A dilemma

My brother called this morning. We fly to Vegas on the 28th. Needless to say, we're excited and the wsop is a big part of it. This morning, one of the first things he said was to tell me that he was going to pay to enter us both into Event #54, a $1k NLHE event. With his income, and what I know about his character, I put the odds of him actually doing this at about 80% that he will. If I pumped him up, those odds would be higher. But I'm not sure I shouldn't try and talk him out of it.

That is a lot of coinage for me. Especially since I have been holding up a mortgage (barely) on my own for a few years now. I literally have zero disposable income. The Vegas trip itself? Well bro has sprung several hundred on the airfare for us and we stay with our mother who lives there. I have saved, scratched and clawed about $300 for spending money but I know bro will subsidize that some. To give you an idea of the financial situation, an annual bonus he told me about a couple years ago was half my annual salary. I really don't know how much he makes or if that should even matter in my decision.

We both grew up playing poker. Mostly stud back when we were younger. He hasn't logged millions of hands in the last 6-8 years like I have though so he has yet to learn a lot of the situational intricacies that would help you run deep. Not that I am saying I know I can either. Just saying that Phils Ivey and Helmuth would have a greater chance of running deep than us 2.

One thing I don't want to do is to be a Moriarty. I don't want to bring negative waves on us by telling him our chances to even cash are thin and that he should realize his $2k could easily be lost. The only way I do that is if I decide to refuse his offer. It's either "Hell yes, let's take 1st and 2nd!!!" Or, "No, lets play a $100 satellite and try to get in that way so we don't risk 2k of your money on such long odds."

A bracelet would be sweet though, wouldn't it?

Any advise would be helpful.

take the money and play the event, if he's offering it. I dont think someone would offer to stake you for 1k if he couldnt afford to lose it.

It will be ONE HELL of an experience and if any of you guys win, your lifes will change.

Since your asking for advice on a very easy question. My answer would be HELL YEA!!!!

If I were you, I'd spend my money on a $1k deep stack at the Venetian or something. Generally weak fields still but much better structures. The $1ks at WSOP tend to become turbos pretty quick. But either way, if he's offering then play. The fields aren't that tough and if you run good you have a great shot at cashing. Good luck!

I think you should do it for a good time but also take it serious when its time to play. I wouldn't pass this chance up for a million reasons. if you truly know poker and logged hands and have deep mtt knowledge you have a shot. I think the edge is less in big fields due to more variance so even the pros will still have to get lucky somewhat. go and enjoy it

How long are you going to be there? I can tell you what your other tournament choices are. If you are there long enough I would recommend playing several lower buy-ins to give yourself a chance to cash. The structure of the WSOP $1k's is terrible - you only start with 3k in chips.

But if it is the WSOP experience you are going for then play in it.

On a side note I will be there if you want to say hi. On the 28th I will be playing in the WSOP Ladies event.

dakota-xx said:

How long are you going to be there? I can tell you what your other tournament choices are. If you are there long enough I would recommend playing several lower buy-ins to give yourself a chance to cash. The structure of the WSOP $1k's is terrible - you only start with 3k in chips.

But if it is the WSOP experience you are going for then play in it.

On a side note I will be there if you want to say hi. On the 28th I will be playing in the WSOP Ladies event.

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We fly out on the 28th and come back on the 13th. This is the last bracelet event at $1K. There is the Little Drop but that isn't a bracelet event.

One thing I am kinda worried about is what effect losing $2k on day 3 of our trip would have on the rest of it. Like I said in the OP, I'd be ghetto out there if it wasn't for him.

I'll definately look for you and say hi. We'll coordinate it between now and then. How long are you out there?

hobonc said:

We fly out on the 28th and come back on the 13th. This is the last bracelet event at $1K. There is the Little Drop but that isn't a bracelet event.

One thing I am kinda worried about is what effect losing $2k on day 3 of our trip would have on the rest of it. Like I said in the OP, I'd be ghetto out there if it wasn't for him.

I'll definately look for you and say hi. We'll coordinate it between now and then. How long are you out there?

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I arrive on the 24th and leave on July 6th so should be plenty of chances to meet up.

If you are there that long you really should talk to your brother about playing multiple lower buy-ins instead of putting it all on 1 tournament.

dakota-xx said:

instead of putting it all on 1 tournament.

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I think I'm gonna try to get an idea just how much of "it all" $2k would be for him (us ). If he acts like he has money to burn, I don't mind smelling the smoke.

You and your brother sound pretty close, that's awesome.

As to what you've spoken about how much he makes, it seems he's a rather smart cookie when it comes to his career and financials (correct me if my assumption is wrong). He offering to buy you two in for that event is an awesome gesture, and I think you should take him up on that. Sure, Ivey and company have a much better chance in running deeper than you two might, but it seems like he's looking for an experience with you rather than strict competition and a goal of winning.

I agree with you, that is "a lot of coinage", but if he has offered it, I'm sure he did the math prior to making the offer.

I already know that if I make enough money I will subsidize my brother in an event. I grew up playing with him. At a certain point, the value of just enjoying yourself with family and friends is more than money. I have already happily staked my brother in cash games. I can say with full confidence that when he loses my buy-in I care so much less than when I lose my own. It is worth the time. If you feel bad about it, just offer to give him 50% of your winnings and consider it a true stake.

Henreiman said:

If you feel bad about it, just offer to give him 50% of your winnings and consider it a true stake.

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Beat me to it...

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Henreiman said:

consider it a true stake.

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It is already. Stake back/50-50 split/no make up

My advice is

Take this chance to be a second Moneymaker!
yes, needs luck for a single game!

but who knows you cannot?
you may just afraid of swing, but since you have already flied to vegas!

try your best to play best poker, and win!

Good luck! and best wishes on your chance to change your life.

Be cool watching the hobo on a WSOP FT.

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at 24 years old and raising a 2 yr old boy my hopes of playing a wsop event are just a dream , if i had the chance your getting i would jump all over it, hope to see you on the tube, gl bro

Sounds like you have a really damn cool brother. I wish you two the greatest of luck. Smash those tables! Bring down the house, and take 1st and 2nd. Enjoy
Yourself man, not too many people get that experience.

Keep us updated on how everything goes, and again, goodluck! :ridinghor

Take the $ and play. Someone will win - could it be one of u guys? Who knows? Do it.

Well, I dont know how your relationship is with him, but I would - as you mentioned - simply state the fact that it is an MTT and the chances of cashing are, as it simply is, less than the chance of busting out before the money. The chances of cashing big even less. I guess he knows this already. But after mentioning that, mention - as he certainly knows as well - that you could only do this with his help, but you only want to do it if
A: he will bear no ill will or be in any way upset if no cash is made, and
B: It really is no financial burden if A happens.

Then discuss the possibility of using the BI to play other tourneys instead, as mentioned above.

GL.

He's your brother. Talk with him. Be as sure as you can that your relationship won't suffer if - as likely - you both fail to cash. If he's still cool spending the money, thank him again and then both of you have a great time.

Ask your brother if you could play 3x340s instead of 1 shot....

You'll get more experience, the structure in the deep stacks is quite similar if not better, and you get three bullets to make a run.

Just my rational advice.

If its more about just playing the WSOP, then just shoot it off there I guess.

I've played in an event and played cash at the RIO during the WSOP; tbh, the magic wears of in about 30 mins for me by now.

Is he thinking the money is dead before you start and you are both playing for the experience, with the chance one/both of you could run good and go deep or is he thinking this is a good chance of making lots of $$$?

If its first play, if its second play some of the other casino series, with better structures.

The small WSOP events tend to start turboish and slow down in later stages.

dakota-xx said:

I would recommend playing several lower buy-ins to give yourself a chance to cash. The structure of the WSOP $1k's is terrible - you only start with 3k in chips.

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this ^

Then, if you cash go play a $1,500 buyin WSOP tournament.