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Heads-Up: MSPT Heading to Bally’s Black Hawk, WSOPC to Mississippi, and Happy Birthday, Phil!

By Bob Pajich
5 Min read
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The Mid-Stakes Poker Tour is heading to the mountains after a successful stop at the beach, the World Series of Poker goes international, (and also to Mississippi), while one of the big Phil’s of poker hands out solid advice to celebrate his birthday. Gear up for a big week, players!

Phil Falfond

Happy Birthday, Phil! (Image: WSOP)

MSPT heads to the Rockies

The people running the Mid-Stakes Poker Tour simply don’t get a break. MSPT just wrapped up it’s stop at Sycuan Casino Resort in Sand Diego yesterday, and heads to Bally’s Black Hawk in Colorado for a series starting Thursday, Jan. 18, with a $100K guaranteed $360 no-limit event. 

There’s nine tourneys scheduled, with some fun options, including a $300 tag-team event on Tuesday, Jan. 24, a $250 pot-limit Omaha event Monday, Jan. 23, and a $250 Monster Stack event Wednesday, January 25.

The $1,100 headliner and its $300K guarantee starts Thursday, Jan. 26. 

After that, it moves to Hollywood Casino St. Louis for the Missouri State Poker Championship on Feb. 2. 

Trip, trip, triple for WSOP Circuit

Two WSOPC series are scheduled to wrap-up this week, while a third is set to begin, as part of a densely-packed 2023 schedule. 

The $1,700 WSOPC Main Event Day 1 at Thunder valley Casio in California begins Friday, Jan. 20. Day 2 of the $500K guaranteed event takes place the next day, and the tourney is set to conclude Jan. 23. 

Meanwhile in Morocco — yes, Morocco — there’s jewelry to be found in the WSOPC International at Es Saadi Marrakech Resort in Marrakech. First of two starting flights of the €1,500 Main begins Thursday, Jan. 19. 

The €2,000 “high roller” event starts Tuesday Jan. 17, and the €3,000 “super high roller” begins Sun, Jan. 22.  

Back in the states, the WSOPC brings its roadshow to the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, Miss., starting Thursday with a $400 “big stack” event where players start with 30,000 chips. It. runs until Jan. 30, with the three-flight $1,700 Main starting Thursday, Jan. 26. 

Happy Birthday, Phil!

No, not you Brat, or you, Mr. Ivey. But a big CardsChat Happy Birthday goes to Phil Galfond, who announced that he turned 38 today.

He seems to be having a good day. The poker champion and businessman who hopes to brings an online poker site to the US took to Twitter with a gift for all his fans: Ten bits of poker and business advice that may help lead to happiness, wealth, and eternal sunshine.

Here’s what he wrote:

Here’s my quick story: 1. Dropped out of college at 21 to play poker full-time. 2. Have been playing poker against the best in the world since 22. 3. Continued with high-stakes poker the last 16 years while also creating businesses and a family. Now, let’s get to the lessons…
2. This doesn’t mean you should go all-in like there’s no tomorrow.
  • Great temporary opportunities DO arise, but they won’t be the last.
  • Attack them, but don’t burn all your resources & be left on the sidelines for the next one.
3. Poker isn’t naturally conducive to family life. It takes extra effort to make it work.
  • Optimizing your poker career means late nights and all kinds of unpredictability.
  • Dating a non-player? Someone needs to make a real compromise.
  • To become parents, it has to be you.
4. Future earnings are almost always overestimated
Why?
A) You’re not accounting for all the:
  • Interruptions
  • Obligations
  • Hiccups
  • Downswings
  • Burnout
B) You’re overestimating your edge in the first place, crediting skill for wins & blaming luck for losses.
5. People who say “Never hire your friends” don’t have good enough friends.
  • Trust is everything.
  • Why bring on an unknown person for a key role if you already know someone who’s skills & integrity are a sure thing? I mean people you KNOW know. Not 1-year friends.
6. Relaxation/Recharging IS Work
I need much more recharging for poker than I do for business, but in each case, I perform better when I take care of myself. One 90hr week when needed is cool, but not if it’s twice every month (unless you’re 20!).
7. Thinking about money above all else is a recipe for unhappiness.
  • “Why would I drive my Mom to the airport? It’s $25 to Uber. I’d make 10x in that time.”
  • “Watching this movie with my friend is costing me $1,500!

It’s hard to enjoy anything when thinking like this.

8. Invest in You I’ve paid to improve myself & my skills more times than I can count:
  • Poker coaches
  • Business consultants
  • Mental Game coaches
  • Performance coaches
  • Fitness coaches
  • Psychologists
  • Online Courses
  • Workshops
I’ve literally never regretted it.
9. *Great* mentors are worth whatever they cost
The very best investments in myself have been long-standing personal mentor relationships.
Note: Not all mentors are great! A referral from a friend is your best bet.
10. Good partners are everything
  • Learning from someone is great.
  • Learning with someone is even better. Poker friend, business partner, another person trying to accomplish what you are… Find them. Stop what you’re working on. Make this the priority.
That’s it! I hope this was useful for others in poker, & for anyone reporting to yourself & making big decisions! It took me 38 years to learn these lessons, but they aren’t the only ones. I’m writing more threads going forward so follow me @PhilGalfond
 to hop on the journey!
Thanks Phil!
Written by
Bob Pajich
Bob Pajich is a poker news reporter, creative writer, and poker player who never met suited connectors he didn't like. Tips, corrections, complaints and kudos should go to CardsChatBob@gmail.com.

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