Let’s deal the cards

It started in 1970 with 30 players and little attention. Today it has evolved into perhaps the signature event for Las Vegas, featuring thousands of participants, dozens of events and millions of TV spectators.

It's the World Series of Poker, and on Thursday, the main event -- no limit Texas Hold 'em, with a $10,000 buy-in -- kicked off at the Rio hotel and casino.

Last year's main event attracted 6,358 players, culminating in the $8.25 million winner's share going to Jerry Yang of Temecula, Calif.

The poker craze, which took off in the early 2000s, has slowed. Participation in the main event was off a bit last year and expected to remain steady this year. But officials are hoping a new twist will create additional interest and suspense.

In the past, fans may have known who won the tournament before the delayed TV footage aired weeks after the final table had concluded. But this year, the nine participants who make it to the final table on July 14 will have to wait until November to go head to head, and action will be aired on TV almost immediately, although not live.

The point is to generate hype, anticipation -- and ratings.

"From a competitive standpoint, there's no question amateurs have a huge advantage, huge based on the delay," said Daniel Negreanu, a four-time bracelet winner. "If I make the final table, they have a library of hands that they can look up on me on YouTube, just tons of footage that they can study."

But, Negreanu added: "From a buzz standpoint, it's a no-brainer."

Series Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack says the new format "is probably going to be a watershed for poker."

We'll see. It was the innovative "pocket camera" -- allowing TV viewers to see the players' hole cards -- that helped bring poker to a mainstream audience and grow its popularity. Delaying the final table action is not without risks, but if it creates the anticipated buzz it will benefit even those currently grumbling about the change.

Organizers of the tournament deserve credit for understanding that innovation is a key to moving forward.