By MIKE KRINGS, Times News Editor

Like millions of Americans, Dee Booker has watched the wave of poker shows that permeate televisions airwaves, and joked about getting a piece of the action. But she never thought she'd be one win away from playing in the World Series of Poker.

Booker, 70, a Leavenworth resident, won a Texas Hold'Em tournament at a casino in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is now entered in the national finals. If she wins again, she'll be playing against the world's best in Las Vegas.

"I would tell my grandkids, 'hey, watch this on TV. I'll be on there someday,' never dreaming I'd be this close," Booker said of the World Series of Poker.

The fact that Booker won is not as surprising as the fact that it was her first tournament. She has played cards for years, and played seven card stud with her grandchildren, but never tried her hand at Texas Hold'Em. She registered while she was visiting her daughter in Sioux Falls.

"My granddaughter works at a casino," she said. "I registered and was lucky enough to have my name pulled."

Booker played the first night of the tournament, against 40 other competitors. Even though she had just learned the game, she took first place that night.

Texas Hold'Em is similar to other forms of poker, except players share five cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table. Each player holds two of his or her own cards, and uses three of the cards in the center to form a poker hand.

The tournament started out with six tables of players, was whittled down to five, then four, and on down until there was only one table left.

Booker found herself sitting at the final table, and ultimately playing the final hand.

Holding a six and a seven, she was playing against a woman who was holding an ace and king. Having far fewer chips than her opponent, Booker decided to go for broke.

As the last cards were turned up, her opponent had no luck, while Booker landed a pair of 6's, enough to win.

"If I can play it and win, anybody can," Booker said. "There's not a lot of skill to it, it's just plain luck."

If Booker wins the tournament April 23, the casino and sponsors of the tournament will pay her $10,000 entry fee to the World Series of Poker in June. Her airfare, as well as a five night stay in Las Vegas will also be paid for. Winners of the World Series of Poker in the past have won as much as $5.9 million.

If she makes it, she plans to take some customers from VFW Post No. 56, where she works, as a fan base.

Booker hadn't played Texas Hold'Em before the tournament, and hasn't played much since. She said she hasn't been able to find many people to play with in Leavenworth.

Soon, however, the VFW will have a Texas Hold'Em league open to anyone over 21. The game will be played the same as in casinos, but no gambling will be involved.

Booker and her husband, Leo, will be moving to South Dakota soon to be closer to family. But before she goes, she's having a going away party. If she wins she said she might have to come back for a celebratory party in Leavenworth.

Booker said whether she wins or not, she plans to enjoy her upcoming tournament.

And she has her grandkids on her side.

"They said, 'don't be nervous grandma. Just go in there and beat'em like you do us all the time.'"