Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

Scenario: You are walking down S. Las Vegas Blvd. after a break even session. You're a bit down on your luck when you notice a strange bottle in the shrubs, just behind the guy handing out strip club paraphernalia. You quickly pick up the bottle and head down an alley. Wouldn't you know it...your luck has changed! A Jeannie shoots out of the bottle in a haze of smoke and grants you your choice of these three poker wishes:

(1) You are the second biggest stack at a WPT final table. Filming is about to begin as you take the #1 seat next to the dealer. The flashing lights are making you a little dizzy as you attempt to put on your game face. You see Vince and Mike in the distance and close family members in the crowd. The payout structure for this WPT event is: 6th ($240K), 5th (290K), 4th ($335K), 3rd ($385K), 2nd ($775K), 1st ($1.4M + WPT Championship Event buy-in).

(2) You are given $1.75M in real money. You will play in the Las Vegas' Big Game against the likes of Phil Ivey, Ted Forrest, Barry Greenstein, Todd Brunson (well, you get the idea). You will play until your bank roll reaches $250K or $3.5M...whichever comes first. This may take one session or several sessions - it may take one night or one month, or even longer. You play until you hit one of these benchmarks at which time you are forced to leave and can't re-enter the Big Game for one calendar year.

(3) You choose any three poker pros to tutor you in a Poker Boot Camp. This boot camp will take place at The Rio during WSOP play. You will have a suite at The Rio and three hours each day with each of your chosen pros for a total of nine hours per day. You have the pros for five days for a total of 45 hours of hands on training (these five days do not have to be in a row). You can "talk shop" with them in the suite, or have them looking over your shoulder during a session, or look over their shoulder during a session (you get the idea). You will be given $100K in real money during this boot camp. You can use $30K to buy into various WSOP events and the other $70K to test your skills at the juicy ring games that will be taking place during this time at The Rio (your ring game play will give the pros a chance to watch your play over your shoulder). You get to keep any money earned during your play at the WSOP.

I would choose wish #3. I really work hard on trying to make myself a better player and 45 hours with three of the best during WSOP month would go a long way toward improving my game. I would also have the opportunity to play in several WSOP events which would be an experience I'd certainly never forget. The potential to make money might not be as great as the other two choices; however, walking away with six figures is still a possibility. I'd be remiss if I didn't list my three instructors for the boot camp: Phil Ivey, Carlos Mortensen and Jennifer Harman Traniello.

I'm interested in seeing which wish others choose and especially WHY you would choose that wish over the other two.

Greg H.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

Either one or three...two is just idiotic. Also, it's genie.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

I would take #2...either way im guaranteed at least 250k...

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

First off, wrong forum for this.

Secondly, any answer other than #1 is just plain stupid. Worst case scenario is 240k in the first wish, so effectively, you are saying 45 hours of poker instruction and a room at the Rio is worth 140k, or $3111.11 per hour IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO. I guarantee you ANY player would give you instruction for $1000 an hour. Notwithstanding the fact that you must use 30% of it in WSOP entries which can EASILY net you zero.

Nice try, but you gotta come up with something better than this.

P.S. Also, if it isn't dead obvious, #2 is going to get you 250k 99.9% of the time.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

i swtich my answer to #1, Daliman convinced me, even though i don't like cameras...

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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P.S. Also, if it isn't dead obvious, #2 is going to get you 250k 99.9% of the time.

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pffft

you don't think you could go on a 100bb rush?

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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P.S. Also, if it isn't dead obvious, #2 is going to get you 250k 99.9% of the time.

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pffft

you don't think you could go on a 100bb rush?

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Well, considering the big game is usually 4k-8k, plus 100k cap loss NL games thrown in, you'd need about a 220 BB rush vs the best in the world.

THat would require a LOT of whippets.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

I’d like to pick 3 and try to parley the experience into a career but the 6th place finish in choice 1 is pretty tempting. 1 or 3 would depend on the lineup and the stack sizes involved in choice 1.

Number 2 is not even close.

Best of Luck

Hathaway

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

take #2. on average against the pros i would say that my EV would be -750,000$, which would mean that i would have 1 million on average. at worst i take the 250,000.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

If you're the second biggest stack at the WPT final table, then you can probably finish higher than 6th by not playing a hand. In fact, from many of the WPT broadcasts (Steve Z in the Party Poker Million immediately comes to mind), it would seem that playing ultra tight would have a good chance of getting you to fourth or third, and I'd certainly take $385,000 and some TV time over $250,000 or boot camp.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

Without question it's number 1. The money aside (that's been covered), watching yourself on TV is one of the greatest feelings ever.

I placed very high in a national elementary school chess tournament when I was in fifth grade, which I parlayed into a 30-second interview on the local (Peoria, IL) news. I probably watched the videotape of that 30-seconds 500 times. I can only imagine how awesome it would be to watch myself on a WPT event. VERY ego-friendly.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

definately #2. The entire reason I play poker is so that someday I can play in a game with those kinds of players.

I see it now - Chan is on my left, Doyle on my right, Gus Hansen is across from me pondering a call with 8 3 offsuit. Life is good!

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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definately #2. The entire reason I play poker is so that someday I can play in a game with those kinds of players.

I see it now - Chan is on my left, Doyle on my right, Gus Hansen is across from me pondering a call with 8 3 offsuit. Life is good!

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#1, and it's not close for reasons previously mentioned. The only exception would be if the big game was true NL, no cap, in which case you could just keep going all-in (assuming you were covered), and either double up or bust ($250k).

With the bankroll you're assured to win in #1, I don't think you'd have any problem finding yourself welcome at the big game and fulfilling your dream. For a little while, at least . . . [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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take #2. on average against the pros i would say that my EV would be -750,000$, which would mean that i would have 1 million on average. at worst i take the 250,000.

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I'd guess you're kidding here, or you just really didn;t think it through, since considering you either make 1.75 million or lose 1.5 million, you answer essentially means you feel you have a 24% or so chance of doubling up vs these guys. There aren't 20 players in the world who have that chance, and, no offense, I doubt you're one of them.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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P.S. Also, if it isn't dead obvious, #2 is going to get you 250k 99.9% of the time.

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I think you underestimate how much luck is involved in this game.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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P.S. Also, if it isn't dead obvious, #2 is going to get you 250k 99.9% of the time.

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I think you underestimate how much luck is involved in this game.

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I think you overestimate how little luck plays a part in THAT game.

You're likely kidding, but remember, these guys plays 6,7 or more different games. Your average excellent hold'em player would be lost in PL Omaha Hi and Triple Draw, and near as I can tell, these guys are probably pretty good at them.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

I already think I have a clue, but how good is just a clue against the final table at the WSOP? Maybe #3 is the best long range wish to choose.

And the answer is: 1

I just can't pass up that final table!

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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I'd guess you're kidding here, or you just really didn;t think it through, since considering you either make 1.75 million or lose 1.5 million, you answer essentially means you feel you have a 24% or so chance of doubling up vs these guys. There aren't 20 players in the world who have that chance, and, no offense, I doubt you're one of them.

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Regardless of the chances, in my poker dreams this is the game I dream about, the big game at the Bellagio, not cameras or Vince Van Patten (although obviously a WSOP bracelet would be a nice dream too, but thats not guaranteed in any way in the hypothetical).

PLUS

I think at least a fair amount of rich suckers get in to that game, I know that most of those pros have no problem sitting around and taking money from each other but there still has to be some flow of soft money in to the game, I could just avoid everyone who has their own DVD, website or bobble-head doll.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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I'd guess you're kidding here, or you just really didn;t think it through, since considering you either make 1.75 million or lose 1.5 million, you answer essentially means you feel you have a 24% or so chance of doubling up vs these guys. There aren't 20 players in the world who have that chance, and, no offense, I doubt you're one of them.

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Regardless of the chances, in my poker dreams this is the game I dream about, the big game at the Bellagio, not cameras or Vince Van Patten (although obviously a WSOP bracelet would be a nice dream too, but thats not guaranteed in any way in the hypothetical).

PLUS

I think at least a fair amount of rich suckers get in to that game, I know that most of those pros have no problem sitting around and taking money from each other but there still has to be some flow of soft money in to the game, I could just avoid everyone who has their own DVD, website or bobble-head doll.

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Well, i one of the big games, the "sucker" is Larry Flynt, who, from what i hear, is an excellent player in his own right. It's all straight stud, and the other regulars are Ivey, Oppenheim, Hennigan, Greenstein, Reese, and Giang. Soft sapots in these games are often guys who are only stellar players. It's a lofty and grand goal, but under this scenariom it's a weak 2nd place.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

I think it's a pretty easy choice to take #1.

with a gun to my head forcing me to take #3, I'd choose Oz, Tommy and Ray Zee. I'd have Oz cover fundamentals, Tommy could teach me to play guitar and Ray and I could go fishing while he tells me stories about the old days.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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Either one or three...two is just idiotic. Also, it's genie.

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For you. For me, it's Jeannie for sure. Much better visuals.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

#1 for sure.

#2 just seems stupid.

If I chose the boot camp I'd concentrate on NL tourneys. The three pros I'd choose would be: Daniel Negreanu, Juan Carlos Mortenson and Dan Harrington.

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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I think you overestimate how little luck plays a part in THAT game.

You're likely kidding,

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No he isn't. And he's absolutely correct.

~D

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

Definitely #1

If 3 - Lederer, Negreanu, Greenstein

Re: Jeannie in the Bottle: Grant Me One Wish
 

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I think you overestimate how little luck plays a part in THAT game.

You're likely kidding,

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No he isn't. And he's absolutely correct.

~D

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Much as I respect Diablo's posts, and yours, I fail to see how you have any mor einsight into the that game than I do. OK, if you'd like to say it's 98% instead of 99.9%, fine, but let's not act like 220 BB runs grow on trees vs the best in the world in mixed games. If it's 3 top guys and 4 ok guys, then fine, but the way this was explained, it's essentially 7-8 top guys, an ok guy, and you. Let's not kid ourselves.

Sure, I think I could beat Phil Ivey heads up no limit at least 40% of the time, but
#1 I may be kidding myself.
#2 Heads up is completely different.