TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

ESPN begins its prerecorded broadcast of the 2004 competition, which awards $5 million to the winner.

ESPN will air two hours of the World Series of Poker every Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Last year, an average of 1.2 million tuned into ESPN’s coverage of the Las Vegas event. The shows became as popular with novices trying to learn the game’s basics as they did with seasoned poker players looking for the most subtle of advantages in their regular HoldEm contests.

The game has trickled down to college campuses and Internet sites. Casinos are struggling to keep up with the demand for space in poker rooms as more players get confident enough to leave their home card tables for a shot at bigger money.

The rules for Texas HoldEm are simple: Each player is dealt two cards. After the first bet, the dealer turns three “community” cards — the “flop” — that all players can use to make their best hand. After another bet, the dealer turns a fourth community card. After another bet, the fifth and final community card, “the river,” is turned onto the table.

After a final round of betting, the best five-card hand wins based on regular poker rules — from royal flush down to pairs and high cards.