SARANAC LAKE - Judy Nisson will remember what a "Dead Man's hand" is in poker for the rest of her life.

Nisson, who lives in Saranac Lake, won $25,000 in an episode of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" that aired Feb. 19.

She could have won $50,000 if she had correctly answered the following question: Named for the cards held by "Wild Bill" Hickock when he was killed, what poker hand is commonly known as a Dead Man's hand?

Her choices were: Two aces and two eights, four tens and a jack, three threes or a straight flush.

Nisson used her "Double Dip" lifeline, which allowed her to give two answers to the question. Her first guess was a straight flush, which was wrong. Her second guess, three threes, was also wrong. The correct answer was two aces and two eights.

"I had no idea," Nisson said. "But now I'll never forget it."

Nisson, who left the hot seat with $25,000 in winnings, said she's watched Jeopardy her whole life and has tried to get on that show several times, with no success. About a year and a half ago, she started watching "Millionaire" and decided to audition for the syndicated version of the program, hosted by Meredith Vieira.

"My husband thought I was absolutely crazy," Nisson said. "He said 'Do you know how many people try out for these shows? You're never going to make it.'"

Nisson traveled to New York City in April of last year for an audition. She was one of a dozen people who passed a written test and then were interviewed on camera by producers of the show.

Nisson, who lost her job when Upstate Biotechnology shut down several years ago and now runs a hot dog stand in the summer with her husband Jeff Wood, said she embellished her story a little to try and make it more interesting.

"I really wanted to get on the show," Nisson said. "So I laid on the whole sob story. They loved the fact, right from the beginning, that I was a hot dog vendor."

About eight weeks later, in the beginning of June, Nisson was notified that she was picked to be a part of the show's contestant pool.

But it wasn't until mid-October when she got the call to come to the city for a taping of "Millionaire."

"At that point my husband didn't think I was crazy anymore," she said.

Nisson said she brushed up on some U.S. history and the planets, but didn't do much else in terms of preparation for the show.

"I didn't really study because, if you've watched the show, it's random knowledge," she said.

The taping took place on Oct. 29.

"They took us to the green room, we went through a bunch of meetings, went to make-up, met with a publicist, and they even showed us how to get on and off of the hot seat," Nisson said. "I sat in the green room with the other contestants for a long time before I finally got called."

While she wishes she could have gotten farther on the show, Nisson said she has no regrets.

"I had so much fun," she said. "It was great."

Nisson said she hasn't received her winnings yet. After taxes, she plans to use the money to remodel her kitchen and to pay off credit cards and her truck.

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Contact Chris Knight at 891-2600 ext. 24 or cknight@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.