Growing up, the American dream for many boys was playing major
league baseball and hitting the game winning home run in the
final game of the World Series. This dream is usually shattered
for most when in their teen years the reality hits, that they"re
not an athlete and have no chance at a career in professional
baseball.

There is however another World Series that anyone can
participate in. The only requirement is that you"re over 21. I"m
talking about the World Series Of Poker, which takes place this
year from June 2 "� July 15. "�Wait,"� I hear you say. "�That"s over
a month long. I thought the World Series of Poker was just a few
days."�

Actually the WSOP is a series of 45 different poker events
culminating with the final 7 day main event starting July 7. The
events take place at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las
Vegas with the final table of the main event being played at
Binion"s Horseshoe Casino in Downtown Las Vegas where the World
Series of Poker all started.

The official start of the WSOP was in 1970, though the
beginnings can be traced back to an event which took place in
1949. Benny Binion, owner of Binion"s Horseshoe Casino and a
true marketing genius, was approached by well-known gambler
"�Nick the Greek"� Nick asked him to set up a match against the
best poker player in a high-stakes poker marathon. Benny agreed
as long as the match would open to the public. The stage was set
for a showdown between "�Nick the Greek"� and legendary poker
player Johnny Moss. The marathon lasted five months and the two
played every form of poker there was. They took breaks only to
sleep.

Binion"s marketing genius paid off as each day the marathon ran
hundreds of spectators gathered in his casino to watch the
"�biggest game in town."� At the end of the five months "�The
Greek"� had lost an estimated $2 million.

It took Binion 20 years to realize the full potential of what
happened those five months in 1949.

In 1970 Binion invited some of the best poker players in the
world to a contest to determine the "�World Champion"� poker
player. The games began and Johnny Moss (the man who beat "�Nick
The Greek"�) was voted, yes, you read it right, voted the best
poker player. There was no prize money for this event, just the
honor of being called the best.

In 1971 the event changed. It became a freezeout tournament in
which players bought in with a set sum and play continued until
all but one player lost their money. Again Johnny Moss won the
event and with it the top prize of $30,000. "�Amarillo Slim"� won
the event and $80,000 in 1972 and helped popularize the
tournament by going on the talk-show circuit. The WSOP was
starting to come into its own.

The 2005 WSOP promises to be the biggest poker event in history.
It has been estimated this year"s top prize could hit
$10,000,000. Unlike the other World Series this dream of being a
world champion is accessible to anyone over the age of 21. You
don"t have to be a professional poker player to play or win.

Two years ago Chris Moneymaker (real name), an accountant, won
the tournament and $2,500,000. He didn"t even pay the $10,000
buy-in. He won it playing an on-line poker satellite with an
investment of $40. Last year patent attorney Greg Raymer (also
not a professional poker player at the time) walked away with
the $5,000,000 first prize. Greg too, didn't pay the $10,000
buy-in as he won his entry to the tournament through an on-line
satellite.

So the dream of being the best poker player in the world can
come true for anyone. You don"t have to be a professional poker
player and you don"t have to pay the $10,000 buy-in to the
tournament.

Believe it or not you can win your way to the WSOP on-line for
as little as $1.10. That"s right, for less than a Starbuck"s
coffee you could be on your way to fame and fortune.

It"s fun to play and the dream can be a reality. Check out the
on-line poker sites for ways to enter and maybe I'll be writing
about you next year.

About the author:
Peter Berlin is a TV Game Show Producer/Writer and an avid
online poker player. He has a poker newsletter reviewing the
best sites, sign-up bonuses, tournaments, satellites, and events
going on in the world of online poker. Sign up for the
newsletter and receive a Free Guide to online World Series Of
Poker Satellites.

To access the e-book and sign up for the newsletter please visit
http://www.funprofitpoker.com

Author : Peter Berlin
Site : www.goarticles.com

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