With the WSOP* dates set, many poker players around the world turn their thoughts to playing the $10,000 buy-in main event, but are you ready? Do you know what to expect on-site? Do you know how to prepare for long, grueling days of playing live against the world's top competition?
Live and on-line players who have never played the event might be taking their very first shot at the tournament this summer. Some are experienced live players who have never ever played the main event while others could be former Internet players from the U.S. who choose to go this year for the first time playing live.
Whatever your experience, this article is Part 1 of 3 for anyone wanting to prepare:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and consists of 61 poker tournaments of different types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, and so on.) and buy-ins. The best recognized event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are numerous smaller tourneys which players can participate in with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop some serious coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, with its $1 million buy-in. Something new for this year is the fact that there will be only three starting days for the main event, down from 4 last year. You are able to find a total list of all 61 events for 2012 in other parts of this article. For basic information on schedule, structures and guidelines go to WSOP.com.
Where to stay: The event is at the Rio again this year. While not located on "the Strip," it is located close to the Strip. Places to stay if you want a hotel include the Rio itself, the Palms (which is across the street), and any strip hotel, all of which are within a 15 minute cab ride. Caesars Entertainment properties such as Caesars, Harrah's, Bally's, etc. typically have a free shuttle going to the Rio at certain times. Most do, but not all, so ask the hotel when you're planning your trip.
Other options are to get an apartment, condo or house. This is pretty attractive if you plan on going out for a month or more. Staying at a hotel all that time can get pretty exhausting with all the wading through gaming areas and the generally chaotic environment of any casino. It also may give you the ability to eat a healthier diet (more on that in Part 2-it is important) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is rarely near the strip. Finding a place to stay that you can count on being what you expect can be challenging but look for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or contact a real estate agent in Las Vegas for surest bets.
Location and layout: The Rio is, of course, a typical Vegas hotel, meaning it is like a giant shopping mall of gaming, retail, restaurant, hotel and more gaming. The WSOP is held within the convention area in the rear of the building. Plan on avoiding the main front valet and parking and go to the rear where there is special valet and parking area just for the convention space. Tell taxi drivers to drop you off at this valet too. You'll still be walking a bunch but this will reduce it down.
The poker is spread over two large rooms. Inside each is a football field-sized portion of poker tables, a pretty awesome sight for anyone who truly loves poker. One room is where most tournaments begin, plus sit and go and satellite and small tourneys take place. It also is home for cash games, and there is truly a myriad of games offered, all with quite good action. An awards stage is also situated here at which the previous day tournament event winners are awarded their bracelets at noon. It is accompanied by some fanfare, with the playing of every single bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style. During the national anthems dealers pause games and most stand.
The other room is for tournaments only, and usually the later stages of tournaments although some start off there as well. It is also where a number of televised table set ups are, used to shoot feature tables and final tables. If you're a fan, you are able to actually watch final tables being shot for television, despite the fact that seating and standing is somewhat restricted.
Finally, there are a few mostly exclusive players lounges set up by sponsors and also a general eating area. The general eating area has a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold choices. Many pan the food, but there is decent variety and even some healthy options so it's not bad given the scale of the event. There are also a few on-site restaurants but you need to send a friend to reserve a table at those if you expect to use a tournament meal break to eat at any restaurant.
So now you have a basic sense of the WSOP event's layout.
Head over to pokerplyr.com for WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part Two in which you'll learn about "What to bring and How you can prepare." From there you'll be able to get Part Three as well.
*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively Harrah's). HIE does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with pokerplyr.com or its products, services, or promotions.
Live and on-line players who have never played the event might be taking their very first shot at the tournament this summer. Some are experienced live players who have never ever played the main event while others could be former Internet players from the U.S. who choose to go this year for the first time playing live.
Whatever your experience, this article is Part 1 of 3 for anyone wanting to prepare:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and consists of 61 poker tournaments of different types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, and so on.) and buy-ins. The best recognized event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are numerous smaller tourneys which players can participate in with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop some serious coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, with its $1 million buy-in. Something new for this year is the fact that there will be only three starting days for the main event, down from 4 last year. You are able to find a total list of all 61 events for 2012 in other parts of this article. For basic information on schedule, structures and guidelines go to WSOP.com.
Where to stay: The event is at the Rio again this year. While not located on "the Strip," it is located close to the Strip. Places to stay if you want a hotel include the Rio itself, the Palms (which is across the street), and any strip hotel, all of which are within a 15 minute cab ride. Caesars Entertainment properties such as Caesars, Harrah's, Bally's, etc. typically have a free shuttle going to the Rio at certain times. Most do, but not all, so ask the hotel when you're planning your trip.
Other options are to get an apartment, condo or house. This is pretty attractive if you plan on going out for a month or more. Staying at a hotel all that time can get pretty exhausting with all the wading through gaming areas and the generally chaotic environment of any casino. It also may give you the ability to eat a healthier diet (more on that in Part 2-it is important) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is rarely near the strip. Finding a place to stay that you can count on being what you expect can be challenging but look for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or contact a real estate agent in Las Vegas for surest bets.
Location and layout: The Rio is, of course, a typical Vegas hotel, meaning it is like a giant shopping mall of gaming, retail, restaurant, hotel and more gaming. The WSOP is held within the convention area in the rear of the building. Plan on avoiding the main front valet and parking and go to the rear where there is special valet and parking area just for the convention space. Tell taxi drivers to drop you off at this valet too. You'll still be walking a bunch but this will reduce it down.
The poker is spread over two large rooms. Inside each is a football field-sized portion of poker tables, a pretty awesome sight for anyone who truly loves poker. One room is where most tournaments begin, plus sit and go and satellite and small tourneys take place. It also is home for cash games, and there is truly a myriad of games offered, all with quite good action. An awards stage is also situated here at which the previous day tournament event winners are awarded their bracelets at noon. It is accompanied by some fanfare, with the playing of every single bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style. During the national anthems dealers pause games and most stand.
The other room is for tournaments only, and usually the later stages of tournaments although some start off there as well. It is also where a number of televised table set ups are, used to shoot feature tables and final tables. If you're a fan, you are able to actually watch final tables being shot for television, despite the fact that seating and standing is somewhat restricted.
Finally, there are a few mostly exclusive players lounges set up by sponsors and also a general eating area. The general eating area has a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold choices. Many pan the food, but there is decent variety and even some healthy options so it's not bad given the scale of the event. There are also a few on-site restaurants but you need to send a friend to reserve a table at those if you expect to use a tournament meal break to eat at any restaurant.
So now you have a basic sense of the WSOP event's layout.
Head over to pokerplyr.com for WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part Two in which you'll learn about "What to bring and How you can prepare." From there you'll be able to get Part Three as well.
*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively Harrah's). HIE does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with pokerplyr.com or its products, services, or promotions.
About the Author:
JJ Cage is a poker player and is Chief Editor at pokerplyr.com. You can find his WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part 2 here and get more great advice on surviving and succeeding at the WSOP. For thoughtful poker news analysis, useful poker tips, and must have poker info visit pokerplyr.com
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