In her class at Westmoreland County Community College, near Youngwood, she also teaches table etiquette — the right way to push chips into the ante, what to wear and how to keep a "poker face." And, she advises, don't show your hand unless you have to.

It's all about winning. Roble has set her sights on the $2 million top prize at a poker tournament in 2006. The students, however, are just looking for a better return on the time and money they spend at casinos.

Roble wasn't serious about royal flushes, straights and four of a kind until a year and a half ago, when she went to Florida with her friend, John Galetti of Latrobe. They played cards with his father, on at casinos and on boat junkets. When she learned seven card stud, she said, "That was the hook and it just reeled me in."

Students in her first and current classes are a mix of ages and backgrounds. The common denominator is that they want to do something different and more financially rewarding at the casinos in Atlantic City, New York, Mississippi, Las Vegas and the Bahamas.

"You lose too much money in the slot machines," said Janice Sarber of Belle Vernon, who frequents casinos with her husband, Lanny.

According to Roble, gamblers can drop $80 in 15 or 20 minutes on machines or black jack.

"Or they can take that $80 and play poker for maybe two hours," she said. "In most places, you can even buy in for as little as $40. That gives you more bang for your buck."

And more chances to come out ahead.

"Somebody at that table is going to win," Lanny Sarber said.

Roble shows how to stretch poker skills beyond penny ante games at the kitchen table. She learned winning tactics from Galetti, who assists in her classes and who once was a card counter in Las Vegas and a professional black jack player. It helps, too, that he has a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, because a lot of strategy lies in the tactical analysis of the odds.

"Poker is a series of well-founded decisions based on collected information," Roble said.

The game originated in the Orient and became popular in 19th-century America. Think cowboys like television's Maverick brothers, and the real-life Wild Bill Hickock, who was shot in the back by John McCall. He held aces and eights, immortalized as "the dead man's hand."

But forget guns blazing and whisky bottles flying in Wild West saloons. Today's players are more civilized. In fact, Roble tells them to dress well, don't smoke or drink while playing and be friendly.

"People would rather lose money to someone who is smiling, and not to grump," she said.

Otherwise, keep that face neutral.

"Poker is a great communications game," Roble said. "You have to look at body language, listen to the tonal qualities in your opponents' voices, and try to figure out their poker personalities. Some players even wear sunglasses so that no one can read their eyes."

Texas Hold ’Em is favored in casinos and among professinals. Because it's faster than five or seven card stud, there are more chances to win in a given time. That appeals to Chris Yeager, of Greensburg, who wasn't impressed with her first trip to Casino Niagara.

"This is not for me," she said after quickly losing $40 in slot machines. She went sight seeing instead and is now preparing for a family trip to Las Vegas.

"I'm not really a gambler and I don't want to waste money," Yeager said. "With poker, I'll have more control over what I spend."

Ray Lusebrink of Irwin finds poker "exciting" and enjoys learning social conduct and better strategies.

"I plan to take this new talent to the casinos," Marlene White, of Ligonier, said.

Kaaren Tintori of Greensburg admits to playing video poker "through three shifts" at casinos. She and her husband Mark consider live poker a new option.

Roble's course has garnered national attention. Card Player magazine will feature it in an upcoming issue and Ultimatebet.com is sending her students ball caps with their logo. The Web site offers interactive games and advice from world-renowned player Annie Duke of Las Vegas.

While winning is always the goal, Roble prepares students to recognize when they're going to lose.

"You also gotta know when to run," she said.

By Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller, www.pittsburghlive.com