Last two posts are awesome, more more more!

Loving reading everyone's plans and stories so I thought I'd add mine too!

This will be my fourth trip to the WSOP. My first one was way back in 2006. Back then I was a huge poker fanboy. I was 21 at the time and had never been to Vegas before. We stayed at Harrahs because it was the cheapest hotel on the strip and we had no idea what we were doing. We stayed for 7 days (huge mistake) and I only had about $500 in my pocket. What a time we had. The first night my friend and I walked into the flamingo and sat down at the first video poker machine we saw. We asked the bartender what we should play. He said "double double bonus poker and bet the max." So we did. Within 5 hands or so my buddy hits quad aces (betting max) and won about $1600. We tipped the bartender $50 and got the hell out of there. Needless to say drinks were on him the rest of the week.

Since we were there for so long and had very little money to spend, every day for lunch we went to Barbary Coast (now Cromwell I think) and got a hotdog and a beer for $1. What a ****ing deal that was. The rest of our days we spent looking for the smallest tournaments in town. We played all the lowest stakes tourneys we could find and did pretty decent. The low stakes options weren't as abundant as they are now. The structures were all really ****ty but we made it work.

On the last day of our trip by some miracle I still had $300+ in my pocket so I decided to take a shot in the $215 Daily Deepstack. I ended up final tabling and busted in 7th. I still remember the final hand like it was yesterday. I was 2nd in chips and the chip leader was on my right. I was in the BB and the chip leader was in the SB. The action folded around to us. He shoves and I wake up with 10s and snap call. He shows 63o and flops a straight. I ended up cashing for around $2700 which was my biggest score at that time. I was devastated lol but it did a lot for my confidence.

Here's some pictures from that first trip. Like I said we were total fanboys


Second trip:

This trip was in 2008. I learned from some of my mistakes this time and only stayed for 4 nights. I took about $1500 with me this time. We stayed at the Rio and just played the daily deepstacks everyday. The first couple of days I didn't have much success. On the third day I had one of the most rewarding poker experiences one could ever ask for. I registered for the $215 DDS at 3pm and got sat next to the one and only TJ Cloutier. Our table was one of he last ones to break so I got to play with TJ for over 6 hours. It was incredible. He was super nice to everyone at the table. We were all surprised to see him in a $215, but he answered everyone's dumb questions, posed for pictures and everything. A true ambassador of the game. I was lucky enough to final table that tourney as well. I got 7th or 8th and won about $2800. I remember that hand too. I shoved the flop with a flush draw and a gutshot and got called by TpTk and didn't get there.

I really wish the deepstack tourneys were tracked on hendonmob back then like they are now because I'd have another $5k+ in live earnings. Oh well.

Here's a pic of me sitting next to TJ



My third and most recent trip to the WSOP was also my most fun and successful. I decided I wanted to check some items off my bucket list and play some bracelet events even though I know I don't have a business playing those stakes. I took $5k this time and just registered in the events I wanted to play without playing any satellites or anything.

My first ever bracelet event was a mid week $1500NLH event. I got busted on day 1, big suckout AQ<A6. I was happy with how I played it though.

Next was another $1500 bracelet event. Again I got knocked out on day 1. This time I got busted by Johnny "World" Hennigan. Late in day one he opened from early position and I shoved from the SB for about 25bb with AKdd. He called with 9s and his 9s held. Johnny went on to get 2nd place in that tourney for $319k.

I came back a couple weeks later for my last big bullet in the $1500 Monster Stack. This was the first year of the monster stack so I had no idea what to expect as far as turnout. Man, that tournament was a great experience. I played through a minefield of pros. I had Sorel Mizzi on my right for a couple hours on day 1. I had Erick Lindgren across from me for about 6 hours on day 2. And then had David Peters on my right for most of day 3. I got busted in a big 3 way pot with Peters worth around 800k chips. Cashed for ~$6600 around 250th place.



Overall I couldn't be happier about how I played in my first couple bracelet events even though it wasn't the smartest bankroll decision I've ever made.

This year will be a little different. I haven't had a great year online so I don't have a huge roll. I really like the looks of the WSOP.com satellites. The first weekend I'm gonna come out and play online for the first day or 2 and try and win some lammers. I'm definitely gonna play the $333 online bracelet and some daily deepstacks. Then I'm coming back mid June and playing some of the Planet Hollywood Goliath events. I'm actually looking forward to playing the lower stakes again because there's just less pressure.

Hope you all enjoyed this and let me know if you want to know more.







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Juggalo- more! If you got any more T J stuff, I wanna hear it. I'm not exactly sure why but he's always been my favorite player. I don't get to play much anymore but im a huge fan.

I went to a wpt boot camp 10 years ago where TJ was the instructor. I don't know if I can say I learned much but it didn't matter, because I was in poker school all day in vegas then playing at night. Anyway, more!!

Enjoyed this a lot, love trip reports. I'd be keen for more

I’m a little under the weather so staying in tonight and figured I would share my plans, it’s long so TLDR if you like. I have been to the WSOP every year since 2010 with the exception of 2012.

I’m pumped as I will be leaving for LV exactly 2 weeks from today. My friend Mike from NJ and I always go in the same time period as he can’t miss work at the end of the month and I always want to be back by father’s day because my dad is the sh*t and wouldn’t want to miss his day. (Fun Fact – My dad is a psychiatrist and interviewed Mark David Chapman days after he shot John Lennon in 1980).

I will be there from 6/3-6/16, 13 nights staying at the Flamingo, total cost including resort fees of $0 =$250! I’m a bit of a degen, Caesars lets you book 5 nights comped and then 5 more 3 days later so I have 10 nights comped. Mike booked the 3 nights in between which is the $250, so $125 for me for 13 nights.

I will be taking a nap when I get home from work on Friday night 6/2 and then staying up all night. I am a deep sleeper, have an 8am flight out of Florida and am petrified I will oversleep as I am not a morning person and the last thing I want to do is miss my flight. Mike arrives later that day so I will nap while waiting for him in LV (Mike goes home on 6/10).

We have a standing tradition of no poker on the first night, we go out and fatten ourselves up at a nice steak restaurant. After getting our fill of steak we degen it up on table games and get liquored up before the long poker grind begins. Any steak recommendations feel free to chime in. We like to try a new one every year, here is where we have been recently so don’t recommend any of these:
Prime
Strip House
Delmonico

Last year’s trip and a bit about Mike.
I am Interested to see what happens with Mike this year as he has a solid track record running out of money before the end of his trip. Example, last year he lost a few tournaments, won some back in 2/5 cash and was about even. He then decides to jump in the venetian 1100 event, no good, then drops way too many buyins at 2/5 trying to get his Venetian buyin back. At that point in the trip we still had the Milly Maker and 565 PLO events on the calendar and he only had ~2500 left. I suggested he skip the MM. He says that no way is he skipping the MM and laments that he probably shouldn’t have played the V 1k. You think? He busts the PLO, (I min cashed it, Yay!), he and I then bust Day 1 of the MM coincidentally within about 20 mins of each other.

Mike is super pissed and miserable. Often times if we bust a tourn and want to blow off some steam we’ll go get some drinks and degen it up a bit on the floor. He’s got no money to do that and I’m not letting him be a buzzkill so go out and degen it up myself that night.
Next day I suggest we go downtown to play the GN $150 100K guarantee since his BR is looking real thin. He winds up final tabling it for 4200!!! Phew that was close, otherwise he would have been down to ~$300 for 3 more days left of his trip. We go out and get pretty drunk and degen it up on the floor in celebration.

Next day I head off to play a HORSE event, he heads to the Bellagio for some cash. I bust the HORSE event and tell him I’m going to play the 1/1 PLO at the linq. He texts me later that he is running bad, told me about a few hands here and there, pretty standard spots. A while later I get hungry and text Mike and he meets me for some food. He tells me my timing was perfect since he just went busto!!!! I ask him what the hell happened!?! You had ~$3500 12 hours ago! In reference to the hands he told me about, I said to myself even if he lost a buyin on all 3 that should be -1500…. He informs me that he busted 3 buyins… but it was at the 5/T game. Now he is on suicide watch. Next day he busts his last $500 at 2/5 at the venetian and another $500 I lend him. Then back home to NJ he goes.

2017 Trip
Our standard plan is to play a few WSOP events, then a bunch of side events at the other series. Mine is always a mix as I like to play mixed games so I play NLH, PLO and limit game events in the $2-600 range, O8 being my strongest game. I will also mix in some NL/PLO(1/2) and 08(up to 20/40) cash. He does the same but skips the limit games since he is a much stronger NLH and not really a mix game player.

2 weeks ago Mike cashed for 5k in a donkament and has been running hot in 2/5 cash so who knows what he will do this year, he’ll have less time this year but also a bigger BR. My guess he will play more 5/T and take more shots at 1k events. My other friend Bob from Florida comes out to LV on 6/9 and is there with me until 6/16 when I leave. That night I’m sure will be a bunch of drinking and fun since it is the only night all 3 of us will be there.

All About Bob.
So he originally wasn’t coming because he owed the IRS several thousand in taxes. 2 weeks ago we were talking about poker and my upcoming trip, he says F*** it, I’m coming too, I’ll make it work somehow. He is a standard weak passive rec fish at 1/2 and is not properly bankrolled for any game, he usually fires $100 bullets. He’ll probably donk around in daily $100 tournaments and 1/2NL, I hope he doesn’t go broke. I explained that this trip is all about poker and if he runs out of money I’ll still be playing. Between his low funds and poor poker playing I’m curious how it will go for him. He has never been to Vegas.

Donkaments!!!
I am looking forward to the Tag Team event this year the most. Mike and I will be playing it, couldn’t play it last year due to being late in the schedule. Planning on having him play first as he is generally good at accumulating chips early, that’s our only strategy at this point, just tagging in/out whenever we feel is good with him taking the first shift. Below is a tentative list of tournaments on my radar. I won’t be playing all of them as things change when I make day 2 of an event or feel like playing cash for a day or hit a big score and play a bunch of bigger events instead. Lastly Mike and I have a standing 10% freeroll/swap for all our poker trips so if I run awful maybe he’ll hit a big score and be my savior.

Good Luck to everyone going out this year!!!

Great post


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First WSOP trip but I go to Vegas 3-4 times a year for the last 10 years. I'll be there from 5/31 until 6/5. Focusing on cash games mainly and railing my three buddies in various tourneys. Will make a reservation at Lotus of Siam and wing it the rest of the time. Taking about $8k of the roll. Staying off strip in friend's timeshare.

Fun fact....I was born on December 8, 1980, which is the same exact day Lennon was shot and I was born in The Beatles' hometown of Liverpool.

Another fun fact: My mother is a psychiatrist and is one of the people who treated John Hinckley, Jr. when he tried to assassinate Ron Reagan in 1981.
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Anybody have Las Vegas hotel recommendations? I haven't been much in the last few years. I went last summer right before the main event. A friend and I stayed at Bally's and it was really cheap b/c he had a lot of comps. I liked being right across the street from Bellagio. I arrived a night before he did and went to the B to play 20-40 LHE and dropped about a grand, but did well in cash games the rest of the trip (until the last day). The main purpose of being there was to play the main event. I tried a one-table satellite with a poor structure and was the first one out b/c my opponent called a huge bet with a gutshot draw. Then I tried some of the supersatellites and didn't do well. I dropped about four thousand dollars trying to qualify before I said **** it and just bought in directly. I will not be doing that again.

It was my third time playing the main event and first time since 2006. I cashed in it in 2004. In '06, I lasted barely five hours. Last year, I was the oldest person at my starting table (I was 35 at the time). Not good b/c that means I'm facing a bunch of young aggro guys. Adam Friedman was at my table and I reminded him of the bad beat he put on me at WPT Mandalay Bay $10k in 2006 when I was all-in with AA v. QQ and he turned eight tits. I shook his hand and remember thinking "if that happened to him he'd probably cry about it". Anyway, he sort of remembered the hand and the whole table thought it was funny that I was hanging on to that memory ten years later.

I was all-in three or four times preflop in huge 3bet or 4bet pots and had AK every time. One of the hands, I 3bet to 3600 from the button and the big blind made it 8400. I shipped it for about 40k and he mucked. At the end of the night, he told me he had AK as well. I had KK cracked by a turned two pair with J9s after I 3bet pre....I don't blame the guy for calling my reraise but it would have been a good time to smoothcall pre b/c I was in early-middle position and my table had been so aggressive.

I finished the day with less than a starting stack but still had more than 60 big blinds, so I was not worried at all.

Day 2 was the exact opposite. I was the youngest at my table and it looked like a bunch of older dudes who couldn't play. John Strzemp was on my direct left (he finished 2nd in the main event to Stu Ungar many moons ago). I tried to start a conversation with him but he was not receptive. I didn't play my best. I got too impatient and should have done a better job of relaxing and taking advantage of the great table and fabulous structure. After busting in the first level of Day 2, I went to Bellagio and dropped about four thousand dollars in a 40-80 limit hold 'em game. Then I went to the airport.

I plan to do it better this year. I'm thinking of going out there around the 21st of June to play the Monster Stack and maybe some other stuff. From there I would like to fly to San Francisco, rent a car, and drive up the Oregon coast, stop to spend a night in Portland, continue on to Seattle to visit some friends, chill out a few days, and then maybe fly back to Las Vegas a few days before the main event to try to qualify again. If the first Vegas visit goes poorly I will just go home after Seattle. But I am looking forward to the long drive and solo adventure.

I have won two tournaments since early March (140 entries and 122 entries for about $9k and about $7900, respectively) so I'm thinking this could be my year to make a real score. In addition to bracelet events (which I'm not super psyched about b/c they do not seem to have great starting stacks, I would like to play the main event at the Wynn).

I got laid off from my lawyering job nearly three weeks ago so I figure I'm going to enjoy my summer. I plan to travel a bunch of play a lot of poker and resume my career in September.

Goddamn, one way flights from the DC area to Las Vegas are expensive! Any ideas on how to save money doing that?

Look at all of the airports that have flights with the major carriers within about an hour or so in any direction...some of them may well connect THROUGH your closest airport but still be cheaper.

I have found http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ to be a great tool at finding those other airports and fares in general...also, pay attention to the emails from the various carriers to whom you may have subscribed for deals. I have a one-way return from LAS on one of my flights that was $29 into IAH. Saw that once and once only...

Google flights-- https://www.google.com/flights/

Unless you think $100 flights are "expensive" there are a ton of flights in this price point

Just booked my trip!

Havent been since 2015 - This will be my 5th trip - Plan on going June 16th-June 24th


Will be staying @ Ballys - Plan on doing up to 4 bracelet events (1.5k, 1k, 1k turbo and 1.5k PLO), unless I win a main event seat satellite at foxwoods the first weekend of June, in which case ill cancel this trip and book for the Main.

Took 82nd in the M.E. in 2015 when the moron clown Zvi Stern ran like God agaisnt me (QQ v A9 aipf, 2 people folded an ace... then two hands later JJ vs J10 when stern ripped ~35bb AIPF with J10 suited and hit a river flush against our Jacks) Needless to say, that crushed me. Shot at a top 45 finish was very doable!

Anyways, super pumped to head back out. Only get to play a certain amount of tourneys per year since I work FT. Hope to make a dream come true and capture that bracelet!

Also selling shares if anyones interested, not sure if I can say that here or need to post elsewhere lol. Goodluck to us all!!!!

WSOP around the corner again, i'm excited!

Will be heading to Vegas on June 5th from Amsterdam with 3 of my dutch poker buddies.
Staying till the 24th, planning to play 3 WSOP events.
1500 milly
1500 regular
1000 regular

we are staying downtown this year for a change, which i'm looking forward too, should be a nice change of pace.
besides the 3 WSOPs i'm mainly going to play cashgames around town, mostly 2/5 & 5/T and the occasional mix game when available and just maybe bink one of those daily donkaments.

Also will be turning 28 on this trip, 9th of June, so if anyone interested in a party downtown on the 9th, hit me up!

Since its our first long stay downtown, some good recommendations?
We like to think we are Vegas veterans (most of us been almost every year for the last 10 years) so we have done all the tourist stuff.
I'm looking for those hidden gems.

So jealous of everyone. No money to go out and enjoy. Will be getting updates from one of my friends going out there though.

Going out June 6-16. Staying at Rio June 6-10, comp + resort fees, then TI June 10-16, comp w/optional resort fees.

Playing 1500 HORSE, 1500 six max, 600 Venetian, Milly Maker and Marathon, depending on Day 2s, early busts, etc.

GF arrives 6/10, so when (if??) I bust Marathon, we will just enjoy Vegas together for the rest of our time. Decided to rent a car since both Rio and TI still have free parking, got one for 238 all in with taxes and fees for the 10 days, feel good about that.

A couple of bars at opposite ends of the spectrum:

Hogs & Heifers at 201 N. 3rd street is a loud and rowdy dive bar with bikini clad bartenders wielding megaphones with which to razz & tease the customers.

At the drop of a hat they'll jump up on the bar and do some clog dancing.

Female patrons are encouraged to remove their bra and add it to the collection behind the bar.

http://hogsandheifers.com/

A few blocks away at 517 E. Fremont is "Don't Tell Mama", a New York style piano bar. Lots of talented folks singing everything from pop, to country, to show tunes, to standards. Best free show in Vegas if you like a good piano bar.

http://www.donttellmama.com/Dont_Tell_Mama/About.html

I too am staying downtown this trip but don't arrive 'til the 26th so I'll miss your birthday bash. Have a good time!

Thanks for the info!

Would be awesome if this thread stayed active and turned into a 100 man WSOP trip report!

Anyone mid-20s/early-30s wanna meet up for a beer drop me a PM

Lol. Love Always Sunny references.

Which days are you there? If I recall you rented a house for the whole series?


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Do you think there would be value for someone grinding the Daily Deepstacks day in and day out over a few $1,500+ buy in events?

Obviously bankroll management would have to be addressed, but I would say due to structural considerations and much higher rake percentage, there is no way that a player would have a greater +$EV in DDS than in $1500 bracelet events.

There from 30th May until I cannot hack it any more, cannot wait!!!

I'm heading out with a bunch of highschool/college friends July 5th - July 11th and staying at Bally's. My buddy's relative is playing the main event so we decided to coordinate our trip with his. Last time I was out in Vegas was 2 years ago for a friend's bachelor party and I ended up playing mostly at MGM because of convenience. The room was really terrible and I'm looking forward to playing at some of the higher quality rooms this time around. It seems that most people I've talked to have suggested grinding at the Aria, Bellagio, Wynn, and Venetian for 2/5 and 5/T. I might fire a bullet into the 1500 NLHE on the 5th since my flight gets in early in the morning but busting a tourney first day could be a bad start to the trip haha.. I might check out some of the Venetian events as well but will probably end up primarily playing cash.

This may seem like a stupid question, but does anyone have suggestions on how to divvy up your funds? Hypothetically, if I'm trying to bring ~20k to play 2/5 and 5/T, should I keep like half in cash and half in a checking account? I can't remember if there were fees on all the ATMs there or whatnot.

Thanks. I was afraid that was the case. Seems like the DDS give much more bang for the buck for a time of play perspective at least. I couldn't decide if in the future id be better off firing off 10 days worth of DDS action (say $5,000 worth) or two $1,500s and a $1,000.

Anybody have a main event satellite strategy that they want to share? Which ones are the best to play?

going from 6/7 till at least late late june..

stayin with the girlfriend from 6/7-6/14 at flamingo and cosmo .. so tournament schedule be light that week ,, maybe a phamous tourney or the one up at the nugget..

kicking it up the week after and staying at the RIO from 6/18 - 6/26 , playing some 1000-1500 events and try to satty into others..