Posted by The 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) has already begun in Las Vegas. This is an exciting time for many poker players, as many dreams will become a reality. News of players doing well at the 2010 WSOP is already unfolding. The first name that comes to mind is Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi. He just took down the 50,000 USD Poker Players Championship… what a ride. It was an epic final table that also included Michael’s brother Robert. This is only the third time in WSOP history 2 siblings have made the final table together. Congratulations to Michael for his huge accomplishment in 2010. It is nice to see him win his first bracelet in the second biggest prize pool at the WSOP this year, especially with all of the unfortunate recent news and media attention he has had.
Tom “durrrr” Dwan
Another big story surrounds internet and high stakes superstar Tom “durrrr” Dwan. Tom Dwan played phenomenally in event #11 with over 2,500 players, but just missed winning the first place prize and WSOP Bracelet, finishing in second place. 1 of my friends actually got in the top 30 of this same event and had Dwan on his right. That must have been fun, especially since Dwan was on his right and not left. The big story on durrrr is the rumors regarding the prop bets he made over winning a WSOP bracelet. If Dwan had won this tournament he would have actually won millions more through the prop bets he had made with various other players. Some of the players that he made these bets with are transferring funds back to his online account in advance. Some say by doing this it can possibly reverse jinx another player, but that’s all superstition… or is it?
Another interesting story surrounding this action is about the players in the 10k Stud tourney. They were getting up and walking away from their own game to rail Dwan’s final table. You know right away there are big prop bets on the line when guys get up from their seats and leave their 10k tournament because something else is more financially important than the tournament they entered. Congrats to Tom for your second place finish. Hopefully Tom “durrrr” Dwan will win and capitalize on all the side bets he currently has before the 2010 WSOP is complete.
Follow the action
If you are unable to go to Las Vegas to watch the action live, there are various sites that provide updates. These websites include the WSOP website, Poker News, Bluff, Card Player and more. If you happen to get a chance to go down to Las Vegas and play in the WSOP, good luck to you. Or if you’re planning to go to down to be a spectator, bring your camera because you never know who you will run into. Last year when I played I saw Jason Alexander from Seinfeld, hip hop artist Nelly and LA Lakers basketball player Jordan Farmar. This is just a small sample of the celebrities you may see. The whole WSOP event is exciting and is definitely a must see.
My WSOP
I am fortunate to be playing my second year at the WSOP. However, it was a rollercoaster to win my seat at the tournament. I made the final table at the same event as last year but just missed winning the seat. The next weekend I played another live qualifier with only 1 seat for first place and cash for other places. I made the final table again, but again just missed winning the seat. In total this year I’ve made 6 live final tables out of 8 attempts with over 200 player fields in most. I did not give up on my goal to get a seat at the Main Event. Finally, on Saturday I entered the main 700 USD satellite on Stars and I won my seat out of 277 players. I will be heading down in late June. Before the main event and I am planning on playing a few other events as well. I am still deciding between some of the Venetian deepstack tourneys and other WSOP events.
Finding a tournament
If you’re looking to play some more affordable tournaments, ranging from 350-550 USD, there are lots to choose from, and as well there are tons of satellites into bigger events. The deepstack tourneys are sweet because they give you a ton more chips for your dollar and the blinds are decently spread out, which gives you more time to play. The Venetian and Caesars deepstack tourneys tend to have more beginner to intermediate players, but you also can get professional players grinding.
One interesting tournament at this year’s WSOP is The WSOP 3k triple chance. This tourney is new and seems appealing. Basically, you can start with 3,000, 6,000, or up to a total of 9,000 chips at any time. If after 3 levels you have not taken the full 9,000 it is automatically provided to you. This makes for an interesting beginning to a tournament. A lot of players’ strategies to start off will be to turn into maniacs with 3000 chips and play recklessly. Others will play only the nuts and play tighter than you can imagine. My suggestion is see cheap flops, control the pot, and pace yourself in the beginning. The blinds are 1 hour long so I would recommend not playing in a vacuum right off the start for your tournament. Get your chips in with tons of equity and in +EV spots. Get information first and let others make mistakes while you are holding the goods. The other tourney that seems appealing (which I may play) is event #56: the 2500 USD WSOP No Limit Hold’em Event. It seems like good timing to play this one as it starts on Friday during the long weekend. With Vegas being a popular destination for Americans during the long weekend, it may attract a lot of recreational players who just want to gamble. The best part about this is if that ends up being the case there will be a lot of splashing around chips and fun happening at the tables rather than the normal seriousness poker players bring.
Things to keep in mind
The weather in Vegas is blistering hot. Make sure you manage your time in the sun, drink lots of fluids and use sunscreen. If you are planning on playing any WSOP events at the Rio it may be a good idea to scope out places you plan to eat at while you are on breaks. I know last year the line ups were ridiculous and getting food took more time than I planned. If you are playing some events it is smart to map out where and what you wish to eat. Visit the various booths in the Rio and you may see some cool stuff. Also, with the football tournament going on, don’t worry: there will be tons of areas set up to watch and keep track of your favorite teams, scores, and highlights. Find a place that is convenient for you to check in or go watch. Just remember, your time is valuable down there and by taking a small amount of time to find the most convenient places to eat, watch the football tournament or get around may save you tons later on. The most important rule is to enjoy yourself and have fun; that’s truly what it’s all about. Take days off to go see some shows, check out the night life and have an awesome dinner.
In any events you play just pace yourself. If you run too fast too early you will have to walk, and trust me it’s no fun watching people run by you. Just don’t play more than you are used to or can handle, because it’s easy to get burnt out. I see so many players trying to play as many events as they can. It’s better to be able to give 100% at fewer matches than be exhausted and give 50% at too many. This is especially true as it can give you the advantage over the players that are pushing too hard and are exhausted from overplaying. The blinds are long and if you have an average stack use your time to keep your mind set and to allow for you to play your A game. If you lose a big hand and still have lots of chips don’t sweat it. Go for a walk, take a breath of fresh air, call a friend or loved one or get a massage at your table. It’s worth it.
Preparation and seminars
If you are looking to prepare for the WSOP or brush up your skills, there are some great seminars and professional coaches to check out in Las Vegas. Someone I recommend is mindset guru Sam Chauhan. Everyone who has worked with him has won big in recent months. Seems like everything he touches turns to gold. He is bringing something extra special to the table and this is going to change the future and caliber of poker. Check out his website and seminars available.
Another very popular seminar is the World Series of Poker Academy. Various players have signed up for this to help them learn some extra tips before they pay the big money. They have some of the best poker pros doing the coaching. They have special sections on tells and things you may have not have a lot of training for. Check out their website.
David “The Maven” Chicotsky (2008 online player of the year) is one of the most classy poker pros I have ever met. David is one of the best at what he does and I highly recommend him. Visit TheMavenVT.com for info or send an email to TrainWithTheMaven@TheMavenVT.com to schedule training.
These are the some of the best ideas I can think of to help anyone’s game improve. Always do your research and find the right option for you.
Stay tuned to hear my final version of how the 2010 WSOP unfolds and as well about my deep finishes in late July.
Today’s post was written by Todd. Todd is a Merchant Account Manager and he is a very savvy, successful poker player who spends a great deal of time trying to improve his game. His main goal is to win a coveted WSOP bracelet.
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