diff --git a/src/extensions/table.js b/src/extensions/table.js
index faa9659..84c20dd 100644
--- a/src/extensions/table.js
+++ b/src/extensions/table.js
@@ -11,62 +11,94 @@
  * |**bold** | ![Valid XHTML] (http://w3.org/Icons/valid-xhtml10) |
  * | Plain   | Value                                              |
  *
+ *
+ *
+ * |   Col 1  |                                               Col 2|
+ * |:========:|===================================================:|
+ * |   col 1  |                                   is center aligned|
+ * |   col 2  |                                    is right aligned|
+ *
  */
 
 (function(){
   var table = function(converter) {
-    var tables = {}, style = 'text-align:left;', filter; 
-    tables.th = function(header){
+    var tables = {}, filter; 
+    tables.th = function(header, style) {
       if (header.trim() === "") { return "";}
       var id = header.trim().replace(/ /g, '_').toLowerCase();
-      return '<th id="' + id + '" style="'+style+'">' + header + '</th>';
+      return '<th id="' + id + '" style="' + style + '">' + header + '</th>';
     };
-    tables.td = function(cell) {
-      return '<td style="'+style+'">' + converter.makeHtml(cell) + '</td>';
+    tables.td = function(cell, style) {
+      return '<td style="' + style + '">' + converter.makeHtml(cell) + '</td>';
     };
-    tables.ths = function(){
-      var out = "", i = 0, hs = [].slice.apply(arguments);
+    tables.ths = function() {
+      var out = "", i = 0, hs = [].slice.apply(arguments[0]), style = [].slice.apply(arguments[1]);
       for (i;i<hs.length;i+=1) {
-        out += tables.th(hs[i]) + '\n';
+        out += tables.th(hs[i], style[i]) + '\n';
       }
       return out;
     };
-    tables.tds = function(){
-      var out = "", i = 0, ds = [].slice.apply(arguments);
+    tables.tds = function() {
+      var out = "", i = 0, ds = [].slice.apply(arguments[0]), style = [].slice.apply(arguments[1]);
       for (i;i<ds.length;i+=1) {
-        out += tables.td(ds[i]) + '\n';
+        out += tables.td(ds[i], style[i]) + '\n';
       }
       return out;
     };
     tables.thead = function() {
-      var out, i = 0, hs = [].slice.apply(arguments);
+      var out, i = 0, hs = [].slice.apply(arguments[0]), style = [].slice.apply(arguments[1]);
       out = "<thead>\n";
       out += "<tr>\n";
-      out += tables.ths.apply(this, hs);
+      out += tables.ths.apply(this, [hs, style]);
       out += "</tr>\n";
       out += "</thead>\n";
       return out;
     };
     tables.tr = function() {
-      var out, i = 0, cs = [].slice.apply(arguments);
+      var out, i = 0, cs = [].slice.apply(arguments[0]), style = [].slice.apply(arguments[1]);
       out = "<tr>\n";
-      out += tables.tds.apply(this, cs);
+      out += tables.tds.apply(this, [cs, style]);
       out += "</tr>\n";
       return out;
     };
     filter = function(text) { 
       var i=0, lines = text.split('\n'), line, hs, rows, out = [];
-      for (i; i<lines.length;i+=1) {
+      for (i;i<lines.length;i+=1) {
         line = lines[i];
         // looks like a table heading
         if (line.trim().match(/^[|]{1}.*[|]{1}$/)) {
           line = line.trim();
           var tbl = [];
+          var align = lines[i+1];
+          align = align.trim();
+          var styles = [];
+          if (align.match(/^[|]{1}[-=|: ]+[|]{1}$/)) {
+            styles = align.substring(1, align.length -1).split('|');
+            var j=0;
+            for (j;j<styles.length;j+=1) {
+			  styles[j] = styles[j].trim();
+              if (styles[j].match(/^[:]{1}[-=| ]+[:]{1}$/)) {
+                styles[j] = 'text-align:center;';
+              }
+              else if (styles[j].match(/^[-=| ]+[:]{1}$/)) {
+                styles[j] = 'text-align:right;';
+              }
+              else {
+                styles[j] = 'text-align:left;';
+              }
+            }
+          }
           tbl.push('<table>');
           hs = line.substring(1, line.length -1).split('|');
-          tbl.push(tables.thead.apply(this, hs));
+          if (styles.length === 0) {
+            var j=0;
+            for (j;j<hs.length;j+=1) {
+              styles.push('text-align:left');
+            }
+          }
+          tbl.push(tables.thead.apply(this, [hs, styles]));
           line = lines[++i];
-          if (!line.trim().match(/^[|]{1}[-=| ]+[|]{1}$/)) {
+          if (!line.trim().match(/^[|]{1}[-=|: ]+[|]{1}$/)) {
             // not a table rolling back
             line = lines[--i];
           }
@@ -75,7 +107,7 @@
             tbl.push('<tbody>');
             while (line.trim().match(/^[|]{1}.*[|]{1}$/)) {
               line = line.trim();
-              tbl.push(tables.tr.apply(this, line.substring(1, line.length -1).split('|')));
+              tbl.push(tables.tr.apply(this, [line.substring(1, line.length -1).split('|'), styles]));
               line = lines[++i];
             }
             tbl.push('</tbody>');
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/basic.html b/test/extensions/table/basic.html
index d909e65..131e66b 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/basic.html
+++ b/test/extensions/table/basic.html
@@ -2,19 +2,19 @@
 <thead>
 <tr>
 <th id="first_header" style="text-align:left;"> First Header  </th>
-<th id="second_header" style="text-align:left;"> Second Header </th>
+<th id="second_header" style="text-align:center;"> Second Header </th>
 </tr>
 </thead>
 
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 </tbody>
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/basic.md b/test/extensions/table/basic.md
index d67f8fd..481d94b 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/basic.md
+++ b/test/extensions/table/basic.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 | First Header  | Second Header |
-| ------------- | ------------- |
+| ------------- |: ----------- :|
 | Row 1 Cell 1  | Row 1 Cell 2  |
 | Row 2 Cell 1  | Row 2 Cell 2  |
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/large.html b/test/extensions/table/large.html
index 332bdab..bd6fa7a 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/large.html
+++ b/test/extensions/table/large.html
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 <thead>
 <tr>
 <th id="first_header" style="text-align:left;"> First Header  </th>
-<th id="second_header" style="text-align:left;"> Second Header </th>
-<th id="third_header" style="text-align:left;"> Third Header  </th>
+<th id="second_header" style="text-align:center;"> Second Header </th>
+<th id="third_header" style="text-align:right;"> Third Header  </th>
 <th id="fourth_header" style="text-align:left;"> Fourth Header </th>
 </tr>
 </thead>
@@ -11,36 +11,36 @@
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 3  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 1 Cell 3  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 4  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 3  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 2 Cell 3  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 4  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 3 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 3 Cell 2  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 3 Cell 3  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 3 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 3 Cell 3  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 3 Cell 4  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 4 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 4 Cell 2  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 4 Cell 3  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 4 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 4 Cell 3  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 4 Cell 4  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 5 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 5 Cell 2  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 5 Cell 3  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 5 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 5 Cell 3  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 5 Cell 4  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/large.md b/test/extensions/table/large.md
index e18e478..6f6c692 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/large.md
+++ b/test/extensions/table/large.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 | First Header  | Second Header | Third Header  | Fourth Header |
-| ------------- | ------------- | ------------  | ------------- |
+| ------------- |: ----------- :| ------------ :| ------------- |
 | Row 1 Cell 1  | Row 1 Cell 2  | Row 1 Cell 3  | Row 1 Cell 4  |
 | Row 2 Cell 1  | Row 2 Cell 2  | Row 2 Cell 3  | Row 2 Cell 4  |
 | Row 3 Cell 1  | Row 3 Cell 2  | Row 3 Cell 3  | Row 3 Cell 4  |
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/with-equals.html b/test/extensions/table/with-equals.html
index d909e65..131e66b 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/with-equals.html
+++ b/test/extensions/table/with-equals.html
@@ -2,19 +2,19 @@
 <thead>
 <tr>
 <th id="first_header" style="text-align:left;"> First Header  </th>
-<th id="second_header" style="text-align:left;"> Second Header </th>
+<th id="second_header" style="text-align:center;"> Second Header </th>
 </tr>
 </thead>
 
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 1  </p></td>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 </tbody>
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/with-equals.md b/test/extensions/table/with-equals.md
index 744a6db..e6e5e72 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/with-equals.md
+++ b/test/extensions/table/with-equals.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 | First Header  | Second Header |
-| ============= | ============= |
+|:============= |:=============:|
 | Row 1 Cell 1  | Row 1 Cell 2  |
 | Row 2 Cell 1  | Row 2 Cell 2  |
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.html b/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.html
index a8957c3..0719d1e 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.html
+++ b/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.html
@@ -6,20 +6,23 @@ vulputate dictum. Vestibulum consequat ultricies nibh, sed tempus nisl mattis a.
 <table>
 <thead>
 <tr>
-<th id="first_header" style="text-align:left;"> First Header  </th>
+<th id="first_header" style="text-align:right;"> First Header  </th>
 <th id="second_header" style="text-align:left;"> Second Header </th>
+<th id="third_header" style="text-align:center;"> Third Header  </th>
 </tr>
 </thead>
 
 <tbody>
 <tr>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 1  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 1 Cell 1  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 1 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 1 Cell 3  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 <tr>
-<td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 1  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:right;"><p>Row 2 Cell 1  </p></td>
 <td style="text-align:left;"><p>Row 2 Cell 2  </p></td>
+<td style="text-align:center;"><p>Row 2 Cell 3  </p></td>
 </tr>
 
 </tbody>
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.md b/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.md
index b55baa3..8e55db8 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.md
+++ b/test/extensions/table/with-surroundings.md
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ ullamcorper euismod iaculis sed, tristique at neque. Nullam metus risus,
 malesuada vitae imperdiet ac, tincidunt eget lacus. Proin ullamcorper 
 vulputate dictum. Vestibulum consequat ultricies nibh, sed tempus nisl mattis a.
 
-| First Header  | Second Header |
-| ------------- | ------------- |
-| Row 1 Cell 1  | Row 1 Cell 2  |
-| Row 2 Cell 1  | Row 2 Cell 2  |
+| First Header  | Second Header | Third Header  |
+| ------------: | ------------- | :-----------: |
+| Row 1 Cell 1  | Row 1 Cell 2  | Row 1 Cell 3  |
+| Row 2 Cell 1  | Row 2 Cell 2  | Row 2 Cell 3  |
 
 Phasellus ac porttitor quam. Integer cursus accumsan mauris nec interdum. 
 Etiam iaculis urna vitae risus facilisis faucibus eu quis risus. Sed aliquet 
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/without-body.html b/test/extensions/table/without-body.html
index 5b37e4a..facc2f9 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/without-body.html
+++ b/test/extensions/table/without-body.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <table>
 <thead>
 <tr>
-<th id="first_header" style="text-align:left;"> First Header  </th>
+<th id="first_header" style="text-align:right;"> First Header  </th>
 <th id="second_header" style="text-align:left;"> Second Header </th>
 </tr>
 </thead>
diff --git a/test/extensions/table/without-body.md b/test/extensions/table/without-body.md
index 78c06f0..9c11d5c 100644
--- a/test/extensions/table/without-body.md
+++ b/test/extensions/table/without-body.md
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 | First Header  | Second Header |
-| ------------- | ------------- |
+| ------------ :| ------------- |