First Season of the Professional Poker Tour and the Four-Color Deck

World Poker Tour Enterprises recently announced that it will film a new tour called the Professional Poker Tour (PPT); 200 players, give or take a few, have been invited for the first season. An advisory committee was set up of some of the world's top poker players to take on the tough task of choosing which 200 players would make the list. A total of 74 players have already made the list for at least the first three years, and the others playing in the first year will have to prove themselves with their performances to continue making the tour. After the first year, players who have a good year as defined by the PPT (even if they're new to tournament poker) can qualify.

WPT Enterprises will be putting up $2.5 million this year as a freeroll to the players who make the tour. There will be five events in the first year of the PPT, and all will have a $500,000 prize pool. Each event will consist of two days of play, with the final table convening on the third day.

There is no restriction on players who want to play in other poker tours. Also, those playing in the PPT will be allowed to wear logos as long as they are approved by the PPT.

The casinos that will be hosting the PPT in the first year are Foxwoods (Nov. 9-10), Bellagio (Dec. 7-8), Horseshoe Casino & Gold Strike in Tunica, Mississippi (Jan. 11-12), Commerce Casino (Feb. 8-9), and the Mirage (May 10-11).

Go to www.cardplayer.com to see the full list of players and all of the details of the PPT.

On a different topic, while in Aruba for the WPT event, I heard a conversation at my table regarding the four-color deck. As it turned out, everyone at my table used the four-color deck when they played online. I decided to look into the topic even more, and almost every person I talked to who plays online uses it. Is poker big enough now to change the standard black and red deck to black, red, green, and blue? Even though the idea was laughed at years ago, it may be time to change. After all, it is much easier for the television viewing audience to see the suits.

In closing, I'd like to welcome Lee Munzer to the Card Player family. Lee will be writing special features occasionally, and his first appears in this issue.