VOA标准英语2010年-World's Largest Poker Event Offers $9

Thousands of players from more than 115 countries took part this year in the World Series of Poker¹ in Las Vegas.  And by Friday, only nine were left, the lucky finalists for the main event in November. The World Series of Poker has a 40-year history, but the advent² of televised and Internet poker has sparked an explosion of interest in the game, and some believe the World Series represents the new American dream.

Ryan Welch beat nearly a thousand other card players to win a gold bracelet³ and a half million dollars in one of this year's 57 events at World Series of Poker. The month-long tournament in Las Vegas is what poker players dream about says Greg Raymer.

"This is it, this is the granddaddy, this is everything you can do bad all year long and if you do good in the main event, nothing else matters," he said.

Ramer won $5 million in 2004 in the series' main event . This year's top prize - more than $9 million.

Joe Cada

That's how much Joe Cada won last year. Then 21-years-old, he is the youngest ever winner of the World Series of Poker. And he inspires others. With play lasting⁴ up to 12 hours a day, 22-year-old Nick Olivares is hoping he has an edge.

"I definitely can see how the younger generation, the younger man would have an advantage over the older men and I like that," he said.

 Poker is increasingly popular on television. And that is bringing more people to the game. A plethora⁵ of online gaming sites is also boosting popularity. Tournament director Jack⁶ Effel says many card players use the Internet to hone their poker skills.

"I think poker has spread like wildfire," he said. "Obviously, the ability to play online, to learn about the game you know from the comfort of your own home is definitely,  probably, increased it more than anything else."

Tournament hosts say attendance is up 20 percent over last year. And the game is wide open, with no guarantees. Phil Hellmuth has won 11 World Series events over the years - more than any other player - but he was eliminated on the first day.

"I'm kind of proud of where the World Series has gone, and I'm kind of proud of the fact that people really want to just play in the event, so on another note, I'm a little  disappointed that I'm out on day one," he said.

There is both skill and luck involved in winning at poker. Only a tiny fraction of the world's 100 million poker players makes a living at the game. The World Series of Poker offers intoxicating⁷ possibility, if you bet and bluff⁸ your way through to end up with the most chips, you become rich and a poker star.
 

1 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

2 advent   

n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临

参考例句：

• Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
• The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。

3 bracelet   

n.手镯，臂镯

参考例句：

• The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
• She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 plethora   

n.过量，过剩

参考例句：

• Java comes with a plethora of ready-made types.Java配套提供了数量众多的现成类型。
• A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market.大批新的运营商将获准进入该市场。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 intoxicating   

a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的

参考例句：

• Power can be intoxicating. 权力能让人得意忘形。
• On summer evenings the flowers gave forth an almost intoxicating scent. 夏日的傍晚，鲜花散发出醉人的芳香。

8 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。