TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

But the writing on the navy blue cap covering his white hair does it for him: "Dead Money? Come & get it."

"Dead money" is a term by which veteran poker players refer to novices such as Cochran, who rarely played poker before seeing professionals play Texas holdem on television a few months ago. He's been losing money ever since.

And he's not alone.

In the past year, more and more newcomers have taken seats at Casino Real's smooth, green tables. Most of them have been hooked by television's popular poker programs, such as the Travel Channel's "World Poker Tour" and ESPN's "World Series of Poker," which feature Texas holdem tournaments with first prizes of $1 million or more.

Ratings for these shows boomed over the past few years after producers started using small cameras embedded in the card tables to show players' hands.

Recently, the manager of the Casino Real card room asked Manteca to increase its player limit from eight to 10 per table so it could catch up with industry standards. Card rooms in Tracy and Stockton have nine players per table.

The new table limit will go into effect in early October.

"It plays better with more people," manager Dennis Williams said. "Texas holdem has just taken over the industry."

Williams said traffic in the card room has increased 30 percent to 40 percent in the past year. Other popular card room games are blackjack, Omaha and pan.

Many players start off watching the game on TV and then practice by playing for free online, Williams said. But playing online can give a false sense of reality, he said, since they are not losing real money.

"I think people are intrigued by someone pushing in $1 million dollars in the pot. They want to see how they would react in that situation with their rent money on the line," he said.

Casino Real has no-limit Texas holdem tournaments every Sunday, with a $50 buy-in and a pot of as much as $1,400 for first place. Most weeknights, the tables are full, with some people watching and waiting to play.

"Right now, it's the hottest thing going," said Joe Melech, owner of the Comstock Club card room in Tracy.

Casino Real's floor manager, Sam Zoudo, said he sees five to 10 new faces coming through the door every day. And they all want to play Texas holdem, said Zoudo, who competed in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in May and finished 208 out of 2,600 players.

"Holdem is the only thing I play -- or know how to play," Cochran said, sitting in the card room on West Yosemite Avenue.

The dealers tease Cochran and call him Dead Money Jack. It makes him laugh. When the Livermore resident comes through the door, which he does almost every day, he sometimes lets everyone in the room know: "Never fear: Dead Money's here. Some of you guys may go home rich."

When the retired landscape contractor started playing Texas holdem, he lost $2,000 a month. His wife of 32 years keeps track of how much he spends. The most he won at one time was $750, he said.

About a week ago, Cochran won $565. But most of the time he loses.

Experienced players have told him that the good players win 60 percent of the time.

"I'm not there yet," Jack said. "It's a good game. It's a nice hobby," he said. "I'm retired. I can afford to lose a little."

Texas holdem

Texas holdem is a poker variation of seven-card stud played with community cards that belong to all players.

* Two players begin by placing opening bets.

* Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player. Players bet, raise or fold.

* Three community cards known as the flop are dealt face up, followed by a betting round.

* A fourth community card, known as "the turn" or "Fourth Street," is dealt, with another betting round.

* A fifth community card, known as "the river," or "Fifth Street" is dealt, with one final round of betting.

* The highest five-card hand among the players wins the pot.

* "No limit" holdem allows players to bet all their chips at any time -- to "go all in" -- and risk elimination from the tournament.