THEY'RE everywhere now. Casino San Pablo in San Pablo. Garden City in San Jose. Lucky Chances in Colma. The Oaks in Emeryville. California Grand in Pacheco and the Palace in Hayward, Buckhorn in Livermore and Artichoke Joe's in San Bruno. The Bay Area bunch joins nearly 100 other card clubs existing in the state. Toss in the Indian casinos and all the Nevada gaming facilities and you've got a lot of folks holding, folding and hitting. And, as San Ramon resident Errol Krok wisely realized, a dearth of dealers. Krok, 48, worked at three area clubs in the last eight years. About six weeks ago, he noticed that, thanks to the popularity of ESPN's "World Series of Poker" telecasts, more people were trying their hand at playing. And there weren't enough dealers to handle the demand. In fact, the casinos were "desperately" short of dealers, Krok says. It immediately clicked: Start a school for poker dealers. It made good sense to bring in some new blood into the business. Quicker than Krok could say "Texas Holdem," the Ace opening session, which included eight men and six women 25 to 40.

"There are a lot of females working as poker dealers. It's common in the industry," Krok says.

Some students are experienced players. Some never heard the phrase Texas Holdem."

Nothing that some bad dealers are out there, Krok says he's already received referrals from a few card clubs.

"One person just failed an audition at Garden City and they told him to come to us and get some lessons. ... There are certain ones who haven't learned the procedures the way you should do them," he says. "Unfortunately, sometimes they slip through the cracks."

Krok's Broadway Street venue is a virtual poker room.

"We try and set up conditions that would exist in a real poker room," he says. "We have people distract them, ask them for chips, set up conditions they'd have if they would experience on the job. It raises the level of concentration."

Krok doesn't just give graduates a certificate of completion and send them on their merry way.

"The whole premise of the business is to train these people and, when they're ready to graduate, set up an appointment with various casinos we're well connected with.

"It's all about looking and being professional," Krok says. "And, for Caesars sake, don't talk about your kids.

"All the dealer does is run the game for the house," Krok says. "As far as what the player does, it's totally up to the player. Be courteous and friendly, but don't get involved in the players' conversations. When the game is on, shut up and deal."