Early WSoP tactics for Dead Money

[betgo]

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Are you familiar with the move in or fold system in TPFAP? Seems like you might be a candidate to give it a try.

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That system was developed for someone who literally didn't know how to play poker. Some of the ideas in it may work for you, but I don't recommend open raising allin preflop until the blinds are really big.

There are going to be a lot of other fish at the beginning, along with a large proportion of the pros and semipros in the world. You won't be up against mostly top pros in the beginning. Even the final table last year had very few name players.

I would just play good poker early. Remember it is deep money and don't play like a loose fish going allin on marginal hands on any street.

This thread has some ideas for someone who is serious about preparing.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...mp;o=&vc=1

[45suited]

I've thought about this one to pull against Helmuth: Limp re-raise all in on him early with absolute junk, then show you hand. You'd probably make the tv broadcast just so they could show his blow up after he agonized about making his "big laydown".

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[luvrhino]

Considering the large number of less than stellar players at this year's WSoP, how important do you think it is to vary one's play on the first day?

On one hand, i'm likely going to be sitting at the same table with the same players for most, if not all, of the day. This would indicate that i shouldn't be predictable. On the other hand, there's no point in advertising that i played 87s from EP, tried stealing blinds with KTo, or limped pre-flop with AA, if people aren't going to notice.

Does it make more sense instead to play consistently tight and solid, varying my play only based on the particular opponent?

Obviously, if i have appear to have a relatively clueful table, i will change gears a little, though still generally playing tight.

[paperboyNC]

If you can, go to a casino and play in a few large multi-table tournaments. You don't even need 6600 people. You just need a tournament that pays top 10% and has over 100 people. You can find a lot in atlantic city for as little as $50 buy-ins.

[luvrhino]

Yeah, i'm going to Lake Charles, LA this weekend to play in a few small (50-60 players) tourneys there. I went a couple times back in November to practice before going to the Bellagio Five Diamond Poker Classic. Unfortunately, i went off and had brain surgery instead, with EmpirePoker generously transferring my entry to the WSoP.

The level of play there is pretty horrid, at least in the $100+$15 w/ Rebuys tourneys i entered. Then again, as i can't beat QJo with QQ if my life depended on it, i busted out both times.

My first round isn't until the third day, so i'll find a few Vegas tourneys for practice while i wait.

[Scooterdoo]

It always makes sense to change gears versus the same players. Just don't get carried away with it. Also, no reason to show bluffs since if you do steal and come in with less than stellar hands every once in a while you will get caught now and then and often have to show the hands anyway. Also, if the players are any good at your table they will figure out what kind of hands you are playing simply based on the frequency you are playing and from what positions you are making the play (over many, many hands). Even if you are catching lots of hands and playing lots of pots realize that it will look to your opponents that you are loosening up so they will assume you are bluffing. On the other hand if you are a loose player but are going through a card dead period and are not able to do any steals (because other people are beating you into the pot) they will perceive you as tight. So the point is to be aware what you think the other players think of you.

BTW, I've been playing in lots of the preliminary events with very big fields and you shouldn't assume that there are lots of players who are much worse than you. While everyone isn't a great player, most of the people understand the game fairly well and good portion of each table will be comprised players that are as strong as the average reader of these forums -- at least this is what I've experienced.

[betgo]

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BTW, I've been playing in lots of the preliminary events with very big fields and you shouldn't assume that there are lots of players who are much worse than you. While everyone isn't a great player, most of the people understand the game fairly well and good portion of each table will be comprised players that are as strong as the average reader of these forums -- at least this is what I've experienced.

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The main event attracts more fish -- and also more world class players.

[SpeakEasy]

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In fact, i'm fairly sure that i'd be above the median point among all WSoP Main Event entrants.

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Interestingly enough, all 6599 other players in the WSOP Main Event will also believe this about themselves.

[MicroBob]

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So avoid post-flop play out of position with a pro then.

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Exactly...I think you guys are all over-estimating the general skill-level of most of the WSOP field (as well as some of the top-name "pros").
Just because they have more 'live' experience doesn't necessarily make them better than you.

Lots of online-qualifiers kind of 'lucked' their way into a seat.
If you are one of these players (that is...you don't play many tourneys online either or just aren't THAT good at them) then maybe you could consider this type of plan.


Here's my story:

Feb - Qualify for PPM cruise by playing a ton of raked-hands in a promotion they had. I hadn't even won a qualifier to get there.
It's a $10k tourney with 740 players...90% were online qualifiers.
My 'live' tourney experience consisted of 2 "events".
26th out of 27 in a $35 re-buy at 4am at the Gold Strike in Tunica almost 2 years prior.
5th out of 10 in a single-table $120 'satellite' for a $1k entry-chip to a prelim event.
I had played less than 2 hours of live tourney-poker in my career.

I played a ton of SNG's and MTT's in the month or so leading up to the PPM tourney. I got better at them and thought about them and analyzed my game as I went along.

On the cruise I finished 177th out of 740 to make it into the money and win $5215.
I was 65th out of 280 heading into day 2....but I blew off some chips in some blind battles and was left clinging on for the money.
On day 1 I made a move or 2 on Chip Jett. He had a huge stack and was pushing around everyone at the table. I knew he was reading me as passive-tight post-flop so I took a chance.
The pros have brains but they aren't freaking psychic.

Just play the best you can.


Now - I qualified for the WSOP on Stars. I sucked-out with my 33 vs. 88 against a 'name' pro when we were heads-up.
Basically...I shouldn't even be there. My tourney game IS improving...but I really really lucked my way into it.

I have played some more tourneys online and have been doing decently and gaining confidence in my judgement.

I also played 2 more live events to get the 'feel' of playing live. The $35 rebuys in Tunica on the weeknights.
I finished 9th out of 66 to win a bit more than my entry-fee back.
Then I finished 14th out of 75 to just miss making the money.

These little live events with REALLY fast blind structures have helped me tremendously I believe.
The nerves were pretty high in the 1st event.
When I played the same event the next week I didn't have nearly as many nerves. I was adjusted to it.


On the PPM cruise and in the last 2 re-buy events I have played I have noticed SEVERAL bad players.

the quality of play on the PPM cruise with all those online-qualifiers was particularly bad imo and didn't differ much from a regular online-tourney.
I suspect you will see much of the same thing at the WSOP main-event since SOOOOO many of the players will be just your garden-variety 'barely better than average' online-qualifier.


What you have to remember is that MANY of your opponents will be just as new to the WSOP and live-tourney play as you are.
They will be timid and just not very good. Then they will realize they are playing timidly and might make a really bad call at some point and find themselves on the rail.


Go into with confidence and play the best you can.
If you have a good hand against Negreneau or Hellmuth then trust whatever instincts you might have and try not to out-think yourself JUST because it's a big-name player.
With so many tables and online-qualifiers there's a pretty good chance you won't be up against very many of the big-name guys anyway.

[burningyen]

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Interestingly enough, all 6599 other players in the WSOP Main Event will also believe this about themselves.

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Make that 6,598. I know I suck.