Should I play in this tournament?

[roundcat]

I know I'm the only one who can really make the decision, but I'm interested in other opinions. It might not seem like a big deal to many of you, but it's a bit of a conundrum for me at the moment.

This Sunday there's a ladies tournament at a local casino in which they're awarding four $1,000 wsop buyins "plus cash," and the top 15 spots are paid. They have door prizes, 25 lucky seat drawings, and $500 high hands for the first six rounds.

I'd **LOVE** to play in it, but:

1) The buy-in is $225, which is a substantial portion of my bankroll.
2) I've been loudly preaching to my husband that we need to save money and can't spend it on anything extra.
3) It's been months since I've set foot in a brick & mortar card room.

So... would I be playing above my bankroll, being a hypocrite for spending money when I've told my (unemployed) husband we can't, and jumping in too deep?

Or is the potential for possibly increasing my bankroll and winning a WSOP seat worth it? I played in a ladies tournament before and really enjoyed it, even though it dragged on absolutely forever and I lost most of my chips trying to bluff a woman who felt pot-committed and simply could not lay down her pair of freakin' fives.

 

[t1riel]

Don't gamble with money you can't afford to lose. The WSOP Qualifiers on many poker sites are cheaper. Hell, some have WSOP Qualifier freerolls.

 

[DESSERTLADY]

Great advice Tim!

Roundcat, I think even Paradise has $3. & $4. satellites for different games. Not just the main event. I think I even saw a horse satellite on there.

 

[~~Shelynn~~]

Listen they'll be others to play at when you get back on your feet. We've all made sacrifices from time to time and this isn't something you should throw your money away on now that hubby is unemployed.

 

[Effexor]

If there's any doubt at all, which from your post sounds like it, don't do it.

Don't play above your bankroll, and NEVER play with money you can't afford to lose.

 

[Stick66]

I'd say it depends on your confidence.

If you think you can easily cash and make your money back plus more, do it. The WSOP factor should not matter. (Yes, live tournies are usually longer, but I think they are more fun.)

If you don't feel like you can EASILY make money there, stick to the online gig. The practice is plentiful.

 

[zinzan1000]

Maybe just go there to watch this time around.
Get a taste of whats in store for when its more financially viable for you to take part.
As Shelynn said, there will be plenty more times to take part in such events in the future.

On the other hand, and without trying to influence you in any way, if you are confident in your game and think you have got what it takes to do well then perhaps its something you might want to take a shot at.

Maybe you could set up an entry fee among your closest friends and family members where each of them would then have a vested interest in the outcome and overcome the financial burden at the same time.
It could also be fun to do such a thing with team roundcat cheering you on from the rails.

Just a suggestion and not advice by any means, good luck either way.

 

[roundcat]

"Team roundcat," yes, I like that. So, who wants to stake me?

There are plenty of tourneys around here with low buy-ins ($30 or so), but a big ladies event like this would be fun. About the online play -- that's what I've been sticking with for the past several months, but they've just passed a new law in my state. As of yesterday it's a felony to play online unless the game is free. Ridiculous, I know, but it's really making me think twice about it.

As for my husband's employment status, he's been mostly unemployed for the better part of the last three or four years, so if I wait around for him to get a job, I could be waiting a very long time. My main income covers our expenses, and I do freelance work which provides for the "extras." I've also won about $900 in the past couple of weeks (a combination of poker and contesting), and should be selling a domain name for a few hundred shortly, so could justify the buy-in that way.

I probably won't play, but a friend of mine will be there and it's tempting to tag along. The guilt at spending $225 with no guaranteed return will probably sway my decision, especially since only yesterday I suggested to my husband that we smuggle some pop into the movie theater this weekend so he won't have to spend $3 on a drink. (He didn't like that idea.)

 

[roundcat]

I've decided not to play. Thanks for the opinions and advice!

Instead, I'm going to sell some stuff, do some extra work, and buy a cheap midweek vacation package to Las Vegas to see Wayne Newton before his show at the Flamingo wraps up this July.

I'll also play at least one poker tournament while I'm there. I recall a thread from some time back about the best places to play there, so off I go to dig it up....

 

[Stick66]

Here's a decent LV tournament info site:

[old link~tb]

 

[xace100]

u have to think it will be dead money cos even if u win that event u still have to get in the money at the wsop. so whats ure chances u'll be better going online in a small saterlite