Poker faces reveal a frenzy of flops, flushes and folds — PHOTOS
June 10, 2015 - 9:47 pm

A poker game is reflected off Balazs Sandor's glasses while he plays cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Dagang Wang studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Bruce Levitt studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Susie Isaacs prepares to place a bet during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Michael Apa studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Hotel on Friday, May 29, 2015, 3700 West Flamingo Road. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Hoyt Verner studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Howard Tomerlin studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Howard Tomerlin studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Kinh Dang studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center, 3700 West Flamingo Road, on Friday, May 29, 2015, (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Robert Klein studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center, 3700 West Flamingo Road, on Friday, May 29, 2015, . (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Tony Cousineau,center, during the Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better game at the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center, 3700 West Flamingo Road on Friday, May 29, 2015. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid

Poker player Robert Klein studies the cards during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center, 3700 West Flamingo Road, on Friday, May 29, 2015, . (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Jeff Scheid on Twitter @jlscheid
“Son, I’ve made a life
Out of readin’ people’s faces
Knowin’ what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes.”
Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” reflects my interest in photographing the World Series of Poker: studying poker players’ steely eyes and facial expressions. I wonder, “Do they have a good hand, or are they bluffing?” For seven weeks beginning in late May, the best poker players in the world gather in Las Vegas for a chance to win a WSOP bracelet. Last year, the World Series of Poker set records of more than 82,360 entrants and $227,712,953 in prize money.
Shuffle up and deal.