If sitcoms on television have taught viewers one thing, it's that everyone knows how to play poker.

The stereotypes of who's sitting at the table are all there. There's the self-proclaimed expert, usually a beer-guzzling, cigar-smoking guy. Then there's the nervous guy who never knows when to hold or when to fold. And there's always someone who seems to be clueless about the game - most likely a woman - who outsmarts the entire table.

In real life, however, there's no room at the table for novices. With shows such as "World Poker Tour" and "Celebrity Poker Showdown," the card game's sudden popularity has produced experts at all levels.

Finance junior Jonathan Baetens was first introduced to the game by a fraternity brother two years ago. Now, he plays at least twice a week.

"I'm sure we're nowhere near the level as the people on TV, but for normal people, we're pretty good," Baetens said.

Sometimes the winnings can come in handy, Baetens said.

"I paid for half my summer (expenses) teaching people how to play," he said.

But for the Garage Gamers, a group of students who graduated from Northview High School in Grand Rapids, poker helps maintain the bond of friendship.

"It's a great way to get people back together," said Duke Greene, jazz studies junior.

The group's goal is to play whenever they get a chance, since they all attend different schools, and wherever they can get an open space, whether it's a back porch, a dorm room or a garage.

"We've been looking at playing on a roof," Powers said.

The rules at the table are simple. None of the gamers are allowed to bring their burdens - it's all good fun, and only fun.

"We don't let in the outside world," Greene said.

Many poker players agree that poker is just a good way to socialize with friends.

Dan Otto, general management and Spanish senior, said he likes to play poker because he gets to relax with his roommates on a weekly basis in their house basement. He said the environment is laidback, and they watch TV or just talk about whatever's on their minds.

"We get to rehash the weekend and play some cards," Otto said.

Other students, such as engineering sophomore Matt Travis, agree with Otto. Travis played with friends in the dorms practically every day. But he said playing with money increases the game's appeal.

"It's a fun aspect because you are taking risks with money," Travis said. "If you weren't playing with money, it wouldn't be as exciting."

Travis said more students are learning to play the game but has noticed that more guys than girls play.

"Maybe it's a more masculine game. I don't see why it wouldn't appeal to women though," Travis said.

But although some people think it's a man's game, there are plenty of women who enjoy it just as much - if not more.

"When I'm up at school, there's maybe two other girls at the table - maybe three," said Kartika Vasavada, a social work junior and poker enthusiast.

Sometimes, other women can feel intimidated, but not her, Vasavada said.

"The guys I play with don't like a girl at the poker table," she said. "They get kind of nervous and feel that poker is a man's game."

"But there's some guys that don't care."

Regardless of gender, all players have the opportunity to win big amounts of money. The College Poker Championship offers $135,000 in scholarships to players from all over the globe.

"It was the first event to bring together students from around the world," said Gavin Lachman, a consultant project manager for the championship.

Lachman said the first tournament, held in December 2003, featured 10,000 players from 1,500 schools in 50 countries.

"Our goal is to search for the best college poker player in the world," he said.

Lachman said this year, more than 20,000 players have signed up to compete.

"(Players like) the challenge of the game, the thought-provoking nature of the game," Lachman said. "Our competition seems to be most popular with the U.S."