Jeff Dellitt drew a crowd to his table last week in Davenport, Iowa, because he was giving away something free: poker lessons.

All eight seats were filled with "students," while others ringed the table, watching and listening and learning. The charity hold 'em tournament benefiting Habitat for Humanity wasn't due to start for an hour.

Jeff, an experienced amateur player, explained the basics — what are blinds, who has to post them, who acts first after the flop, what's a flop and so on — with everyone paying close attention.

One fellow asked: "Now, what is that last up card called?" In unison, Jeff and three others replied: "The river!"

Jeff dealt some sample hands face-up, then explained the decisions each player likely would make with those same cards in an actual game.

Then he dealt a more realistic practice hand face-down, with chips in play. I was standing behind Lucille and saw her peek down at A-A! I couldn't wait to see how she would play the hand.

Lucille looked across the table at Jeff and asked, "I don't have to bet yet, right?" He said: "No, you're in the small blind. You'll bet first on the remaining rounds."

A lady in a fur-trimmed jacket was seated "under the gun" (first to act). She promptly raised to 30 chips — and got a quick head-turning glance from Lucille.

Another woman called, and then it was Lucille's turn. I thought she would re-raise, but she smooth-called instead, setting a trap. The big blind folded.

The three remaining players saw the flop: A-9-2! Lucille had trip aces, and this time around, she was first to act.

Cagily, she looked down at her hole cards again as if checking to see if that flop actually improved her hand. The ploy worked because both opponents called her modest 30-chip bet.

A blank came on the turn. Lucille repeated her actions: check the cards, then bet small. Both of the other ladies called again.

A deuce on the river paired the board, giving Lucille a virtually unbeatable hand. She bet 100.

At this point, Jeff, who had been narrating the action, gave the players a key lesson: "With that bet, she's telling everybody she's got something!"

The woman in fur exclaimed, "I think she's right!" and quickly mucked her cards. The third player also folded.

Jeff looked at Lucille and explained she didn't have to show her cards because nobody called. To help the amateurs "read" what Lucille's betting pattern meant, Jeff said she probably had A-K or perhaps pocket nines.

Lucille ended the mystery by proudly showing A-A and declaring, "I have a full house, aces over twos!" A chorus of "wows" erupted from the players.

My favorite moment came next. Like a poker veteran hoping to keep opponents guessing, Lucille warned the table, "Next time I bet like that, I may not have anything!"

I don't think any of the trainees made the final table that night, but there's no question they had a learning experience coupled with a lot of fun. (Check www.luckydogpoker.com for tourney results.)

Also coming out ahead was the local Habitat for Humanity. The fundraiser, conducted and staffed by the Quad City Area Realtor Association, generated about $11,000 for a worthy cause.

E-mail your poker questions and comments to [email protected] for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.