Wil Wheaton Outlasted Me

[shipitfish]

I finished 300-something in the blogger freeroll. I wasn't paying as much attention to the thing as I should have been early on, as the final table of the WSoP $1,500 satellite overlapped for about 40 minutes or so.

It was fun chatting with the bloggers. It seems generally, poker bloggers are nicer people than your run-of-the-mill online poker player.

I played ok, flopped one set and bet out (my preferred set-playing method), but got no action as no one had top pair. I held onto a short stack as the blinds got up. I bet all my money in on the upside of a 60/40 (A7o vs KTo).

Fine with me, although it would have been cool to get a second $1,500 entry for the week before, and play two of them. (Prizes 3-9 or somesuch were $1,500 entries in the blogger tourney.)

I know a ton of people have won main event seats out there, and are probably reading “so what” to all my excitement about this $1,500 secondary event seat. But, for me, it means more because making the money seems actually attainable in a secondary event. Also, I probably would never have gotten around to visiting Las Vegas if I didn't have something like this to compel me to get out there.

Strangely, I'm used to coming out of a weekend up a couple of hundred in cash games, but I've been doing all this tourney stuff and I am actually down a bit in cash games for the weekend. But, I see why people love tourneys. It's so different than the cash game grind and a win like this feels so much more exciting than even a big cash score.

Comments

$1,500 Event

[frankieriver.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the WSOP-qualifying win and I'm glad to see you're still writing excellent entries. Have fun in Vegas.

As far as the WSOP Event goes, I just wanted to drop you an FYI regarding your perception on the 'ease' of actually placing. I played in several events last year (and plan to play this year, as well), and the $1,500 events are extremely tough to play in. You start with 60 BBs and depending on your table, it will not be easy to double that within the first two-three levels; which is where you want to be. The more expensive buy-in WSOP Events have better structure's, longer levels, and more chips to play with. Either way, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth the trip. If I were you, bring you're NL bankroll b/c the games, even at high stakes, are incredibly awesome. The Wynn, IMHO, is the best.

Good luck.

Re: $1,500 Event

[shipitfish.livejournal.com]

Good to hear from you, Frank! Yes, you are quite right about the structures. I hadn't realized how bad they are. Do you think doubling through was tough because the players are too tight and won't commit chips without strong holdings? I have taken Ciaffone's advice not to go in with a game plan, but adjust based on the table. My hope, though, is that I can bluff small pots if the table seems a bit too tight, and trap with position and odd hands (like I do in cash games) if the game seems a bit looser.

The funny thing is that it took something like this to get me to Vegas. I knew I'd never bother to take off work and make the trip if I didn't have some “bigger reason&;rdquo. So, that alone makes it worth it — and the extra $500 should pay the hotel bill, more or less.

And yes, I am staying at the Wynn. Will you be out there this year? I'd like to get together for dinner at some point if you are!

Re: $1,500 Event

[frankieriver.livejournal.com]

Just wait and see -- it'll be more than a worthwhile experience. Adjusting to your particular table is certainly the best plan. I have found that starting tables at these events are extremely tight -- no one wants to best out and most are amateurs looking for an experience anyway. I snuk my way into some pots and played good position (not overly aggressive) in the beginning stages to set me up well in the 3/4 levels. Good luck and play your best.

I'm flying in on the 5th for an elongated weekend and then again on the 20th. We should certainly catch up.