Defending Champ Dan Weinman Talks WSOP Main Event Strategy

Even before he won it all in 2023, Daniel Weinman had already found significant success in the poker world.

The Georgia native took down the 2015 WSOP Circuit main event in Cherokee, North Carolina for $280,260. Then in 2017, he went on a dream run on the World Poker Tour, winning the Borgata Winter Poker Open for $892,433, which led to his victory in the Tournament of Champions a few months later for another $381,500.

However, one poker achievement eluded the Georgia Tech graduate.

“It was always a dream to win a WSOP bracelet,” admitted Weinman.

In 2022, Daniel Weinman’s dream came true as he captured the $1,000 pot-limit Omaha tournament, earning him his first coveted gold bracelet and $255,359. The win ignited an incredible run for Weinman during the 2022 summer, battling for WSOP Player of the Year (POY) honors.

“I never come to the WSOP expecting to win POY. I actually come out trying to play as much golf as I can,” recalled Weinman. “But during the first week of the summer, I had a second place in $1,500 stud, won the $1K PLO and then had some friends telling me to go for it.”

Weinman cashed in 19 events, earning over $680,000, but ultimately finished second on the leaderboard to Dan Zack. He fell just short of his goal, but still, how could he possibly top that performance in 2023?

Although expectations were high, Weinman had a disappointing start to his summer, with only four min-cashes heading into the 2023 WSOP main event. In fact, his morale was so low that he almost didn’t go back out to Las Vegas to play in the WSOP main event.

“I definitely needed a little nudging to go back out and of course, I’m glad I did,” exclaimed Weinman.

Weinman went on to capture the largest WSOP main event in history with 10,043 entries, banking his second bracelet and a massive $12.1 million. Despite the payday, Weinman was back at his day job the next week, working as a software engineer for RF Poker, a company that facilitates the operation and security of poker livestreams.

After his win, Weinman came on my radio show (The Bernard Lee Poker Show) and shared his thoughts about playing in the WSOP main event.

Bernard Lee: Congratulations on winning the WSOP main event. What a dream come true.
Daniel Weinman: There will be moments during the day when it hits me that I actually won the WSOP main event. But I didn’t want it to change me or my life and I don’t think it has that much.

BL: How did you get into poker?

DW: Poker was something I found early in life through my father. I was always fascinated with the game from an early age, including the needling and joking among my father’s friends.

Poker progressed through high school and my friends and I started picturing ourselves at the WSOP main event final table. Then in college, I continued to play just to make some beer money.

BL: Outside of your success in no-limit hold’em, you also play a lot of mixed games. One of your bracelets is in PLO, you have a runner-up finish in stud, and a third-place in the mixed big bet.

DW: When I started, I was almost exclusively a no-limit hold’em player. But in 2011, I began playing more mixed games, especially PLO. Today, I love playing the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

BL: What would be your top advice for players considering playing in the WSOP main event?

DW: You have to avoid getting burned out during the summer. So many players play dozens of events (not just at WSOP, but there are other summer series as well). So, when the WSOP main event comes along, inexperienced players are so tired that they don’t play well and are ultimately just throwing away the $10,000 buy-in.

Perhaps consider even taking some time to fly back home in order to rejuvenate yourself prior to the WSOP main event. (It worked for me!)

BL: Let’s talk about something that you learned while playing in this past WSOP main event.

DW: Since over half of the field are amateurs, be value heavy with your bets, especially during the opening levels. Amateurs just think that everyone is bluffing more than they are.

If you put lots of chips in the pot, make sure you have a good hand. That may sound too obvious, but you do not have to do anything too crazy to increase your stack.

BL: How would you describe the proper way to play in the WSOP main event?

DW: You could almost treat it like a $1-$2 no-limit cash game. Play tight and aggressive.

BL: A big score in the WSOP main event means playing many days in a row. Do you have any advice for players if they are fortunate to go deep?

DW: As you get deeper and deeper in the main event, treat each day as its own tournament. Stay focused and don’t let the eliminations affect you as you could lose focus.

You just need to get through each day and then you have a chance. That is how I felt day after day. Unlike any other tournament in the series, the main event is truly about survival because you have so much time to find the perfect spot.

BL: If someone is fortunate enough to make the final table during the WSOP main event, do you have any thoughts about how to play the final table?

DW: The final table payouts are so top heavy. I think players play way too tight, especially since the pay jumps are so small early on at the final table relative to the top three spots.

BL: Is there any other advice you would give about playing the WSOP main event?

DW: Even if you are not someone who talks a lot at the table, I would suggest getting to know the players more during the main event. They will give you a little more insight and information than they probably should.

Some guy playing in his first main event, even though he is the chip leader on the money bubble, will probably fold his way into the money. It’s helpful to know things like that. ♠

Bernard Lee broke into the poker world after a deep run in the 2005 WSOP main event. He has two WSOP Circuit rings, and is an author, having written for Card Player, the Boston Herald, Metrowest Daily News, and ESPN, where he was a host of the show The Inside Deal. His radio show and podcast, The Bernard Lee Poker Show, recently celebrated its 17th anniversary.

Those looking to win their way into the big one should check out his latest book, Poker Satellite Success: Turn Affordable Buy-Ins Into Shots At Winning Millions, which is now available on Amazon as well as D&B Publishing. Follow him on Twitter/X @BernardLeePoker or visit his website at BernardLeePoker.com or YouTube channel at Youtube.com/BernardLeePoker.

*Photos by PokerGO.