Now that the WSOP* 2012 schedule has been announced, poker players everywhere are now avidly looking forward to playing in the event, but are you prepared? Do you realize what to expect on-site? Do you understand the best way to prepare for lengthy, grueling days of playing alongside the globe's top rated competitors?
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 situation, this post is Part 1 of three for any person wanting to get ready for this major tournament:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and event consists of 61 poker tournaments of various types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, etc.) and buy-ins. The best known event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are many smaller tourneys which players can participate in, with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop major coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, a cool $1 million buy-in. One change for this year is that there will be only three starting days for the Main Event, down from four last year. You can find a complete list of all 61 events for 2012 here. Complete info on schedule, structures and rules can be found at 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 alternatives are to obtain an apartment, condo or house. This is fairly appealing in the event you plan on going out for a month or longer. Staying at a hotel all that time can get quite exhausting with the constant maneuvering through gaming areas and also the typically chaotic atmosphere of any casino. It also may enable you to eat healthier (much more on that in Part 2 of this series) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include a lot more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is hardly ever close to the strip. Obtaining a spot to stay can be challenging but search for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or speak to an area real estate agent in Las Vegas.
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 basic layout covers two large rooms. Inside every area one can observe a sea of poker tables. This is a pretty wonderful sight for anybody who likes poker. One room is where most tournaments start off, sit and go and also other satellite and small tourneys take place, and cash games are run. A myriad of cash game types are provided (anyone for mixed triple-draw/Badugi/Omaha8? right this way...) and the action is quite good. This is also where the awards stage is located. The awards stage is the spot where bracelets are presented to event winners in brief ceremonies held at noon every day. It is interesting to see (at least one time) and included is the playing of every single bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style, throughout which all dealers stop games and most stand.
The other space is for tournaments only, and typically the later stages of tournaments even though some start there as well. It's also where a number of televised table set ups where feature tables and final tables are shot for TV. In case you're a fan (or you've recently busted out of something and want to decompress), it is possible to check out final tables there, though seating or a spot to stand are tough to find at times.
Finally, you will find a number of mainly exclusive players lounges set up by sponsors and also a common eating area. The general dining spot features a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold alternatives. A lot of players pan the food, but there is decent selection as well as some healthy alternatives so it's not really so bad given the scale of the overall event. You'll find also a few on-site restaurants but you have to send a friend to reserve a table at those in case you want to try and work that into a tournament meal break.
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 situation, this post is Part 1 of three for any person wanting to get ready for this major tournament:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and event consists of 61 poker tournaments of various types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, etc.) and buy-ins. The best known event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are many smaller tourneys which players can participate in, with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop major coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, a cool $1 million buy-in. One change for this year is that there will be only three starting days for the Main Event, down from four last year. You can find a complete list of all 61 events for 2012 here. Complete info on schedule, structures and rules can be found at 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 alternatives are to obtain an apartment, condo or house. This is fairly appealing in the event you plan on going out for a month or longer. Staying at a hotel all that time can get quite exhausting with the constant maneuvering through gaming areas and also the typically chaotic atmosphere of any casino. It also may enable you to eat healthier (much more on that in Part 2 of this series) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include a lot more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is hardly ever close to the strip. Obtaining a spot to stay can be challenging but search for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or speak to an area real estate agent in Las Vegas.
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 basic layout covers two large rooms. Inside every area one can observe a sea of poker tables. This is a pretty wonderful sight for anybody who likes poker. One room is where most tournaments start off, sit and go and also other satellite and small tourneys take place, and cash games are run. A myriad of cash game types are provided (anyone for mixed triple-draw/Badugi/Omaha8? right this way...) and the action is quite good. This is also where the awards stage is located. The awards stage is the spot where bracelets are presented to event winners in brief ceremonies held at noon every day. It is interesting to see (at least one time) and included is the playing of every single bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style, throughout which all dealers stop games and most stand.
The other space is for tournaments only, and typically the later stages of tournaments even though some start there as well. It's also where a number of televised table set ups where feature tables and final tables are shot for TV. In case you're a fan (or you've recently busted out of something and want to decompress), it is possible to check out final tables there, though seating or a spot to stand are tough to find at times.
Finally, you will find a number of mainly exclusive players lounges set up by sponsors and also a common eating area. The general dining spot features a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold alternatives. A lot of players pan the food, but there is decent selection as well as some healthy alternatives so it's not really so bad given the scale of the overall event. You'll find also a few on-site restaurants but you have to send a friend to reserve a table at those in case you want to try and work that into a tournament meal break.
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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