesn't look bad.  But can she make the others look bad with her poker skills?
Richard Schiff playing for the Weingart Center Association	Schiff's character is Toby Ziegler, the White House Director of Communications.  Will he telegraph his moves to everyone else, or will the others be left on the line?
Martin Sheen playing for the San Carlos Foundation	Sing "Hail to the Chief"!  The father of Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez plays U.S. President Jed Bartlett.  Will the Chief Executive veto his staff out of the title hunt?
John Spencer playing for Professional Children's School	Spencer portrays President Bartlett's Chief of Staff, Leo Thomas McGarry.  He controls everyone else...except the Prez, of course.  Will he be able to control him and the others with the cards he's dealt?

Each celebrity will start with $10,000 worth of chips and the game will continue until one celebrity has all $50 thou. That player is then eligible for the Final Table later in the year.

They play No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, the "Cadillac of Poker".  A dealer button will be passed around the table after each hand to show the dealer where to start handing out cards (to the right of the button).  The two players to the right of the button post blinds, forced bets to insure there's money in each hand.  Each player is dealt two cards face down, then will either call the highest bet, raise the bet or fold their cards and remove themselves from the hand.  After the bets are in, three community cards which can be used by anybody are dealt face-up on the table.  This is called the flop.  After another round of betting (and/or folding), a fourth card is turned up, called the turn or fourth street.  More bets (and/or folds) are made, then the fifth and final community card, the river or fifth street, is turned up.  After more bets/folds, the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.  The game is called no limit because, at any time, any celebrity can go all-in and bet all their chips.  But, if they LOSE the hand they go all-in with, they're eliminated from the tournament

At the announcers' position beside the Losers' Lounge are your hosts Kevin Pollack and poker expert Phil Gordon.  They'll be calling the action emanating from the main room and great those that bust out.

After a little séance by the five Wingers to channel their poker energy, it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!

Initial blinds are $100 (SB) and $200 (BB).  The Dealer Button (D) starts on Martin.

The "impeached" Martin shakes hands with Kevin.  Martin has lived up to his self-given nickname of "Longshot"...and it makes sense since this was his first time EVER in playing Texas Hold 'Em.  Martin had thought Timothy was bluffing so he HAD to call the all-in.  When Kevin tells Martin he had Timothy beat until the river card gave Timothy the three fives, Martin bawled a little.  San Carlos Foundation does walk away with $5,000 in any case.

Well, THAT was quick.  Allison joins Kevin and Martin in the Losers' Lounge.  Kevin says Allison can get "all liquored up now."  Allison asks, "Now?! I'm am already!"  She claims she was very nervous...and the one time she plays aggressive and fearless, she lost.  At least the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund gets 5 Gs for Allison's participation.  But enough of the funeral talk: let's get back to the live game with just three people left.

Blinds are now $200 (SB) and $400 (BB).  Blinds increase during the tournament. 

At this point, Richard not only wear his cap like a rally cap, he dons THREE pairs of glasses, making him look...well, like a superstitious and/or non-serious poker player, really.

Blinds are up to $300 (SB) and $600 (BB).

Timothy went from first to worst in a hurry.  Martin and Allison are shocked when Timothy joins them and Kevin in the Losers' Lounge.  "I didn't play as well as I should have," Timothy says.  Ah, well, Planned Parenthood Federation gets $5,000.  But, now it's down to heads-up action between the Director of Communications and the Chief of Staff!

 Blinds are now up to $400 (SB) and $800 (BB).

And, so, John's Professional Children's School gets $5,000.  But Richard Schiff becomes the second member of the illustrious Final Table and receives the non-collectible silver chip.  His words upon finding out he'd have to play again: "I don't want to PLAY again!"  But he's glad to help his charity get more that the $5,000 everyone else got.