Playing at/in the WSOP

Hey just a quick question here. Did any of you ever play in the WSOP? or plan to this year. If yes can you tell me about your experiences and how it is different from your local casino tourneys. If you cashed you can also state that.

I played in the 2006 WSOP $1000 Stud H/L tourney. The experience was amazing, and I've told quite a few people on here before...if you love poker you have to go out to the WSOP at least once. I'd love to go out again, but it just hasn't worked out for me the past few years, and I won't be making it out there this year either.

As far as the play went...there were a couple of players at my first table who weren't that great. It's hard to know if they satellited in or just decided that since it was one of the smaller buy ins in '06 that they would take their shot in it. But overall the players were good.

Once I got moved to my second table, I was sitting with 3 pros. And the play there was even more different. It almost played out like a Stud Hi table. If you've ever played Stud H/L online you know there almost always 4-5 people in every pot, but at the WSOP it's more like 2-3, which really reduces some value you can get out of low hands.

The other thing about playing in a WSOP event are the levels. Each level is 60 minutes, something you'll never find at your local casino. And even though you get a 20 minute break after every 2 levels, it just isn't enough. I stupidly spent my breaks calling poker buddies back home and telling them how I was doing, rather than really taking a break for myself. And I really regret that. Especially because as the end of level 6 was coming I was exhausted. I had been playing for nearly 6 hours and that last 30 minutes before the dinner break really wears you down.

At least the dinner break was 90 minutes and I took some time for myself to go up to my room at the Rio, take a shower, relax and grab a bite to eat.

Ultimately I finished in 448th out of 788 and busted about 30 minutes after the dinner break. So no cash as I think only the top 81 or 90 made it that year.

Even after busting though, the Amazon Room is an electric place to hang out and watch the pros. You of course have the final table of a bracelet event usually going on and you can sit in the crowd and maybe get on ESPN. Or watch the pros play some games you don't normally get to see (I watched Greg Raymer and Todd Brunson play NL Deuce to Seven Single Draw). I also saw a bunch of pros playing Chinese Poker in a cash game. And of course you have guys like Matusow walking past you crying to someone about getting knocked out of something or people challenging Sammy Farha to heads up matches around the cage.

All in all, it's just a great experience.

Won a bracelet race package so it looks like I will play a $1,500 NLHE this year. I want to win my ME seat, but there are only so many ME final's left. And I am not willing to buy into any of the high buy in ME sats, or buy into the low ones and get bad odds.

I have played several ciruit events over the years at the wsop.
As well as several satelittes to the main event but came up short.
I try to play at least 5 tournaments there each year,this year I am sceaduled to play the 2,500 nlhe and the 2,500 plo touurnaments I think so far.
The experiance is so amazing to be there,and all the energy that floats around vegas that time of year is like none other.

Wow sounds great, so many people dont play at the wsop cause they have work and the buy ins? and also With the hotel does it come wid ur package or u hav to pay an additional fee with the buy in?

The hotel is separate but they give you a reduced rate if you stay at the Rio and are buying in. I payed $109 a night when I was there. They also gave me $10 in food vouchers with my room and another $10 with my buy in. Not huge, but it got me a couple of meals for free, so that's not too bad.

smd173 nice story.
i guess i'll just have to live my vegas poker life vicariously through you guys, lol.
i would love to go even if it was just to see the pros live........and watch them work..............lol.
i most generally would have to satellite in don't think i could afford the entry. and don't think i'll make it through a sat - way too many better players.
but good luck to all that try....................peace

I won a 1ok buyin in 2006. run into a donkey he busted me with his flush draw. The players play as bad as online poker players. The donkeys are everywhere. I cawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwed>