�HIGH STAKES POKER� SEASON 2

Mondays, at 9 PM ET/PT, 8 PM CT

BY: Dennis Johnson

The reviews are in and the fans and critics agree HIGH STAKES POKER is arguably the best poker series on television. The series returns for its second season after being called �the only real game of poker on television,� �the best teaching tool for learning poker,� and �the Mt. Rushmore of Poker Champions.�

Season two continues the high stakes action as the only poker series that gives viewers the chance to see the top poker players buy in for $100,000 or more of their own money. The game has moved to The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and the number of one-hour episodes has increased from 13 to 16. HIGH STAKES POKER 2 features a look at the big cash game which is off limits to the public and played in private rooms at the world's most luxurious casinos.

Once again, GSN's HIGH STAKES POKER 2 features the top players today sweating out huge pots containing their hard-earned cash. The pots often reach several hundred thousand dollars and players who lose their initial buy-in can re-buy as often as they wish with fresh cash infusions of $50,000 or more each time. In season one, players won and lost pots of over $300,000.

This season's line up of players features more of the younger poker stars joining the big cash game players from season one. Hall of Famer Doyle Brunson returns and is joined by Daniel Negreanu, Sam Farha, Barry Greenstein, Jennifer Harman, Eli Elezra, Antonio Esfandiari, Todd Brunson, Daniel Alaei, Shawn Sheikhan and Ted Forrest.

Newcomers to season two include: Phil �The Unabomber� Laak, Mike Matusow, Michael Mizrachi, Erick Lindgren, John Juanda, Amon Filippi, David Grey, Minh Ly, Brad Booth, Gus Hansen and Cory Zeidman. The returning amateur player is Chicago restaurateur Fred Chamanara who went head-to-head with poker legend Johnny Chan in season one.

Gabe Kaplan and AJ Benza return to call the action. Kaplan, best known for his starring role on the hit television show �Welcome Back Kotter,� is also a world class poker player who has won multiple tournaments.

Former New York gossip columnist turned author and television personality AJ Benza hosts HIGH STAKES POKER. Benza has been on multiple television shows and appeared in movies including �Ransom� and �Conspiracy Theory.� He will be seen in the upcoming feature film �Rocky 6.�

Unlike the tournament style game, in cash games the real value of the chips on the table are at stake in each hand. Participants can play as long as they have cash or chips and can add more money or decide to walk away with their winnings at any time. There are no chip leaders here. HIGH STAKES POKER 2 provides a fresh look at the purest sense of poker and will give poker enthusiasts a truer take as to how to improve their skills at their own cash games.

HIGH STAKES POKER 2 features Henry Orenstein's in-table cameras that paved the way for the explosion of poker's popularity on television. With the use of these cameras, viewers will be able to play along and decide whether they agree with the player's decisions to bet, bluff or fold.

HIGH STAKES POKER 2 was taped at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Henry Orenstein serves as the Executive Producer of HIGH STAKES POKER 2 with HSOR, L.L.C. HSOR produces more poker for television than any other company.