WSOP For Low Rollers and First Timers

The years go by quicker and quicker now, but time waits for no man and it is most definitely here again. The masses of humanity, the cricket like sound in the Pavilion room, the silly celebrations, and the crushing hope of the WSOP has entered my life again. I’m not playing as many events as I have the last five years or so, mainly because I don’t really want to. Tournaments just don’t have the appeal to me that they used to. I’m sure that will change if they butter me up and I get another good shot at new gold jewelry, but overall, I prefer my relatively boring life playing cash games. I like the routine and the fact that I get to control the hours.

Despite all of that, the WSOP is a whole different animal and just something not to be missed. I spend the rest of the year complaining about how tough tournament fields are getting and playing for relatively small prizepools. During these six weeks (about two of which I’ll be attending), the prizepools are huge and the level of play is less than stellar in the smaller buy-in events.

Speaking of buy-ins, this will be another record setting year for the WSOP. With the inclusion of the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One For One Drop, with more than 30 people already set to play in the event, this year’s WSOP overall prizepool will be a lock for largest ever and probably hard to top unless it’s on the schedule again next year. The winner will oust Jamie Gold as the largest first-place winner in poker history and will go down as the ultimate tournament high roller.

For those of us who are decidedly less baller, there are some great tournaments as well. The WSOP is awash with first timers, people playing one event, and lower stakes grinders looking to hit a huge score. Through my first eight WSOPs, I’ve learned a thing or two and have some suggestions for those playing for the first time or playing on a budget.

Be Prepared. It works for the Boy Scouts, it will work for you too. Buy in early, especially for the big field $1,500 No-Limit events. You’ll reduce your stress level by quite a bit when you show up the day before to buy in. It’s no fun showing up, waiting in line for 1.5 hours or more and arriving at your table late, stressed, and frazzled. Your state of mind will affect your decisions at the table, so why add extra stress unnecessarily. In addition to buying in early, it’s important to make sure you have everything you might need that day before you leave the house/hotel room. Be sure all of your electronics are charged and bring a charger if you are a heavy user. Check for your ID before you leave the house. No ID, no poker. Bring water and snacks. These days are long and vicious on the unprepared, avoid adding to your problems by being hungry or thirsty.

Do Your Research. All of the information you need to know about start times, stack sizes, structure, level length, number of hours played, and past prize pools/field sizes is available all over the place. Look on the internet or at the hard copy structure sheets to find out almost everything you need. If you make day two of an event, find your table draw and do some research about the players you will be with for the stretch run into the money. Find out their online name, go to their Card Player page, and if they aren’t a pro, Google them to see what they do for a living, follow them on Twitter for perhaps some in-game info that you wouldn’t get anywhere else. Any information you have that your opponents don’t have is an extra tool in your arsenal. It’s negligent to go into day two of a tournament without all possible information on each and every person you’re playing with.

Play On The Cheap. Satellites are your friend. They are running around the clock at the WSOP and with the poker economy so down in the dumps, they will be even more popular than usual. There is a ton of value in these satellites and if you’re good at jam or fold strategy, you have a leg up on most of the competition. Not only can you play satellites, you can play at other casinos. Yes, it’s true. The Rio may not want you to know that there is other poker being played around Las Vegas during the WSOP, but it is. There are tournaments every day at the Venetian, Caesars, the Wynn, and Bellagio. They offer lower buy ins and smaller prize pools, but the experts are all down the street chasing big paydays and the glory and glamour of the WSOP. Take advantage of the softer fields and lower buy-ins.

Have Fun. One of the reasons I don’t play as many tournaments as I used to is that I just don’t find them as fun anymore. I’ve been lucky enough to be extremely successful in tournaments throughout my career but as I get older and settle down into life a little bit more, I find both the highs and lows to be a little too low for my taste. The WSOP is a great money making opportunity for those who are profitable, but it shouldn’t be joyless. Compete to your fullest, but make sure it’s not to the detriment of how much fun you are having. Don’t play tournaments that you can’t afford to and when you bust out (because, believe me, you will), be sure you can look back on your experience and say that you enjoyed the heck out of it.

Tournament poker is a stressful, demanding, exhilarating game that can give you incredible emotional highs and lows. When you add in the pressure cooker that is the WSOP, it makes for a volatile mix where fortunes are won and lost $1,500 at a time. Hopefully this article will help you bring home the money and have a good time doing it. ♠

Gavin Griffin was the first poker player to capture a World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour title and has amassed nearly $5 million in lifetime tournament winnings. Griffin is sponsored by HeroPoker.com. You can follow him on Twitter @NHGG