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Questions for WSOP veterans

Discussion in 'The Poker Room' started by yooperguy, Feb 28, 2015.

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  1. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    Fellow poker junkies,

    I'll be coming out June 4th - 11th for some WSOP play, my maiden voyage (fish). They way I understand the layout, there are satellites for the bracelet events, as well as daily Deepstack NLH tournaments. I hope to win a seat on Friday for the 2nd flight on Saturday of the Millionaire Maker, event 16# I think. Question: Are the bracelet satellite tournaments single table, or bigger? or both? What is the food situation at the Rio? Anything special set up for players, or full pay at the restaurants? Hows the parking? Pay or free? Which Rio building are poker rooms set up in?
    Any tips concerning the WSOP Rio experience will be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    The host hundreds of tables which range from low end NLH, from sit and goes to satellites to high end games. Lots of action.

    The satellites are set up for specific prizes matching various buy ins, so if you want to try for a $1,500 WSOP event, they will have specific one table winner takes $1,500 tables, or you can grind out WSOP chips at larger satellite games. They have adjacent to the several rooms where these games are hosted a room serving sandwiches, pizza and other quick food offerings. You are far away from anywhere else in the Rio (the games are held in the far East end (Convention Center) so plan on walking a few minutes before hitting the main casino. You can pack near that portion of the building, without having to walk the 5-10 minutes from the main entrance.

    If you are just a poker fan, a cheap (i.e. free) souvenir is to get a new or replacement Total Rewards card, which they issue with a WSOP logo. You don't need the special Total Rewards card to sit for a satellite/sit and go / WSOP event, but you will need a Total Rewards card at your buy in.

    Hope this helps plan your visit. I'm there a few days longer (June 2-13), and will likely try to make a tournament as well (via a sit and go).
     
  3. donfairplay

    donfairplay VIP Whale

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    $75, 8 AM daily turbo mega sat: pays out a $500 lammer (chip used for tournaments)
    $185, 10 AM daily turbo mega sat: $1,500 in lammers (three $500's). this $185 10 AM one is new this year.

    The other sats are pretty self-explanatory reading from the schedule and the structures will probably be similar to last year's structures.

    STT sats are fine if you prefer. You'll encounter more STT specialists in those, they just sell their lammers (to friends, or people in the cashier line).

    Play the daily deep stacks. 10 PM deep stacks have drunks who will spite call all-ins with pocket 2's. Mind you, not the whole field is drunk, but you'll encounter more than the early day deep stacks.

    They have a rio poker cafe thing for quick food. I personally prefer going to the Wetzel's Pretzels in the casino, no lines there, and no lines at the bathrooms there too.

    Parking is free. Poker is in the convention center.
     
  4. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    Thanks, guys. Just the kinda info I was looking for. See you at the tables.
     
  5. redzone

    redzone Low-Roller

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    Here are a few pics from last year. Gives you a idea of the size of the rooms. When you buy in you are given the room you will be playing in, an area colour ( white, red, blue etc) and a table and seat # in that area. I was in Brasilia Blue, Table 19, Seat 4. Good luck.

    20140605_111839.jpg DSC01647.jpg DSC01649.jpg DSC04063.jpg
     
  6. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the pics and advice, Redzone. I wanted to come out for the Seniors tournament this year, but my schedule wouldn't allow it. Next year for sure.
     
  7. trex323

    trex323 Low-Roller

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    Here are a few of my pics from the Monster Stack. It was fucking crazy.

    You can see my huge stack at the end of day one in the 6 seat.

    Hopefully the WSOP puts up the satellite schedules on the website soon. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  8. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    Thanks, JSTAT and TREX, love the video and pics. Really helps to convey the magnitude of this event.
     
  9. Larry103

    Larry103 Tourist

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    That was a great video, get em next time.
     
  10. tex55

    tex55 High-Roller

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    Thanks for these responses, guys. i am also headed out in June for my first WSOP, and was interested in the satellite process, and trying some deep stacks.
     
  11. TuscaloosaJohnny

    TuscaloosaJohnny Low-Roller

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    That first time is pretty special, especially if you're a hardcore player.

    Some additional info on top of the already useful tips:
    --The satellite area is set up in the front left part of Brasilia, right at the main entrance to the WSOP area. Stand in a line and they'll call out a certain satellite amount, such as $125 or $275 as examples. Grab one of the seat cards they hand out if it's the amount you want, walk to the cashier's cage and pay. You'll then go sit at your table (numbers are hanging above them) and wait for it to start.
    -- People often do last longer bets of $20 to $100. This is very common, and you should probably join in as it effectively reduces the house rake percentage. For example instead of a $112 + $13 it becomes in effect a $132 + $13 if you do a $20 last longer.
    -- Chopping is common once it is down to two or three handed since there is only winner. Negotiation skills are helpful here, as you want to try to get the maximum for your chip count. If chips are close a straight chop is common, or if one player has a lead he might take two $500 chips and the other player gets one $500 chip, for example.
    --Tipping is customary, generally $20 to $40.
    -- Hard to find cheap food at the Rio, and the prices in the WSOP "Poker Kitchen" are ridiculous. Bring snacks from a convenience store to help save on costs between meals.
     
  12. donfairplay

    donfairplay VIP Whale

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    Also, the 3PM/6PM daily deep stacks can run 14+ hours on the weekend, so be prepared. I think an agreement between all the remaining players to come back for a day two gets discussed, I've never seen it happen.

    It's worth it though, because there aren't any $235 entry tournaments in the world with $40,000+ going to first place. See twoplustwo thread.
     
  13. yooperguy

    yooperguy Low-Roller

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    The twoplustwo thread is a great link! Even though its from last year, plenty of info to pick out of the forum thread, replies concerning tournament structure, do's and don'ts, etc. Thanks!
     
  14. Snickers99

    Snickers99 Tourist

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    Some great advice here. This will be my 5th year going out to the WSOP. First year, played a $1k. Didn't cash but saw the $235 daily tournament so the next year I got smart. I could play one $1k or four $235. I chose volume over potential big score/bracelet and did the deep stacks the next couple of years.

    But my feelings on the deep stacks have changed. They used to be pretty soft. But it seemed like they were getting harder and harder each year I went back. I think everyone started catching on that these were a super value. As noted above, $235 with a top prize often over $30k for one days work. So they started attracting more pros and serious players. I don't think they're nearly as soft as they were. Now, if you're a very good player, obviously the value is still there. But I'm just a recreational player with OK skills. So this year, something different. Still going in June but am planning on staying on the Strip and just playing the dailies up and down the Strip. Next year will be my first year for the Seniors event so maybe I'm just too old for the deep stacks!

    You're going to be in awe the first time you walk into the Pavilion. It's awesome. Hundreds of tables with shuffling chips sounding like crickets. Walking around seeing some pros playing or in the hallway. If there's a $10k tournament going on while your there, that's a great time to see some pros playing. If that's something you'd like.

    Agree that the food is outrageously expensive in the 'poker kitchen'. Wetzel's pretzels is a good idea, but that's quite a hike. I don't think you'll be able to walk there, order, get back and eat in the 20 minute breaks you get during the deep stacks. Well, I couldn't anyway. I suppose you could eat at the table. I think you do get a 30-minute break once.

    Don't eat heavy food if you're planning on playing. Drink lots of water. Soak it all in. It's pretty cool.
     
  15. The Ost

    The Ost Low-Roller

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    Great photos, video and advice in there. Thanks for sharing.
     
  16. bribhoy

    bribhoy Low-Roller

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    Snickers - thanks for all that info. We're taking our first WSOP trip this year and, though I get what you say about the $235 tourneys, I really want the experience of playing in a bracelet event. Having said that, those events have a 90 minute evening break for dinner and I wondered if you knew how crowded the Rio restaurants get during that break. If we want to go and eat somewhere in the hotel, should we be booking in advance?

    Thanks
     
  17. Snickers99

    Snickers99 Tourist

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    Obviously, someone correct me if I'm wrong since I only played in an actual bracelet event once. I did make it to the dinner break and ended up getting a chicken wrap at the poker kitchen and went to my room to eat it. Figured it might help to be in a quiet room and relax (I was there by myself).

    They usually have signs out front of the restaurants warning people of the WSOP dinner break times and to expect a longer than usual wait. I'm not sure how reservations work during the WSOP. I never made them since I I didn't have time to eat during the deep stacks. I usually waited until I busted and ate at the All American Burger (good blue cheese burger!) I hear Buzios Seafood is really good. On their page on the Rio web site there is the option to book a table so maybe you can book in advance.

    Sorry...this is a long post that basically says I don't know! I do know that the restaurants do get busy at dinner break times. There's a Burger King up near Wetzel's so that's an option. Fly all the way to Vegas to eat at a Burger King!
     
  18. bribhoy

    bribhoy Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the answer - and you pointed out a flaw in my reasoning. If I don't survive until the dinner break then the question is academic anyway!

    I think I'll definitely try to book somewhere for the first day of the tourney. I'm playing the Monster Stack Flight B, so that will be a Saturday night and probably pretty crowded in all the eateries anyway. Although, I like your thought of getting something to take back to the room and avoid all the hustle and bustle - and bad beat stories - around the poker rooms.
     
  19. Snickers99

    Snickers99 Tourist

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    Good luck! I was finally able to put up my countdown timer. Looks like we're there at the same time!
     
  20. Snickers99

    Snickers99 Tourist

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    Oh...I forgot the most important tip. Bathroom breaks! There aren't very many rest rooms and they get crazy busy at breaks. Guys were actually using the women's room until they started putting security guards by the doors. You'll have to decide if you want to give up a few hands at the end of the level before a break and rush out then, wait for the break and run to your room, or try to wait it out during the break and get into the rest room towards the end of the break once the rush dies down. But again, I'm talking about the deep stack where there's usually 1k-1.4k entrants and 20-minute breaks. If you're playing an actual WSOP event, there could be tons more entrants all vying for stalls/urinals. But maybe your breaks are longer. It's especially tough if you have a shy bladder. :)

    Anyway, when you get there make sure you note where the bathrooms are. Sometimes the one farthest away is less crowded and quicker.
     
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