First WSOPC Advice

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blobman

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Hey all. I'm thinking about going to my first major tournament series, perhaps a WSOPC. Since a number of people on this forum play in these events, I was hoping for some general advice.

Mainly, I'm looking for logistical advice like how do you bring your money to the casino (do you just carry a huge wad of cash?), how do you register for the events, how do you pick which events you play?

General strategy advice is appreciated too.

My main concern is that I've never played a MTT in a live casino. I have played and have had success in a charity poker game (i.e. rake goes to charity instead of casino but otherwise plays like a casino). I've also played and had success in online tournaments. And I've played live casino cash so I have casino experience. I believe I am prepared to play at a WSOPC event, but I'd rather go play some $150 MTT at a random casino before jumping into the WSOPC.

But my issue is that I'm under 21 years old, so to play in any casino tournament in the USA, I'd have to go to a 18+ state, but that requires travel and expense. So I figure if I'm going to do that travel and expense, it'd need to be for a whole series to make it worth my while. WSOPC seems like a good way to get to play lots of tournaments at the same venue in a short period if I can go to one in a 18+ venue (Florida and Oklahoma are 18+ and have WSOPC I know).

So that's what I have about me and now to see what you all think. I've loved vicariously railing the CC greats as they play at these circuit events, and I'm ready to join in.
 
detroitjunkie

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Hey all. I'm thinking about going to my first major tournament series, perhaps a WSOPC. Since a number of people on this forum play in these events, I was hoping for some general advice.

Mainly, I'm looking for logistical advice like how do you bring your money to the casino (do you just carry a huge wad of cash?), how do you register for the events, how do you pick which events you play?

General strategy advice is appreciated too.

My main concern is that I've never played a MTT in a live casino. I have played and have had success in a charity poker game (i.e. rake goes to charity instead of casino but otherwise plays like a casino). I've also played and had success in online tournaments. And I've played live casino cash so I have casino experience. I believe I am prepared to play at a WSOPC event, but I'd rather go play some $150 MTT at a random casino before jumping into the WSOPC.

But my issue is that I'm under 21 years old, so to play in any casino tournament in the USA, I'd have to go to a 18+ state, but that requires travel and expense. So I figure if I'm going to do that travel and expense, it'd need to be for a whole series to make it worth my while. WSOPC seems like a good way to get to play lots of tournaments at the same venue in a short period if I can go to one in a 18+ venue (Florida and Oklahoma are 18+ and have WSOPC I know).

So that's what I have about me and now to see what you all think. I've loved vicariously railing the CC greats as they play at these circuit events, and I'm ready to join in.

I would double check those age limits for the tournaments before you trek on out there. It is my understanding that any wsop event in the USA you must be 21...but I guess I could be wrong. This would be an event decision not the casinos or card rooms decision. Just check it out to make sure you dont waste your time traveling around.

You can take the cash. Mostly you will be safe, as long as you dont flaunt it or walk down dark alleys at 3am drunk.

They will have registration cages for you to register. Pick any tourney you want.

Strategy advice - play good. These guys are very good players for the most part and seldom screw around. Most circuit grinders are die hard professionals and can spot weakness and scared money from a mile away. Work on your physical tells, both those that you can read and that you give off. LEARN THE RULES - they will differ from most anywhere you have played in some regard. DONT CHECK IN THE DARK - first of all WSOP is making it illegal, plus its stupid and looks stupid.

You may want to try satellites first to see if you can win your way in cheaper.

There are other tournament circuit events that have lots of poker - WPT, HPT, HPO, ect. that will have much easier fields and may fall into a 18+ area.
 
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blobman

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I would double check those age limits for the tournaments before you trek on out there. It is my understanding that any WSOP event in the USA you must be 21...but I guess I could be wrong. This would be an event decision not the casinos or card rooms decision. Just check it out to make sure you dont waste your time traveling around.

You can take the cash. Mostly you will be safe, as long as you dont flaunt it or walk down dark alleys at 3am drunk.

They will have registration cages for you to register. Pick any tourney you want.

Strategy advice - play good. These guys are very good players for the most part and seldom screw around. Most circuit grinders are die hard professionals and can spot weakness and scared money from a mile away. Work on your physical tells, both those that you can read and that you give off. LEARN THE RULES - they will differ from most anywhere you have played in some regard. DONT CHECK IN THE DARK - first of all WSOP is making it illegal, plus its stupid and looks stupid.

You may want to try satellites first to see if you can win your way in cheaper.

There are other tournament circuit events that have lots of poker - WPT, HPT, HPO, ect. that will have much easier fields and may fall into a 18+ area.

Thanks for the advice.

Yes you are mistaken about the age requirements. As far as I know, all WSOP events are open to whomever is legally permitting to play in the jurisdiction/casino in which the event takes place. For example, WSOP Europe and Asia/Pacific events have allowed 18+ since they're allowed in those jurisdictions. To quote Wiki: "Annette Obrestad became the youngest player to ever win a WSOP bracelet at 18 years, 364 days, also becoming the first woman to win a World Series Main Event (WSOPE)." Check out this article about a 19 year old becoming the youngest ever to win a WSOP circuit event at Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida in 2011: http://espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6174652. Maybe I can best his record (although the record might actually be 18 now). Also look at the HPT website's schedule were it explicitly says what is the minimum age for each event (see the one second from the bottom as the only 18+ currently on there): http://www.hptpoker.com/. But of course I'll make sure 100% that I'm legally able to play in an event before making any trek of any sort. Beyond just checking websites and laws, I'll give their poker room a call before making any plans.

What percentage of players in your average $365 NLHE event are circuit grinders? How many complete fish? What about a $580 or a Main Event?

Satellites sound great, and I'm sure I'd include them in my schedule if I went to an event. Perhaps even just to grind for lammers. From what I've heard, you're allowed to sell them at nearly face value and it's easy to do so. Is that so?

I'll definitely keep my eye out for other series that might be holding events. The WSOPC events are good though because they seem pretty well run and have lots of $365 events as well as $100-200 nighties and satellites that mesh well with my bankroll. Playing these events would obviously be taking a shot (although not terribly outside my BRM), but I'd like to do it for the experience and of course the allure of being a WSOP ring winner.

Do you/anyone know of any series going on in an 18+ venue during June/July/August when I'm not in school. It seems not many due to WSOP. The Oklahoma WSOPC at an 18+ venue is in January when I'm on winter break so that's something I'd consider attending next year but it's in an inconvenient location compared to something on the East Coast. Perhaps my best bet is to go to a series at Turning Stone in NY like many a teenage wannabee pro as before (like my idol Ike Haxton).
 
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detroitjunkie

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Thanks for the advice.

Yes you are mistaken about the age requirements. As far as I know, all WSOP events are open to whomever is legally permitting to play in the jurisdiction/casino in which the event takes place. For example, WSOP Europe and Asia/Pacific events have allowed 18+ since they're allowed in those jurisdictions. To quote Wiki: "Annette Obrestad became the youngest player to ever win a WSOP bracelet at 18 years, 364 days, also becoming the first woman to win a World Series Main Event (WSOPE)." Check out this article about a 19 year old becoming the youngest ever to win a WSOP circuit event at Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida in 2011: http://espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6174652. Maybe I can best his record (although the record might actually be 18 now). Also look at the HPT website's schedule were it explicitly says what is the minimum age for each event (see the one second from the bottom as the only 18+ currently on there): http://www.hptpoker.com/. But of course I'll make sure 100% that I'm legally able to play in an event before making any trek of any sort. Beyond just checking websites and laws, I'll give their poker room a call before making any plans.

What percentage of players in your average $365 NLHE event are circuit grinders? How many complete fish? What about a $580 or a Main Event?

Satellites sound great, and I'm sure I'd include them in my schedule if I went to an event. Perhaps even just to grind for lammers. From what I've heard, you're allowed to sell them at nearly face value and it's easy to do so. Is that so?

I'll definitely keep my eye out for other series that might be holding events. The WSOPC events are good though because they seem pretty well run and have lots of $365 events as well as $100-200 nighties and satellites that mesh well with my bankroll. Playing these events would obviously be taking a shot (although not terribly outside my BRM), but I'd like to do it for the experience and of course the allure of being a WSOP ring winner.

Do you/anyone know of any series going on in an 18+ venue during June/July/August when I'm not in school. It seems not many due to WSOP. The Oklahoma WSOPC at an 18+ venue is in January when I'm on winter break so that's something I'd consider attending next year but it's in an inconvenient location compared to something on the East Coast. Perhaps my best bet is to go to a series at Turning Stone in NY like many a teenage wannabee pro as before (like my idol Ike Haxton).

well June and most of July is the WSOP in Vegas so thats the place to be then, it may even be worth your time to just go and watch. I have dealt there the last 2 years and it is crazy how good the poker can be in those 10k events, just watching you can learn things about poker and how to play in such a huge spotlight for massive amounts of money and fame. These guys stink of awesome poker. Plus its lots of fun.

You can do the research and look up fields of players online at the websites and see what kind of fields you get with each tournament. Id say at least 50% of the higher buy-ins are regulars and typically very good players, and probably half of them are die hard semi pros, or pros.

For the record - the casinos DO NOT want you to sell the lamers, and it is technically against policy and could result in you losing the lamer or getting kicked out, HOWEVER, the likely-hood that this happening is the same as the likely-hood that you would be arrested for smoking pot walking down a side street of any major city....very unlikely as it is happening 100's of times a day and no one cares. BUT just to make sure you know it is against the rules to sell them.
 
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blobman

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well June and most of July is the WSOP in Vegas so thats the place to be then, it may even be worth your time to just go and watch. I have dealt there the last 2 years and it is crazy how good the poker can be in those 10k events, just watching you can learn things about poker and how to play in such a huge spotlight for massive amounts of money and fame. These guys stink of awesome poker. Plus its lots of fun.

You can do the research and look up fields of players online at the websites and see what kind of fields you get with each tournament. Id say at least 50% of the higher buy-ins are regulars and typically very good players, and probably half of them are die hard semi pros, or pros.

For the record - the casinos DO NOT want you to sell the lamers, and it is technically against policy and could result in you losing the lamer or getting kicked out, HOWEVER, the likely-hood that this happening is the same as the likely-hood that you would be arrested for smoking pot walking down a side street of any major city....very unlikely as it is happening 100's of times a day and no one cares. BUT just to make sure you know it is against the rules to sell them.

I love railing the WSOP online, and I watch the streams. I don't think they'd even let me into the casino to rail though. But I have a feeling I'll be making the pilgrimage to the Rio within a few years once I have the age and bankroll to do so.

Thanks for the advice on selling the lammers. I certainly wouldn't want to get busted. But I've read articles about grinding WSOP satellites, and they say you can just ask people standing in line at the cage if they want to buy them. That's about as conspicuous as you can get and seems like no one cares. Of course I'd be wary about the process and see what others are doing before I did anything myself.
 
detroitjunkie

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I love railing the WSOP online, and I watch the streams. I don't think they'd even let me into the casino to rail though. But I have a feeling I'll be making the pilgrimage to the Rio within a few years once I have the age and bankroll to do so.

Thanks for the advice on selling the lammers. I certainly wouldn't want to get busted. But I've read articles about grinding WSOP satellites, and they say you can just ask people standing in line at the cage if they want to buy them. That's about as conspicuous as you can get and seems like no one cares. Of course I'd be wary about the process and see what others are doing before I did anything myself.


No problem. Good luck to you. BTW anyone can rail at WSOP, no age requirements, and seeing Maria Ho play in person is way better than any photo, especially from the dealers seat :D
 
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No problem. Good luck to you. BTW anyone can rail at WSOP, no age requirements, and seeing Maria Ho play in person is way better than any photo, especially from the dealers seat :D

Amen to that. She is a hottie.
 
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blobman

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No problem. Good luck to you. BTW anyone can rail at WSOP, no age requirements, and seeing Maria Ho play in person is way better than any photo, especially from the dealers seat :D

From a cursory Google, it looks like technically you need to be 21 to rail at the Rio as you need to be 21 to enter any gaming area in Vegas. That said, the same Google says they really don't care and won't card you if you're just railing. Also maybe since the Penn & Teller Theater (the location for the Nov. 9) isn't a casino, the 21+ requirement doesn't even apply. But I don't really care about this point tbh because it's just not realistic for me to go to the WSOP to rail. Whatever I would spend going to Vegas would be much better spent on, say, traveling to and buying into a WSOPC.

But still thanks for all your advice, and keep it coming from anyone who has info to share.
 
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