Negreanu Criticizes the WSOP 's one-dimensional lineup

shaniac · #1 10-27-2005, 04:14 PM

And he's totally right.

It's been said before, but why is the WSOP so holdem-heavy?

The Razz event, despite being downgraded to a one-day event scheduled the same day as the 5K Shorthanded event in 2005, managed to attract a 50% bigger field than the 2004 event, a result of the tv coverage.

The directors of the WSOP don't need to cater to public taste--they shape it. Imagine if they televized the 5K/rebuy 2-7 NL. I would guess dozens of new players would be interested in playing. I think it would also make for a great televized event, but that's a different story.

Of course Hold 'Em should comprise the majority of WSOP events, but there are scores of poker players who would be appeased by the inclusion of HORSE, SHOE, stud/8, etc. Hell, I expected them to add a Badugi event this year.

FakeKramer · #2 10-27-2005, 04:31 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hell, I expected them to add a Badugi event this year.

[/ QUOTE ]Help. Whats Badugi?

shaniac · #3 10-27-2005, 04:37 PM

Badugi is a game that seems to be gaining popularity among high-limit cash game degenerates.

It's 4-card triple draw rainbow. So the best hand is A-2-3-4 of different suits. Suits and pairs count against you, so if you don't have a badugi (a four card, non-paired, unsuited hand) the best three card hand wins.

AceHigh · #4 10-27-2005, 09:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Badugi is a game that seems to be gaining popularity among high-limit cash game degenerates.

It's 4-card triple draw rainbow. So the best hand is A-2-3-4 of different suits. Suits and pairs count against you, so if you don't have a badugi (a four card, non-paired, unsuited hand) the best three card hand wins.

[/ QUOTE ]

'cept it's not poker. Not really related to poker at all. May as well play gin rummy or cribbage.

MCS · #5 10-27-2005, 09:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
'cept it's not poker. Not really related to poker at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

What? Explain why not.

#6 10-27-2005, 11:16 PM

If they keep going in this direction, they might as well rename it the WSOH. Daniel and Shaniac are right. The way it's going next year's event #23 will be the "$3,267 NLHE unlimited rebuys for the first two hour plus three rebuys to lefties, women, and people weighing 300+ lbs. during the third hour". What is the point of handing out so many bracelets for the exact same game at different buyins every year?

It just takes away from the prestige of winning a bracelet.

AceHigh · #7 10-28-2005, 12:10 PM

[ QUOTE ]
'cept it's not poker. Not really related to poker at all. [ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]
What? Explain why not.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't use 5 card hands, it doesn't use poker hands at all, and it uses non-poker hands to either make winners or losers. Course there is betting involved so some might call it poker. To me it as much poker as blackjack is.

duma · #8 10-27-2005, 04:38 PM

seems like Harrahs is only interested in collecting the rake. holdem attracks the most people and the most money for them. the world series should have events in all types of poker, including Chinese and 5 card draw, and definately a few mixed game tournaments. i dont think they can play Badugi in Vegas somehow its illegal or something.

Notorious G.O.B. · #9 10-27-2005, 04:39 PM

Well, the casino's prerogative is to make money, and Hold'em is where the money is right now. I would like them to spread other games as well, though.

shaniac · #10 10-27-2005, 04:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Well, the casino's prerogative is to make money, and Hold'em is where the money is right now

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, my point was kind of the opposite of that--yeah there's more money in hold 'em, but the money goes wherever the ESPN cameras go, so it's really up to Harrah's and ESPN to manage the popularity of various forms of poker.

The WSOP is 6 weeks of action. Their bottom line wouldn't be too drastically affected by the replacement of 1 or 2 hold 'em events with a specialized mixed-game event or two.