The world's best poker player calculates quickly and doesn't like his odds in this week's Poker World Series.

Thanks to the poker craze created by TV and the Internet, and last year's stunning storybook victory of a young unknown, as many as 2,576 people are competing for a record $5 million prize this time.

"When I started playing in 1987, I had a vision that if you were to be one of the best players, you could expect to win," said Howard Lederer, a 40-year-old with a lead-piercing stare and a number-piercing mentality who led others to consider him the best in the game. "Even if I'm a favorite, I'm still 200-1."

The days of hundreds of professional and a handful of amateur players competing in the grandest poker games are over. Everyone from Spider-Man actor Toby Maguire to the former beauty queen of Oklahoma, on Friday, made a bet to become the next king of poker in the 35th annual Poker World Series at the Binion's Horsch Hotel & Casino.

Last year, 839 men and women played at the No Limit Texas HoldM event, where players received two cards and used the cards and five regular cards on the table to make the best poker hand they could. Chris Moneymaker, a aptly named accountant from Spring Hill, Tennessee, received the top prize money of $2.5 million.

In poker, the moneymaker was considered "dead money," and someone was destined to lose early. Instead, his Cinderella story is credited with changing the game.

Moneymaker made it to the final by paying $40 for a preliminary round of online competitions. For those who don't get lucky on the internet or satellite tournaments ahead of the World Series, the purchase fee is $10,000.

After his amazing victory, the 28-year-old moneymaker became a poker celebrity. His face is in a poker magazine and people demand autographs.

Leader also points to the internet when it comes to creating a good place of interest in poker.

Poker player Andy Bloch, a 34-year-old graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Law School, believes, "Two letters TV. It's a great game for TV."

ESPN covered the 2003 final and has shown Moneymaker's performance again and again. This year, the network plans to broadcast for 22 hours.

Other stations took advantage of the craze, too. Travel Channel offers "World Poker Tour," and Bravo offers "Celeb Poker Showdown."

The World Poker Series has come a long way since cowboy gambler Benny Beanion started a poker tournament in 1971 to win the world's best player, and winner Johnny Moss took home $30,000.

Today, the World Series consists of more than 30 events related to various poker games, such as pot limited omaha and seven card studs.

The much-anticipated No-limit Texas Holdham final wrapped up the much-anticipated games last week before Saturday's start.

In unlimited bets, players can risk all their chips with each spin of the card, guaranteeing a high-stakes action and a big loser. And the other's pain makes for a great reality TV. 바카라사이트

The defending champion moneymaker lasted only three hours before losing the chip pile to an opponent who won one of only two cards to beat him.