The World Poker Tour kicks off its 13-tournament season in dramatic style with a high stakes poker tournament at the opulent Bellagio in the heart of Las Vegas. Five professional poker players and one retired businessman duke it out on the felt for the lion's share of $1.5 million.

Copenhagen native and final table rookie Gus Hansen, 28, starts the day with the chip lead but quickly finds himself in a battle with former pool shark John Hennigan, Player of the Year contender John Juanda and 1998 World Champ Scotty "The Prince of Poker" Nguyen. Retired Swiss businessman, Chris Bigler, and high stakes player Kaseem Deeb put on their best poker faces to lure in their opponents and win their money. Does a rookie have a chance against a seasoned professional and world champion? Can a pool shark make a name for himself on felt covered table of another sort?

Hosted by Bellagio, the premier Las Vegas destination, the Five Diamond World Poker Classic jump-starts the WPT by showing all that it takes to win.

The World Poker Tour storms into Los Angeles as six poker pros play like they're double parked in the action-filled final table of the Bicycle Casino's "Legends of Poker" championship tournament.

The field includes the WPT's first female finalist of the season, Kathy Liebert. In a sport dominated by men, Liebert, fresh from pocketing a million dollar first place at the end of last season, is out to prove that she belongs. But the others have their own agendas. Much of the fast-paced action centers around a grudge match between Mark Seif, a volatile former prosecuting attorney and the hyper-aggressive Hon Le, dubbed "The Kamikaze Kid" because of the way he plays, jumping for joy when he wins and doubling his bet when he loses. From the first deal at "The Bike" until the very last, the race is on, and at the finish line - a brand new poker legend is born.

Poker gets wild in the Central American paradise of Costa Rica as six players--two American and four international--vie for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money.

Competitors include high stakes gambler and former kindergarten teacher Dewey Tomko, as well as tough Costa Rican veteran Jose Rosenkrantz. And then there's Luis Milanes--the guy who owns the casino. The locals say he's the worst player in the country--but he made it to the final table with most of the chips--and he is the boss. Can anybody take out "Don Luis" on his own turf? Or will the rich just keep getting richer? Either way, there is plenty of countryside to explore and a jungle full of exotic animals to discover (both outside and inside the poker room)... on the next World Poker Tour.

Talk about a Rush! The next stop on the World Poker Tour is the largest poker tournament in northern California history. The WPT and Lucky Chances Casino host the Gold Rush Tournament with a half million dollar prize pool and one of the rowdiest final tables ever assembled. This battle by the bay includes Antonio Esfandiari, a handsome and young magician whose goal in life seems to be to irritate the poker superstar to his right, Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth is poker's five million dollar man, with an uncanny, almost psychic ability to know players' cards. Also in the hunt is retired Swiss businessman turned poker phenom Chris Bigler and New Haven Hip Hop promoter Paul Darden Jr. The action is fast, the talk is over the top and only one player will ultimately claim the top prize -- on the World Poker Tour.

Foxwoods Resort Casino, the world's largest casino, needs every inch of room to hold the talent at next week's World Poker Tour final table. Commanding the table are Montana born party boy, Layne Flack and the "Tiger Woods" of Poker, Phil Ivey. With a million dollars on the line, these self-proclaimed lions of poker must get past another poker icon, Howard Lederer, who plays for millions every day, and retired millionaire businessman, Ron Rose, known for his aggressive style. Attorney Andy Bloch, with degrees from both MIT and Harvard Law School, and Hewlett Packard sales representative Pete Giordano will need every ounce of their wits to survive this exciting World Poker Tour final table.

The banks of the mighty Mississippi call the World Poker Tour back to where poker began for a prize pool of over one and a half million dollars -- and it's the Devil's to lose. England's own David "Devilfish" Ulliott enters the day with a commanding chip lead and an intimidating style of play. But, in no-limit hold'em, fortunes can change in an instant. And, if anyone can give the Devil his due, it is Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of Poker, fresh from a big payday on the last WPT event. And, then there's "The Story," wheelchair bound Buddy Williams, and "The Dream" Johnny Donaldson -- a poker tournament novice two hours away from claiming one of the biggest prizes of the year. Here at the birthplace of poker, someone is going to make poker history.

This week, the best poker players in the world gather in Paris, France, the home of Napoleon, one of the greatest strategists of all time, during the European Poker Finals at the Aviation Club de France. Set in a locale straight out of a James Bond novel, the Aviation Club serves as an elegant backdrop as the players battle for the title of European poker champion. Watch as Allen Cunningham, the lone American finalist, battles five of Europe's best in the glamorous private card club located on the Champs-Elysees, smack in the middle of one of the greatest cities in the world. And speaking of "smack," how will the players deal with the trash talking Aussie and Lithuanian transplant, Tony G, as he shakes up the usually genteel decorum of the European poker room?

The LA Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino has long been an important stop on the tournament circuit, but this year the event became something more. Thanks to the coverage on the World Poker Tour, the event became a lesson in "the art of the bluff."

One hundred thirty-six players reached into their pockets for just over $10,000 apiece to create a prize pool of over $1.3 million. The Final Table made for an interesting day, complete with a WPT third place runner-up trying to make it to the winner's circle, a champion looking for a repeat win, and an amateur/underdog to root for.

"Underdog" is a little misleading since Daniel Rentzer came to the table as chip leader, but everyone in attendance figured he'd need all of his chips to fend off the likes of pros Andrew Bloch, David "The Dragon" Pham and the hard charging Dane, Gus Hansen, winner of the WPT's inaugural event.

The stars shine as the World Poker Tour hosts a Pro-Am Invitational at the Commerce Casino on the outskirts of Los Angeles. A multitude of Hollywood celebrities, including Lou Diamond Philips, Meatloaf, Don Cheadle, Norm McDonald, Mickey Rooney and the guy who signs Shaq and Kobe's checks, none other than L.A. Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss himself, pit their home game skills against the best of the best from the world of professional poker. And in the end it is one of the celebrities, heads up against a well known pro, proving that poker is perhaps the only game in the world where, on any given day, anyone can compete on an even field with a world class pro for a chance to win the gold. Come for the star gazing, and stay for the poker next week on the World Poker Tour.

Reno, Nevada, and nearby Lake Tahoe are known as a hotbed of action. From golf, to skiing, hiking, mountain biking in the daytime, and from clubbing to top-rate casino action at night, Reno is one of the most exciting places on earth, and the WPT's next stop. It is the last chance for the who's who of poker to win a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship event and poker's elite are all present for the big event. Foxwoods finalist Ron Rose takes on the likes of poker superstar T.J. Cloutier and the quirky but brilliant "X-22", Paul Magriel. But none have the support of the crowd like local Tony Le, an employee of the host casino, the Reno Hilton. It is a fast paced, action-filled bout that plays out to an exciting conclusion in the Biggest Little City in the World on the next World Poker Tour.

Many times the action in the playoffs leading up to a championship turns out to be more impressive than the final game itself. Not so with the World Poker Tour Championship at Bellagio in Las Vegas. From start to finish, this game will be studied by experts and novices alike to pick up nuances on how to play. The final table includes Alan Goehring, the perpetual "bride's maid" of tournament poker; legend Doyle Brunson, author of poker's "Bible"; Phil Ivey, who makes his record 3rd appearance at a WPT final table; the young foreign "agent", Kirill Gerasimov, a Moscovite who learned his aggressive, bluffing style from Brunson's book; James Hoeppner, an accomplished tournament player who only learned about the event two weeks ago; and Ted Forrest, an aggressive, ultra-high stakes pro who has won and lost more than a million dollars at a single cash game. The entire season culminates with this ultimate show down, where players vie for almost $3 million in prize money. The action is fast, the stakes are high, and it's all for the first WPT Championship crown next week on the World Poker Tour.

Poker can be a roller coaster ride, especially when a strong hand loses to a weak one.

Having ace/king hole cards can be a blessing, or a curse.

Your body language might be telling the rest of the table the strength of your hand.

The art of the bluff, and being able to see through a bluff, are essential poker skills.

Keeping your cool in a high stakes poker game is easier said than done.

Every poker player wants to hit that elusive hot streak.

In poker, your reputation, attitude and track record influence what other players think of you.

In Texas hold'em, you live by the river and die by the river.

The Hollywood elite have a thing or two to learn from poker's biggest stars.

Staying focused on the game and your opponents is a big key to poker success.