WSOP21 Trips report
11-21-2021
, 02:45 AM
I am new member and not a cash game player, so dont feel like I belong or am welcome here. But since I have found useful info on the forum, thought I would share a summary of my WSOP21 trips and lessons learned. Hope someone finds something useful.
Me and my trips:
Made 3 trips of about 6 days duration each; early Oct, early Nov, and this past week. Played 10 bracelet tourneys, had 3 cashes including 2 final tables. The net $ gains after taxes are significant for me; might not be for you.
I drive from Silicon Valley to LV in a rental car for each trip because my car is old (not as old as me) and not reliable for long-distance high-speed activities (whereas I still am).
I stay at Siegel Select properties in Vegas. Big room with a kitchenette, pool, gym, wifi, no resort fee, free parking...for under $80/night including taxes. Properties arent fancy but are home to extended-stay residents and are well-maintained.
Unlike most of you (based on the TRs I have read), I come to the WSOP not as a vacation but to (attempt to) make big (for me) money. So, I behave during the trip as I would while working. I exercise each morning without fail. I cook meals for the day, and pack lunch and dinner with me. Not because I am cheap, but by following a low-calorie diet starting in mid-August, I have dropped my A1C from 9.2 with meds to 6.2 without meds [This might mean nothing to you; congratulations! However, if you are in similar situation, please read about Dr. Roy Taylor and what the UK NHS advocates for T2 diabetes reversal. I am not a doctor nor advising you.]
I used to come to the WSOP during 2011-2014 solely for the Seniors event; I never cashed.
Lessons learned, in no particular priority:
1. At the 3K Freezeout in early Oct, I was fortunate to have Michael Gathy (4 bracelets) on my left for most of Day 1, and Gabriel Andrade on my right. These are aggressive (and successful!) players. Being the fish in the sandwich kept me tight and observant. Watching them play from early position, late position, and defend blinds was a master-class. Because the stacks were large, I could afford to observe without winning many pots. Watching superior players on tv is not the same as being at the table, especially when you dont know the cards they are holding. Without a doubt, the luck of the seating improved my practical understanding of the "modern" game.
2. The Super Seniors event was almost exclusively an American player pool because the event was held before Nov 8, and there were very few US pros because of the 60+ age requirement. I was able to apply my improved understanding of the game, which added to the enjoyment and to my bank balance.
3. The Hall Of Fame Bounty event was another "live" master-class. So many well-known pros (and I dont mean the HOF folks) at each table. Once again, the Seating Fairy blessed me. Other than the first two hours, I was seated with Ole Schemion on my immediate left, with James Alexander on his left [these two were #1 and #5 for the event], Abhinav Iyer across from me, and Jake Schwartz was on my immediate right until he busted. Ole in particular is astonishing! He was in 80% of the hands as were at least one of these other gents, and he was knocking back beers every time the waitress came by. The most important lesson I learned is that pros play at a level where the only cards that matter are those on the board, not in your hand. Maybe y'all already knew this; I didnt fully comprehend until I witnessed hour after hour after hour. [BTW, Hand-for-hand for bubble and +1 took over one hour, during which at least 4 rounds of cocktails had been consumed].
4. After cashing on Day 2 of the HOF Bounty, I immediately joined the $800 Deepstack event. This was a disaster! Not only was I tired from insufficient sleep, but I was in a different frame of mind. Went from ITM play with big blinds to unknown tablemates trying to accumulate chips with any two cards because blinds are low; I just couldnt make the adjustment. Lesson for me is to not play back2back events without a break; YMMV.
5. During breaks and trips to the cashier or the payout areas, I made a point to talk with the WSOP staff. I like talking to people. People usually like conversing with me because I have a soothing voice made for radio. The Covid masking requirement at the WSOP was in my favor because I also have a face made for radio, and I discovered that people were a lot friendlier and continued the conversations for longer. Yet another reason for "plain" folk like me to mask up!
Conclusion:
WSOP21 ticked an item on my bucket-list, and improved my understanding and play of the modern game.
Me and my trips:
Made 3 trips of about 6 days duration each; early Oct, early Nov, and this past week. Played 10 bracelet tourneys, had 3 cashes including 2 final tables. The net $ gains after taxes are significant for me; might not be for you.
I drive from Silicon Valley to LV in a rental car for each trip because my car is old (not as old as me) and not reliable for long-distance high-speed activities (whereas I still am).
I stay at Siegel Select properties in Vegas. Big room with a kitchenette, pool, gym, wifi, no resort fee, free parking...for under $80/night including taxes. Properties arent fancy but are home to extended-stay residents and are well-maintained.
Unlike most of you (based on the TRs I have read), I come to the WSOP not as a vacation but to (attempt to) make big (for me) money. So, I behave during the trip as I would while working. I exercise each morning without fail. I cook meals for the day, and pack lunch and dinner with me. Not because I am cheap, but by following a low-calorie diet starting in mid-August, I have dropped my A1C from 9.2 with meds to 6.2 without meds [This might mean nothing to you; congratulations! However, if you are in similar situation, please read about Dr. Roy Taylor and what the UK NHS advocates for T2 diabetes reversal. I am not a doctor nor advising you.]
I used to come to the WSOP during 2011-2014 solely for the Seniors event; I never cashed.
Lessons learned, in no particular priority:
1. At the 3K Freezeout in early Oct, I was fortunate to have Michael Gathy (4 bracelets) on my left for most of Day 1, and Gabriel Andrade on my right. These are aggressive (and successful!) players. Being the fish in the sandwich kept me tight and observant. Watching them play from early position, late position, and defend blinds was a master-class. Because the stacks were large, I could afford to observe without winning many pots. Watching superior players on tv is not the same as being at the table, especially when you dont know the cards they are holding. Without a doubt, the luck of the seating improved my practical understanding of the "modern" game.
2. The Super Seniors event was almost exclusively an American player pool because the event was held before Nov 8, and there were very few US pros because of the 60+ age requirement. I was able to apply my improved understanding of the game, which added to the enjoyment and to my bank balance.
3. The Hall Of Fame Bounty event was another "live" master-class. So many well-known pros (and I dont mean the HOF folks) at each table. Once again, the Seating Fairy blessed me. Other than the first two hours, I was seated with Ole Schemion on my immediate left, with James Alexander on his left [these two were #1 and #5 for the event], Abhinav Iyer across from me, and Jake Schwartz was on my immediate right until he busted. Ole in particular is astonishing! He was in 80% of the hands as were at least one of these other gents, and he was knocking back beers every time the waitress came by. The most important lesson I learned is that pros play at a level where the only cards that matter are those on the board, not in your hand. Maybe y'all already knew this; I didnt fully comprehend until I witnessed hour after hour after hour. [BTW, Hand-for-hand for bubble and +1 took over one hour, during which at least 4 rounds of cocktails had been consumed].
4. After cashing on Day 2 of the HOF Bounty, I immediately joined the $800 Deepstack event. This was a disaster! Not only was I tired from insufficient sleep, but I was in a different frame of mind. Went from ITM play with big blinds to unknown tablemates trying to accumulate chips with any two cards because blinds are low; I just couldnt make the adjustment. Lesson for me is to not play back2back events without a break; YMMV.
5. During breaks and trips to the cashier or the payout areas, I made a point to talk with the WSOP staff. I like talking to people. People usually like conversing with me because I have a soothing voice made for radio. The Covid masking requirement at the WSOP was in my favor because I also have a face made for radio, and I discovered that people were a lot friendlier and continued the conversations for longer. Yet another reason for "plain" folk like me to mask up!
Conclusion:
WSOP21 ticked an item on my bucket-list, and improved my understanding and play of the modern game.
Last edited by PenTravis72; 11-21-2021 at 02:50 AM.
Reason: typo
