For the first time ever, I’m doing pretty much the whole Las Vegas/WSOP thing this summer. In past years I always had other places I wanted to be in the summer, plus I thought my hourly rate would be just or nearly as good playing online without all of the hassle and expenses, plus I just didn’t care much for live poker. Now that I’ve been playing more live poker, it’s growing on me, and I’m looking forward to playing the series plus all the other poker stuff that will be going on in Las Vegas during that time.
The only complication is that a good friend of mine had the nerve to schedule her wedding, which is taking place on the east coast, right in the middle of the series. But that’s OK, I’ll probably be ready for a break by then. I plan to be in Las Vegas from the last weekend in May, which is the opening weekend of the series, through June 20. Then I’m going to fly to the east coast, go to the wedding, spend some time with my family, spend some time with my girlfriend, and return for the Main Event. Most likely I’ll stay in Vegas through mid-July, hopefully because I’m still in the Main but if not the Main Event of the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza should be a good tournament as well.
I just finalized renting a small, one-bedroom condo after the owner confirmed that the dog currently renting it will be out by late May. You read that correctly – the owner is putting up a friend’s dog at the condo while the friend is out of town. Las Vegas is a weird place. Anyway I know that sharing a house with a bunch of other poker players is a big part of the WSOP experience, but I like having my own space and at this point in my career I don’t really have an obvious “crew” to stay with.
Nate and I are kicking around the idea of arranging a Thinking Poker Podcast meetup in early July, when he will also be in Vegas for the Main Event, so we’ll keep you posted about that. Regardless, if you’re going to be out there this summer, drop me a line and hopefully we can at least shake hands – I expect to be pretty busy 🙂
This is a tentative schedule I put together for myself with the help of SpaceyFCB’s spreadsheet. I’m sure I won’t end up playing all of these events, hopefully because I go deep in a couple of them but also because I’ll probably want more time off than what I’ve built into this schedule. I tried to target the juiciest events, which are the low buy-in weekend tournaments, and a few that are unique/fun opportunities (the mix-max, the PLO8). Most of these are WSOP events but a couple are Venetian DSEs.
| Wednesday, May 29, 2013 | 04:59:00 PM | NLH 8-Max | $5,000.00 |
| Thursday, May 30, 2013 | 10:59:00 AM | NLH Re-Entry | $1,000.00 |
| Friday, May 31, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH 6-Max | $1,500.00 |
| Saturday, June 01, 2013 | 10:59:00 AM | NLH Re-Entry | $1,500.00 |
| Sunday, June 02, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,000.00 |
| Monday, June 03, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH Shootout | $3,000.00 |
| Tuesday, June 04, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH 6-Max | $2,500.00 |
| Wednesday, June 05, 2013 | |||
| Thursday, June 06, 2013 | |||
| Friday, June 07, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $2,500.00 |
| Saturday, June 08, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,500.00 |
| Sunday, June 09, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,000.00 |
| Monday, June 10, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,600.00 |
| Tuesday, June 11, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH 6-Max | $3,000.00 |
| Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | |||
| Thursday, June 13, 2013 | |||
| Friday, June 14, 2013 | 04:59:00 PM | NLH Mix-Max | $3,000.00 |
| Saturday, June 15, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,500.00 |
| Sunday, June 16, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH | $1,000.00 |
| Monday, June 17, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | PLO8 | $1,500.00 |
| Tuesday, June 18, 2013 | 12:00:00 PM | NLH 6-Max | $5,000.00 |
O, you’re going to ball this summer. I can feel it. Shoot for two. Wear ’em on both hands naked in front of the mirror, flexing. So boss.
Haha you better hope I don’t win two or that picture is going up on the blog!
As long as it’s censored, it’s fine; I think your readers deserve it.
But you’re winning two. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s your time.
You leave right when I get there! breakfast on the 19th!
Hope your time in Vegas is good Andrew. Are you looking for any staking arrangements?
I know I speak for all readers in saying that we deserved the uncensored shots. Rio daily 235$ tourneys count!
I always hear people raving about the Venetian Deep Stack events. Why are they so much better than the WSOP ones at the Rio?
I believe many people prefer them because they have fewer runners and deeper structures. That makes them lower variance than the huge field WSOP tournaments, though not necessarily a better value or hourly rate. Personally I’m not prioritizing them over WSOP tournaments, just keeping them in find for days when there isn’t a WSOP event I want to play.
Also, the chairs at the Venetian are more comfortable than the cheap ones at the Rio (understandably, given how many chairs the WSOP needs to come up with). Many players are simply more comfortable there. But I’ve never chosen a Venetian tournament over a WSOP tournament.
This summer will be my 4th year in Vegas; I usually go and base my schedule around playing a few WSOP events but this year I’m basing it on the DSE and staying at the Venetian, so I can get a bit of sun in the morning by the pool before hitting the tables (an hour in the sun after breakfast gets me in a great mood before I start to play.) The tournaments are so much more playable for someone looking at the lower buy-in area then the 1k and 1.5k WSOP events.
I like to be able to play a few pots early on without feeling crippled if you loose them. The WSOP structures make me feel I’m playing with one hand tied behind my back and unable to really make the most of what I feel is a better deep post flop play advantage I have over many in this level of buy-in.
Sorry I won’t be getting out until the 22nd June so won’t be able to hunt you down to say a big thanks in person for a great podcast.
On a slightly separate note my father is taking his first ever trip to Vegas this year and gets out before me (so he can play the WSOP seniors event.) Anyone got any recommendations for activities he can enjoy on his own (other than hitting the tables; although recommended he goes to Rio to play a daily deepstack so not too overwhelmed when he goes for the seniors) – so far I’ve said he has to get a helicopter ride over the canyon.
Thanks