Can $40 start a revolution? It did for the world of poker.

That measly sum is all Tennessee accountant Chris Moneymaker paid to enter an online tournament in 2003. Moneymaker eventually turned that initial investment into $2.5 million when he won the 2003 World Series of Poker in front of ESPN's cameras.

Presto. A revolution was born.

Moneymaker bested a field of 863 when he won his world title. That number jumped to 2,500 last year and is expected to be capped at 6,600 in this year's tournament.

Poker is popular everywhere, and Decatur is no exception. No-limit Texas Hold 'Em, the en vogue form of poker, is taking over everywhere, such as:

n The Internet: www.pokerroom.com, a popular online poker site, recently dealt its billionth hand. Millions of dollars exchange hands daily on the offshore Web site and those like it.

n The Mall: A popular phrase about Texas Hold 'Em says all a player needs is a chip and a chair. There are plenty of stores willing to provide chips and a table to bet them on.

Scott Nicol, store manager of MC Sports at Hickory Point Mall, first noticed the demand on poker items about two years ago. Now the shelves are stocked with chip sets, cards and table tops - everything to start a game.

"Prior to Christmas is probably the strongest demand we've had," Nicol said. "I don't see it slowing down at all. There are now more places to get it, so our business may not be as high as it was in the past. But we have seen prices coming down from distributors, and that's good. Sets that were $100 a year ago are now 50 bucks."

If players want to find home games, all they have to do is look. They are becoming as prevalent as NCAA basketball tournament pools in March.

Some prefer tournaments, where the winner takes home a majority of the money after besting all the foes at the table. Others prefer cash games, where every hand presents the opportunity to increase - or decrease - their fortunes.

Terry Reeves of Cerro Gordo had no interest in poker until his son, Trent, picked up the game and taught his dad the finer points.

It started as a way to bond, and it continues as a hobby. Reeves soon learned that some neighbors played in a home game, which he eventually joined.

"The first time I played, I was the first one out," Reeves said with a smile.

His fortunes have improved since then, however. He finished in the money in a few tournaments, winning enough money to stay in the black in his brief poker career.

"It's just enjoyment. I'm not a gambler," Reeves said. "My wife told me I should quit while I'm ahead, but 10 bucks (the usual buy-in) doesn't make me nervous. But $4,000 or $5,000 - that would make me nervous."

If poker were a stock, it would be skyrocketing. More and more networks are following ESPN's lead. Fox Sports, Bravo and the Travel Channel all televise poker on a weekly basis. NBC recently aired a heads-up poker tournament, where players faced off one-on-one in a 64-person bracket.

Part of the appeal is the game itself. Intuition, the ability to calculate odds and make subtle adjustments all are just as important as the quality of a player's cards.

The larger part of the appeal, naturally, is the money. People see how Moneymaker went from accountant to millionaire in just one tournament. And if players have the money and are willing to gamble with it, they too could carve their own path to glory.

All they have to do is shuffle and deal.

Todd Engle can be reached at tengle@;herald-review.com or 421-7970.