My friend Rock and I are going to Vegas - he won a spot in the WSOP Bracelet Bounty event, and he may win another WSOP spot (a $1000 NLHE tourney) as well, so he invited me along to basically keep him company.

We're staying there for about a week, so I could use some advice on some tourney selections. My trip roll is about $2000, my full bankroll about $4000. It's not life-changing money for me, so I can reload if I bust.

I was thinking about playing in the $1000 NLHE bracelet event #54. Yeah, I know, high variance, underrolled, yada yada -- but when else am I going to get a chance to play in the WSOP? This is an opportunity cost situation, I think. If I lose, I still have $1000 to play with in Vegas, and $3000 in my roll - which is more than enough for the $0.25/0.50 and $5/10 limit games played here in Austin.

But it's also not just money - playing #54 (assuming I run that deep) means I'm going to miss the $4/8 Dealer's Choice game at the Tropicana on Monday, and Rock was looking forward to playing that.

If I don't play #54, I think I'm probably going to play in the $330 Bellagio Sunday tourney, the $140 noon & 7pm tourneys at the Wynn, the $120 HORSE tourney at the MGM Grand, and the $60 tournies at the Mirage, as well as a bit of cash. Playing a few tournies, of course, decreases variance.

I don't know, what do you think?

Be sure to check the casino's web pages, because many of their "normal" tournaments are replaced by other events. For example, the Wynn is running a tournament schedule and I don't think they have their $140 tournaments going right now.

fyp

No, do not play the $1k. There is plenty more value elsewhere for your roll, even the nightly deepstacks at the rio have had prizepools paying over 40-50k for first and it is just a ~$235 or so buy in. Dailys at the Aria are great. Mixed games at the rio will be amazing. Orleans has a nice weekly HORSE tournament. VDS tournaments have huge prizepools for low buyins with tournaments daily. Golden Nugget has a good tournament series over the summer. SSNL cash games are ultra soft (2 cards - zzzzzz).

Rather than play the 1k lottery just rail the one drop, imo.

Maybe play a few satellites. If you run deep i don't think you should be worried about dealers choice 4/8 game. But are you a limit player or no limit?

If you haven't played in the series yet and want to live out a dream of yours... do it. It all comes down to how much value you place in playing a poor structured live 1k with a huge feild.

id' honestly grind the $125-$175 single table sngs for the first few days and win a few k

You might check out the Grand Series at the Golden Nugget if you want to venture downtown. They have some nice cheap buy-in events.

You also say you can reload If you bust I say play the 1k for fun of it.

In the $1K event you have to be ready to commit your chips early. Professionals are willing to commit with starting hands like JTs QJs (and weaker) early just for the chance to chip up. For them its not worth playing 14 hrs to cash for $2K, they would rather bust or get a deepstack early. There will be some other nice tourneys such as Venetian DS and have heard good things about the Wynn, sounds like field sizes are upticking just a bit. There will be plenty of play in those tourneys for $500/$600. However, I do understand the excitement of going for a bracelet and since youre willing to reload... just do it. Understand, you will get runover if you wait early for big pairs and will need to take a few stands early. Busting 30 minutes in with QQ<KJ is a possibility. Not talking from experience though.

they got some good tournaments at the rio for $235 and their getting like 1400 ppl and winner is getting 53k real good ones and the Venetian has a few good tournaments too and Caesars Palace has a good tournament too

if I were you, and consider myself any good, I would play the 1k, and I wouldn't do it for "experience" (if your goal is experience, experience is what u're gonna get, my goal is taking it down), I would do it for money and poker glory, last year 1st place was 650k. The risk is high, but so is the reward.

thats is so true ^^^^^

That's what I am going to do too. I won some money from a tourney at my local casino, so will take a shot at event #54. Really nervous about sinking $1000 into #54 (My biggest buy-in tourney is only $250. Hey, gotta take a chance. At least $400K for first prize. Plus, that's my WSOP fever. Been there, done that. That is until I win enough to go to $10K ME. Have fun and enjoy yourself.

Just because I know OP in real life...

Don't.
Do.
It.

play wsop, ainec.

pros:
you obv want to
you have the bankroll for it
shot to swing for fences

cons:
terrible structure


also, you will get a $10 food voucher, so really, it's only $990

when you buy in, the wsop event is really more than tourney buyin. you are taking part in an experience. you will get a huge rush playing a 1k event, plus wsop event, chance at lots $$$ and life experience thing. you are using money that you won playing poker -- so really, it's a freeroll.

have fun, play event

i have not met you irl, but i have played with u online, dogpound , if you cash or omg ship this, you will own your poker buddies, forever.