Better learning experience???
 

Ok, so I have already decided to play an event or two at the upcoming borgata open. I also will be making my way to vegas for at least one of the smaller NLHE events at the WSOP this year.

So, I have to pick between two games on a certain date. I really have no live (outside of home games) MTT experience, so I dont really view either as a higher EV play. I think I am good (or delusional) enough to think that any tournament I enter has some positive expected value for me.

The choices:
1500$ WSOP circuit event
or
a 200$ quasi-home game with tough competition (I am assuming), WSOP ME blind structure, but only 30 players.

I was wondering which of the two would be a better experience for playing large casino events. I am leanign towards the 200$ game, mostly b/c as an internet player, I think playing very deep stack poker, should be my biggest concern. Any thoughts?

Re: Better learning experience???
 

that quasi home game sounds like it would take forever.

Do you know the people in the 'quasi home game'? If so, the circuit event is probably a better choice

Re: Better learning experience???
 

Yeah, they did mention breakfast and dinner buffets.

I know 2-3 players in the home game. All good players, the rest are unknown, but from what I gather, good as well.

Re: Better learning experience???
 

circuit event , and I dont think its close, its in a casino no? there for you get live MTT plus Casino experience. Yes its more money but if its experience then you want to go there.

Re: Better learning experience???
 

There are also the lower buy-in tourneys at Casinos as well. Having never played in a casino myself, I would feel much more comfortable starting out in a low buy-in MTT and this is exactly what I will do as soon as I move out west. Gotta love a job that will transfer you closer to Vegas and Cali.

Re: Better learning experience???
 

OK, I'm a little lost.

You want to play the $1,500 WSOP circuit event to bust your cherry before playing "an event or two" in the Borgata Winter Open event?

And you're asking if you'd be better off playing a $200 home game with 30 players?

My experience with casino tournaments (in addition to smallish <$500 weekly AC & Vegas tournaments) comes from playing a couple of Bellagio weekly events ($500 & $1,000), a USPC $500 event, and a WSOP $1,000 event.

I can't image a homegame that would have prepared me for that. At least not a home-home game (this is, not raked, not in a club setting). No comparison at all.

If you have no problems affording the $1,500 WSOP circuit (and why would you, if you plan on spending $10k on the BWO ME?) this is the one to go.

People are so much more formal, scared, crazy, pretentious, blatantly incompetent, nasty, preposterous and intimidatable in the casino events than I've ever experienced in a home game. And the range of skills and professionalism among the dealers much bigger than I'd ever expect. It just takes a while to recognize these factor, to figure out that you can trust your reads that the idiots are really idiots playing it up to the crowd, and to believe what you see: that some dealers make so bad mistakes that you have to be on them all through their down - and speak up when they **** up not to get stiffed. Man, dealers can be scary. At the Borg I had one trying to impress a pretty female player a couple of weeks ago by fishing "my" folded (winning) hands out of the much and showing them to her and others sitting close. When I confronted him he claimed that "it's just a joke, everybody knows these were not your cards etc.". I had to threathen to call the floor to stop the idiot.

I believe it would be a major advantage for you to give yourself a chance to accomodate to the "public" tournament experience - being a tough internet player you will probably find yourself at a major advantage there when you reach a point where you feel comfortable.

Best,

McMelchior (Johan)