Happy New Year; Now, Let's Plan to Go to the World Series of Poker

Yes, the new year is upon us and it's time to make resolutions – lose weight, stop smoking, exercise, stay healthy, play well, and, of course, plan to go the World Series of Poker.

Wait, you say, this column is for the beginner! How can a newbie like me expect to go and play in the World Series? I'm still learning the game – and limit games, at that – let alone playing in the biggest no-limit event there is. I've very rarely even played poker in a casino, and some of my buddies haven't yet. I've never played in and don't understand how a tournament works, or even how I enter. So, the question is, how can a person with my playing skills even dream of going to, let alone playing in, the World Series of Poker?

It is every serious and even nonserious poker player's dream to play in and win the WSOP. Getting there can be accomplished the same way as most anything else – by setting a goal and making a plan. So, we know what the goal is, now let's devise the plan.

Let's start by saying that the goal does not have to materialize in May 2002 (four and a half months from now), although with determination it can. If not, it can be realized by May 2003. So, I'll give you the 52-week plan.

If you live near a casino that has poker, there's a good chance that it has daily tournaments. These are usually small buy-in, small rebuy events. Depending on the day, the game usually changes, and can be anything from stud to Omaha, and limit hold'em to no-limit hold'em (see the Tournament Trail for the tournament near you). These events are a great way to learn how to play a tournament. They are the way most people break into tournament poker, which probably has the best value in the game. Where else but a tournament can you invest a small amount and have a chance to win 40, 50, 60, or even 100 times your money? Tournaments are also offered at online poker sites.

So, how does this get you to the WSOP?

During the months leading up to the WSOP, many casinos run special event tournaments that award the winners entry into the WSOP and sometimes airfare and spending money.

While playing in a casino tournament is the best and most fun way to get to the WSOP, for those who don't live near a casino, their home games can produce entrants to the WSOP as well as other tournaments throughout the year. Those getting there worked all year to get there. Here's how it's done: Every week, you and the players in your game agree to put a small amount in a kitty. Then, before your regular game starts, you all play in a no-limit hold'em shootout. You all start with $300 in tournament chips and a $10-$15 blind structure, and the betting, of course, is no-limit. You raise the blinds every 15 minutes, to $15-$30, then $30-$60, then $50-$100, and so on. In total, the shootout should last approximately 75 minutes. As people bust out (lose all of their chips), they move to another table and start playing the regular game. Award points as players are eliminated: one point for 10th place, two for ninth, three for eighth, and so on until you get to first place, who gets 10 points. Maintain a running point total until it's time to go to Vegas and the World Series, and the one with the most points gets to play for the group. If by chance that player wins any prize money, you all share in the profit equally. This format creates tremendous rivalries and great camaraderie, and most importantly, is a poker skill builder. As your tournaments progress, you are going to learn more about the nuances of tournament poker and no-limit poker – and they are going to be someone's ticket to the World Series of Poker.

Let's look at the cost of doing this. For example, if the WSOP buy-in is $10,000 and expenses are $2,000 (airfare, hotel, food, and so on), the $12,000 cost divided by 10 players is $1,200 for the year. If there's a game once a week, that's $23 a week per person. Wow, what a small amount per week for a year's worth of fun and a chance to win $2 million! Add $7 more per person per week to defray some of the costs for the other players to come along to hoot and holler for their teammate, and play or watch some of the best side-action live games you'll ever see.

Remember, none of these structures are set in stone, and there may be other tournaments in your regional area that might be more desirable to attend. Just divide the cost of the tournament that you want to attend by the number of weeks and the number of players, and set that tournament as your goal. Also, it doesn't have to be the championship event. Your kitty might grow to the point where you could have enough for two, three, or four smaller events, thus giving your group a better chance of winning prize money.

Well, what are you waiting for? Start planning. No matter which avenue you chose to get to the WSOP, I'll be here to answer any questions you might have, and if things work out, maybe we can meet for dinner there.

Until then, happy New Year, and come join us.