Bad Beat's WSOP Diary: Part Two

My plan on this trip has been to play slightly less WSOP events than in past years, so as to put in some hours at the cash tables. The WSOP events are undoubtedly good value and are full of inexperienced and weak, as well as crazy players. Playing many of them can put enormous pressure on your bankroll though, and variance can mean that even the best players can go a long time without a result. Given that, what chance have I got? The other important factor to consider is opportunity cost. Given that the cash games are so good at this time, and spending a lot of time in the tournaments stops you profiting from this, every day here becomes a balance.

I decided to focus for a few days on the cash. Once I felt I'd confidently mastered the $5/$10 nlh at Bellagio, I stepped up to $10/$20. The minimum buy-in here is $800 although the average stack is around $3500. With no maximum, some people sit with $20k and more. Swings of $4-$5k are not uncommon in this game and at $7 per half hour time charge the cost is reasonable. I play for two days and win about $6k despite taking a couple of nasty beats in big pots. The game runs 24hrs a day although the peak times (when there can be five tables running) are evenings on Friday and Saturday. I would advise against playing between 10am and 4pm when the game is full of local pros and reccomend midnight to 4am as the best time

On Friday I must move hotels. I'm having a change from Bellagio and going to Ceasar's. Many players look to save money by staying in cheaper hotels while out here but I would warn of the false economy. You really must be near to where you play, or you'll waste money on taxis and time which you could be using to play. Ceasar's is a nice change though, and I can walk to Bellagio's poker room in 12 minutes.

The poker rate in Ceasar's, which you should ask for when you book, is $129 weekdays and $229 weekends (Friday and Saturday). This is slightly cheaper than Bellagio's poker rate, although they are a bit more fussy about seeing you play. To get it you either need to put in eight hours play a day or show a receipt from the WSOP Main Event, or a couple of other WSOP events.

Having moved house, I got off to the Rio for the $5k PLH World Championship. I'd really looked forward to this event all year, but was out in less than an hour, getting aces busted twice to lose my whole 10,000 chips while on the 25/50 level.

My next WSOP event was Tuesday's Shootout. This is an unusual event where the tables are not consolidated. You play until you win your table and then move to the next round. With 900 players you are three sit 'n' gos away from a bracelet. I have a big clue for these events. I feel that people play them as if they're playing a normal one-table satellite or an online sit 'n' go, because that is what they are used to. They do not make the adjustments for the fact that there is a one hour clock.

The guy with his pocket fours certainly didn't adjust at all. Either that or he knew a four would come on the turn to kill my pocket jacks. I guess I'm back to the cash games.
 

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