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06-19-2018 , 11:37 AM
Also, does anybody knew if you get paid out in a check, can you cash the check at the WSOP cage? For example I placed in an event and got 10k of it in a check, and decided that I want to play the main event. Can I just go to registration and turn the check in for a main seat essentially?
2018 WSOP Quote
06-20-2018 , 12:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProbablyDrawinDead
Also, does anybody knew if you get paid out in a check, can you cash the check at the WSOP cage? For example I placed in an event and got 10k of it in a check, and decided that I want to play the main event. Can I just go to registration and turn the check in for a main seat essentially?
Not 100% certain but I suspect you can’t just trade the check for cash. But I also suspect if you bink a score of $10k+, you can ask for $10k cash and the rest on a check. If you bink that high of a score and if you’re considering doing the main, that’s what I would do. If it was allowed. That’s a lot of ifs.
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06-20-2018 , 12:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gochiefs19
Hey guys, it's been years since I posted on here, but just finished my first WSOP trip and am still excited and wanting to post a trip report. TL;DR potential so if you want the results in 5 seconds scroll to bottom.

I played these two events:

Thu, Jun 14th 11:00 AM
3 Days Event #30: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

Sat, Jun 16th 3:00 PM
3 Days Event #35 Mixed $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo/ Limit Omaha/Hi-Lo/Big O


This post will only be for Event #30, as it's really long. I'll probably write up something for the second one later though.

I made it to the Rio by about 9:30 and went down to the Hash House for some Hash (food, not weed) before registering for the tournament around 10:30. Took 5 minutes to get through the line (as opposed to 30 minutes when signing about at 2:40 pm a couple days later for Event #35).

The table was mostly guys in their 50's/60's. I was assigned to Table 37, Seat 7 and struck up a conversation with Seat 6 who is from Houston and tries to make it down to the WSOP every year if possible with his work schedule. Nice guy.

Starting stack sizes were 7500 and levels were 60 minutes.

First hand of note didn't involve me but was notable nonetheless. Hand #2 and Seat 8 (who had won hand #1 cbetting flop after potting pre) pots it pre, in position again and is called in 2 spots. Flop is T43 and Seat 8 cbets, getting called by the player in Seat 4. Turn is the 9 and it goes check-check. River is 8, Seat 4 checkraises the pot and Seat 8 actually 3 bets all-in with the second nut straight. Needless to say with that kind of action, Seat 4 had rivered the nut straight (called flop with diamonds) and Seat 8 was down to a couple hundred chips and would quadruple up once but be eliminated soon afterwards.

First hand involving me was after about a round or so and I called a minraise from Seat 2 (the only player other than myself who looked like he was in his early 30s) in the sb with 9976 + Flop is A24 so I check intending to fold but it checks around. Turn is 9 and I checkraise Seat 2's 300 chip cbet to 1100, taking it down.

My table was very active so I was happy to fold a string of mediocre hands, taking down a couple small pots and text a bunch of friends over the following 30 mins or so. There was a hand where Seat 2 was checkraised on a AQ9A8 board and pretty quickly folded A9xxx faceup to Seat 4, which I felt was a good, disciplined fold but nearly the entire table was shocked by. Definitely gave me the impression that he was going to be the toughest opponent but also to be moved off hands in the right spot.

Another hand against Seat 2 came a little while later. I don't remember the details to this one quite as well but I called his bet on a Q936 board with T876 no. River is K, I fire out a near pot sized bet and he relatively quickly folds a straight joking that he was mucking a straight flush (he showed JT).

A little while later a new player who had been moved to Seat 8 and had been laggy but not insane (through conversation another player had allowed him to brag about winning 40k in a tourney at the Venetian a few days before) got into hand with me repotting my raise pre. I ended up doubling up his stack of about 1500 which he then went on to build up to a very sizable stack. On a related note, our table was losing players left and right. I wasn't sure if that was typical, having never played in a WSOP event before, but we lost maybe 15-16 players in the 7-8 hours that I was at the table before it broke and towards the end of that time a player even mentioned that of the 4 tables he'd been to, this one might have had more chips than the others combined.

My stack was around 20k when I got into what would be my last confrontation with Seat 2. He min-raised pre (he'd only min-raise pre) and I gladly called in position with KJ99 Flop was 335 and he and the other 2 callers checked to me so we saw a free turn. Similar to the earlier hand with him, allowing me a free turn let me hit a 9. He bet 800, Seat 6 called and I flatted. I'm already counting the chips and figuring out how best to extract value on river when the dealer turns over a beautiful 9. Seat 2 bets 1400, Seat 6 calls again, I make it 4k, Seat 2 calls, 6 folds and I win a nice pot.

I won a couple medium sized pots, underepping hands and picking off bluffs. I felt like I was playing well and not putting myself at risk unnecessarily.

Stack was around 35k when a player in Seat 3 who had about 11k potted it pre. I called with AQJ4 Flop was Q32 rainbow... I think I had one backdoor fd. I checkraise him all-in and he mumbles a bit and reluctantly calls, asking if I flopped a set. He shows AAxx and I end up winning the pot by hitting another Q on the turn.

Seat 8 had continued to play aggressively and had forced me out of a couple pots with raises but an interesting hand arose with him when it was folded around to my button and he laughed and said I should let him chop with Seat 9. I looked down at AJ85 and potted it. He re-raised nearly the pot to ~4k. We were both around 40-50k in chips so I felt like it was a good spot to play a pot, especially given that my button was the only time I had position on him.

The flop was QT7 and he pretty quickly checked. Despite how big my draw was, I elected to control the size of the pot and see a free turn. The turn was the 4 and he led out for 5k. I semi-tanked as I really wanted to jam it. My thought process was that I had been fairly active and would probably have less fold equity against AAK/KKJ/2 pair types of hands and losing an all-in to him would have basically ended my tournament. Plus I still had position. So again I nitted it up and elected just to flat and re-evaluate on river. River was the K and he led out for 18k. Hoping we weren't chopping, I made it 40k and he immediately folded.

I won and lost a few hands and was around 60k on the last hand before dinner where I got JTT7 and called a raise from Seat 5 who'd been moved to the table not long before. The flop was QQ5 and I called a pretty small cbet (I think it was 1k) heads up in position. The turn was the 3 and I made a somewhat loose call of another smallish bet of 2200 or so. The river was the T and after he wisely checked I made it 8k and he called, showing that he had Trip Q's with higher . Oops. But I'll take it.

Me and a couple friends went to Guy Fieri's for dinner with my stack sitting at 72k. They had some of my action so they were really excited as well, and were trying to figure out where my stack ranked, but the reporting was inconsistent so we weren't really sure. I think I was a top stack though.

A little before dinner, Ryan Riess sat in Seat 2. He was surprisingly inactive, making the occasional stab but not really mixing it up. He mainly just folded and chatted about poker stories with the others guys in seats 1-4. The most interesting thing involving him came later in the tournament when he wasn't even at my table anymore (more on that below). One of my friends said they thought he late reg'd. He was the only player I recognized at any of my tables, but I did see Mike Sexton, Chris Ferguson, Jessie Silvia, Scott Clements and Victor Ramdin at other tables.

After winning a couple more pots I re-raised Seat 5 with KK54 pre. Flop was Q73. I pot it after he checked and he immediately went all in. Clearly I'm never folding but I was dismayed to see him flip over AQQ9. Gross. I had 6 outs but never thought I could be in that bad of shape. The turn was the 2, giving me an additional 3 outs but the river was the 8 and I lost 1/3 of my stack dropping me down to around 60k. He used my chips well, finishing in 7th place for ~25k.

Right before the table broke, Seat 5 raised again, my buddy in Seat 6 who was honestly a bit of a calling station flatted, I repotted with AAxx, Seat 5 folded and Seat 6 called saying that he knew I had AA but couldn't fold his KKxx. I held and soon thereafter was moved to table 41, Seat 5.

At this point we were getting surprisingly close to the money. There were only about 260 of the 799 entrants remaining with about 2 hours until we broke for the day. People were talking about the possibility of making the money on Day 1.

Table 41 had significantly bigger stacks on it than my table had and the biggest one was directly to my left which was annoying. He was playing tight though and other than one hand where I called him pre and we checked down a scary board with his AKKT holding up, my interraction with was the he repeatedly told me I was close to flashing my cards to him. We made a good-natured deal that at any point after a hand was done (as long as other hands hadn't been shown) he could guess any one of my cards for 2:1 on $5. He never attempted a guess even though I asked him a couple times just wanting some fun side action.

With 45 minutes or so left in Day 1, I potted pre with KK66 (no suits) and a French player who had been pretty quiet looked down asking, "Oh... is that a... raise?" before immediately getting up and doing a GD salsa dance for a few seconds before repotting it for essentially his entire stack. The table erupted with laughter and I felt like I was almost definitely behind but decided to get it in anyway and could not improve against his AAxx.

My cbets had not been working as well at this table and even though I did eliminate a shortstack who tried to make a move with J753 and committed himself when I got it in with KQT9 double suited, my stack size was dwindling.

Final hand of the day, I get AAQ5 and repot Seat 7 who had beaten me in a hand shortly before to about 14k. Both Seat 7 and Seat 1 called, which was interesting because the 14k bet was more than half of Seat 1's stack. Not sure why he didn't just get it in. The flop was J52 which looked pretty safe to me. I went all in for a little over 30k and thankfully Seat 7 who had me covered folded. Seat 1 however, tanked, and was moaning about how bad a flop that was for him. I told him to fold, mincash and put the $2255 on Chiefs O7.5 wins for the 2018 season (we'd been talking NFL) but he eventually called with KK74, no flush draws. The turn was a seemingly blank T, and I thought I just needed to avoid a K. The river was a King and the table erupted and my heart sank for a moment but I looked back to double-check my hand, not remembering that I had a Queen and had hit broadway. Later on, recounting that hand to a friend who had been railing me, I told him the time between me seeing the river and pushing my AQ forward to indicate a straight had been about 10 seconds. He corrected me, saying it was almost immediate. Time seemed to slow down for me.

The day ended with (I think) 134 players remaining, 120 of whom would cash. I was a top 20 stack with close to 90k, the leader having about 140k.


After bagging my chips I went out with friends for a bit and waited for Day 2 tables to be posted. We talked about hands and strategy and just how great it felt to be an early leader in my first WSOP event. Amazingly I avoided any of the 7-8 name pros or any stack above 55k on my Day 2 table. Couldn't have asked for a better situation. Then literally before I had stacked my chips on Day 2, on the very first hand this happened:

I get AATT and pot it from my cutoff. Both blinds call. The flop is T76 and after both players check to me, I pot it again with my sneaky top set. Seat 1 (who ended up binking 3rd place in the tournament for $163k) folds but a brit in Seat 2 who had started with a little over 50k, immediately re-pots it. Ugh. I definitely thought it smelled like a straight but with such a wet board and me looking like I should have an overpair, I think lower sets, 2 pairs or combo draws could've been in his range as well. I get it in, sort of expecting to be ahead, but he shows K983 (nice call pre ) and the J4 failed to improve me, leaving me stunned and crippled, having lost 60% of my chips and my table chip lead immediately.

At that point I made up my mind to just be sure I cashed and it was made easier by the fact that the tournament's short stack, a blond kid who literally said nothing the entire time he was at my table was obviously stalling, attempting to cash as well. Eventually he was called out and the tournament director gave him one 30 second clock, then a 5 second clock the next time he was called, then immediately started declaring his hand dead subsequent times that he needed to be called. He was also given a one round penalty at the beginning of the next event he played in. Another player at the table defended him saying it was a tough decision and that he wasn't stalling but I don't think he or anyone else actually believed that.

Blond kid was down to 1400 and folded his 800 BB and then on his next hand folded his 400 SB, leaving him with 200. Down to the bubble there was a 3-way all in on a neighboring table but the shortest stack won the main pot and the other short stack won the side pot. A couple hands later, blond kid bubbled to the disappointment of no one except him. We were hand-for-hand for about 15-20 minutes and it took about 90 minutes for those final 14 people to drop.

So finally able to open it up, I did attempt a button stealing raise with Q982over the top of a limp from Salsa-dancing Frenchman from my 2nd Day 1 table. I was only slightly ahead of him at this point, sitting with about 28k to his 17-20k. The flop was T65 and after he checked a fired a near pot sized bet. He thought for a second and I mentioned that I was glad to see him not dancing. He chuckled and showed AKQJ no before folding.

A funny thing happened soon afterwards as a food delivery girl came up to me, asking if I'd ordered lunch. I hadn't, but I saw the name on the bag was Ryan Riess, who'd started Day 2 with a little over 50k in chips. Literally directly in front of me was his 2013 ME championship poster so I told her that the food wasn't mine but that she should give it to a guy who looked like that (pointing to poster). She laughed and presumably was able to locate him.

A couple hands later I was at 30k or so when I looked down at AA58 and re-potted it preflop for about 2/3 of my chips. The original raiser, a larger stack who had replaced Blond Kid in Seat 4 called. The flop was T32 rainbow and he put me all-in. Despite the fact that he was probably committed anyway, I didn't like seeing that as it seemed to indicate him flopping pretty well. Even a check/call would've felt more comfortable. He showed AT56 and after a safe J on turn, he rivered a 6, knocking me out with a mincash.

Despite being disappointed by the end result after a thrilling Day 1, I was ecstatic at having cashed in my first WSOP event and playing pretty good poker (perhaps a bit too laggy but nothing insane). Chris Ferguson actually busted a few hands after me, and I saw him walking into the payout section right after I'd received my $2255.


**************SHORT VERSION**************


Killed it on Day 1
Lost lots of chips with top set v. flopped straight on hand #1 of Day 2.
Chose not to steal a former ME champion's lunch when it was offered to me.
Busted with AA95 v AT65 to a rivered 2 pair
Mincashed my first WSOP event.
“Tl;dr potential” was putting it mildly! Appreciate the cliffs.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-20-2018 , 05:11 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Meh
Not 100% certain but I suspect you can’t just trade the check for cash. But I also suspect if you bink a score of $10k+, you can ask for $10k cash and the rest on a check. If you bink that high of a score and if you’re considering doing the main, that’s what I would do. If it was allowed. That’s a lot of ifs.
Lol well I already cashed an event for $10k+, and took $10k of it in a check because I wasn’t originally planning on playing the main, but I changed my mind and I just didn’t know if I need to try and find a place to cash the check or if they will take the check as buy in for the main.
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06-20-2018 , 04:23 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProbablyDrawinDead
Lol well I already cashed an event for $10k+, and took $10k of it in a check because I wasn’t originally planning on playing the main, but I changed my mind and I just didn’t know if I need to try and find a place to cash the check or if they will take the check as buy in for the main.
Just go cash the check.
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06-21-2018 , 09:48 PM
Anyone have info on paying with cashier's checks? In past years, I was able to call ahead (I think to the cage) to have my check verified ahead of time to avoid wait time once I arrive. But the only contact # they give on their website now is for 'general info' and the person on the other end is clueless and has no idea what I'm even talking about. WSOP twitter was also no help and just directed me back to the same clueless phone #. I assume they are still made out to the Rio also?
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06-22-2018 , 12:36 AM
Watching the shootout final table. Lee has a huge head. Do you think he has a hard time finding hats to wear that fit him?
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06-22-2018 , 02:21 PM
Does anyone know of a way to use a single $500 lammer to enter the Giant for $365 and also enter a STT? I don't want to waste the $135 of remaining value, but I don't think the STT cage can register bracelet events and the main cage can't register STT's. I really don't want to enter a Deepstack because I'm not feeling so great and don't want to sit in an icebox for 12 hours.
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06-22-2018 , 05:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pig4bill
Does anyone know of a way to use a single $500 lammer to enter the Giant for $365 and also enter a STT? I don't want to waste the $135 of remaining value, but I don't think the STT cage can register bracelet events and the main cage can't register STT's. I really don't want to enter a Deepstack because I'm not feeling so great and don't want to sit in an icebox for 12 hours.
Why not try selling that lammer. If you discount it by $20-25 somebody will buy it off you.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-22-2018 , 06:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pig4bill
Does anyone know of a way to use a single $500 lammer to enter the Giant for $365 and also enter a STT? I don't want to waste the $135 of remaining value, but I don't think the STT cage can register bracelet events and the main cage can't register STT's. I really don't want to enter a Deepstack because I'm not feeling so great and don't want to sit in an icebox for 12 hours.
I have always been under the impression that you can only buy into one event at a time with lammers and there was no change available whatsoever. You eat the loss if the event is cheaper than the lammer. No way around it afaik.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-22-2018 , 07:11 PM
You can definitely use a 500 lammer to buy into, say, 3 175 SNGs (adding $25 cash obv). Or into a $250 daily Deepstack and two $175 SNGs (adding $100 cash).
2018 WSOP Quote
06-22-2018 , 11:51 PM
Does anyone know what is the coffee situation in Rio rooms? I will be staying in the Deluxe/2 Queens/Mountain View.

I remember last time I was at the World Series in 2014, they had a Keurig machine but you had to bring your own cups. Is that still the case or do they supply comped cups these days?

My morning routine is typically going to be to get the Subway sub from the Gold Coast and then watch soccer in bed while eating a sub and drinking coffee before playing 11am bracelet events, so having a supply of free coffee is going to be important lol.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-23-2018 , 12:02 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Aces 518
You can definitely use a 500 lammer to buy into, say, 3 175 SNGs (adding $25 cash obv). Or into a $250 daily Deepstack and two $175 SNGs (adding $100 cash).
No you can’t. I was told you can’t use lammers for SNGs and you have to use the whole thing for a buy-in. If you buy into a $365 tournament with a $500 lammer, you’re basically surrendering the $135.
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06-23-2018 , 02:43 AM
Not true. I've been buying into stt's this way and so has trooper.
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06-23-2018 , 02:48 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by AALegend
Does anyone know what is the coffee situation in Rio rooms? I will be staying in the Deluxe/2 Queens/Mountain View.

I remember last time I was at the World Series in 2014, they had a Keurig machine but you had to bring your own cups. Is that still the case or do they supply comped cups these days?

My morning routine is typically going to be to get the Subway sub from the Gold Coast and then watch soccer in bed while eating a sub and drinking coffee before playing 11am bracelet events, so having a supply of free coffee is going to be important lol.
No Keurig in my room, just a machine with a basket and some coffee.

Go to the Orleans instead. They have a dedicated soccer area with a giant screen and delux chairs, a Subway, and a coffee place. Last time I was there, there were 4 soccerfans, lol.
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06-23-2018 , 03:45 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pig4bill
Not true. I've been buying into stt's this way and so has trooper.
Well, Asian floor guy working the SNG area has no clue what he’s talking about, I guess. All the more reason to train their staff. It’s complete amateur hour over there.
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06-23-2018 , 06:45 AM
There are a couple women there that are there all the time (can't mention names according to 2p2 rules) and 1 or 2 guys that have been there for years(neither are asian). They know the score. Even the cage had a rough start because they don't work for the WSOP, but the head STT guy got them straightened out.
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06-23-2018 , 09:25 AM
Asian guy in STS? Last year’s dealer of the year? If so, new to being a supervisor yes.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-23-2018 , 09:28 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pig4bill
No Keurig in my room, just a machine with a basket and some coffee.

Go to the Orleans instead. They have a dedicated soccer area with a giant screen and delux chairs, a Subway, and a coffee place. Last time I was there, there were 4 soccerfans, lol.
Sounds great. I'd rather have a free regular machine than a Keurig where I gotta bring cups from the East Coast or buy them at hotel prices!
2018 WSOP Quote
06-23-2018 , 10:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil9
Asian guy in STS? Last year’s dealer of the year? If so, new to being a supervisor yes.
If that’s him, then yes, he is new to being a supervisor and seems to be misinformed. White guy with semi-long hair chewed him out pretty good but I’m not sure why. He told him “there is a lot going on here so maybe in three or four years when you know what you’re doing, you can do that. But for now, you listen to me.” So at least it will get better in three to four years.
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06-23-2018 , 12:41 PM
Played the Giant last night. I was very surprised at how bad a few of the dealers were. At least 4 of them were clueless and had to be helped with making change and keeping the action moving, etc.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-23-2018 , 04:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Can U Get This Out
Played the Giant last night. I was very surprised at how bad a few of the dealers were. At least 4 of them were clueless and had to be helped with making change and keeping the action moving, etc.
I'm playing the giant next weekend. What's the level of play like? Decent? Tough? Lots of weak spots?
2018 WSOP Quote
06-23-2018 , 10:47 PM
CHIPS:

Does anyone have a complete (or as best that you know) breakdown of the chip denominations and their nicknames? I tried a Google search but it seems to change from year to year.

So far I've heard of "chocolate" and "peppercorn" for high value chips.

Thanks.
2018 WSOP Quote
06-24-2018 , 02:53 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Can U Get This Out
Played the Giant last night. I was very surprised at how bad a few of the dealers were. At least 4 of them were clueless and had to be helped with making change and keeping the action moving, etc.
All good dealers go to mixed games, then day 2/3 restarts, then to the current nlhe bracelet event, and FINALLY to the giant. So yes you'll find some crazy ones there
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06-25-2018 , 06:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by arsenal321
I have a question regarding tax withholding for foreigners. The WSOP faq states "For prizes exceeding $5,000 net the event buy-in..." - so If I cash for $20k and the buy in is $10k, I am only taxed 30% on the $10k 'profit' portion?

Thanks
Net Price (20k-10k = 10k) exceeding 5k (10k-5k=5k) * 30% = 1667$ Taxes
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