The cards are shuffled, the blinds are up, ace high and a deuce low in the pocket. The date is Jan. 29, the place is the VFW hall in Santa Clara and the game is Texas Hold ’em. The Steam Rollers, a power wheelchair soccer team are holding a charity tournament.

Coaches came up with the idea of the poker tournament to raise money for their upcoming trip to Indiana. One hundred percent of each $50 buy-in goes to the Steam Rollers. The game was hosted by the Amateur Poker Association, a business run by Marco Rebelo.

"I love running the tournaments. I enjoy seeing it get down to the last two or three players and then watching the winner," says Rebelo.

The room is filled with plush green tables and multi-colored chips made by Robelo himself. For charity events, he uses student dealers and works for virtualy no profit.

DeAnza student Raymond Charles Williams says, "I learned to play poker on TV; I would watch the pros play."

"My grandma and I would play poker, not for money just for fun," says DeAnza student Ed Geer.

There are five tables set up with eight people at each table. The blinds are $50 and $100 to start. The pocket cards are dealt then the betting begins.

Antes, checks, and furtive glances are traded around the tables. After about an hour the blinds go up, the stakes get higher and players start dropping out like flies.

Things heat up between Malcom Welch and Raymond Charles Williams. Ray is dealt a king and queen, suited, while Malcolm is sitting on a pair of fives. The flop brings Malcom a pair of threes, while Ray gets a ten of hearts. Malcolm checks Ray’s raise.

On the turn it’s a six of spades. Ray raises and Malcom checks again. Ray has a flush draw and Malcom has two pair. The river brings the jack of hearts. Ray raises big and Malcom goes all in. When the cards are flipped, Ray’s flush beats Malcolm’s two pair. Malcolm is out.

"It was very nice of the owners to host the event. It was very professional and fun. I would have liked to have seen more participation from the school," says Welch.

As players go out, the winners move to the next table. "Five more minutes at this level," says Rebello. The blinds keep going up and the price to stay in the game is higher. The race is on and everyone wants to make it to the final table.

Then the final table with the final three players. The blinds are $1,000. The best of the best go back and forth. Then there were two. The final player wins by pushing his opponent all in while holding two pair.

The night was a success, says Williams. "We made our goal, we earned $1,000 and that will cover everything."

"I want disabled students to know there is something they can do out there. I hope this event makes them aware there are other programs for them, like Steam Rollers," says Welch.

"My son used to go and watch every different kind of team games. Now because of Steam Rollers he can actually participate," says fundraiser coordinator Robin Faria.

"Home poker tournaments are an inexpensive way to learn how to play poker without intimidation," says Rebelo.