BB ante is great, anything to speed up NL. Plus it helps the dealers.

If the Big50 is any indication, I'll probably play less events this year. Structures were already great last few year reaching the $$ at end of day 1s. Not that interested in playing 1.5 days or more to min cash. I'm probably in the minority on this opinion though

I’m not sure if you are in the minority or not, but I agree, making tournaments longer is not likely going to be a good thing for poker. It’s sort of a head scratcher since it means more overhead for the WSOP. The only thing I can think of is they make such huge margins on food service and other paid amenities that it’s worth it for them to try and keep people at the Rio as long as possible.

Every time they make the tournaments longer, more people enter. Their goal is not to get tournaments over with, it's to make more money.

PLO 8/b down 69 entries from last year. Most likely due to Big 50 but will be interesting to track the numbers from last year to this year

There was actually a $455 "mixed draw" STT running last night.

Would you say the mtts in Vegas around wsop are a little on the softer side compared to General mtts around the country of same buy in levels? I’m looking at potentially going to Vegas and playing higher buy ins than I normally play (a lot of 500s and a 1100 or 2) when I normally play 300-500s on the regular.

Is it worth shot taking a little if I have the extra money and won’t be too irritated if I lose. I’m looking to play more of the bigger gtn events when possible (Venetian, planet Hollywood, and cheaper wsop events under 1k). Thanks. The mtt schedule in Vegas looks amazing around wsop time. Also seems most structures are pretty solid along with gtns being good.

I've not played a 1k yet, but I've played a bunch of stuff in the 150-400 range and I'd say you do notice a slight skill level difference from something like a 150 to a 400. Last year I played a 400 WSOP-C at PH, the 375 WSOP Giant, and a 340 at the Venetian. There were fewer incompetent players at the table than in a $110, though the games were definitely still beatable. Some of it is just going to depend on your table draw. My first table in the Giant was made up entirely of aggro young people and we even had a bracelet winner, but my second table felt a lot softer.

If you think about it logically, the fields during this time of year might contain a few more wizards, but also a lot more random shot takers and people playing above their level. For example, a 1k at the WSOP is going to attract a lot of professionals and accomplished MTT players, but it's also going to have more people who are just tourists and/or who satellited in. It stands to reason that the best players will be better than a typical 1k, but the worst players will be worse.

It's hard to compare that to a local casino because there are so many variables, but I doubt the 1k events at the WSOP are going to be much harder overall than a $500 tournament wherever you're from. I consider myself a moderately good player, but far from amazing and I've always felt like the low-mid stakes MTTs in Vegas have enough soft spots to be +EV if you are just decent, fundamentally sound, and don't make major mistakes.

If the money isn't super important to you, I say go for it. It will be a fun experience, you might hit a nice score, and if nothing else you might learn something for the future.

in the Bravo App, in the wsop room (like where you can see all the cash games running with wait lists)...

...up at the very top there's giant twitter and facebook buttons

...right below those is a gray button labeled "show clocks". You'll then get a list of all the tournaments running, WSOP events, daily deepstacks, day 1s, day 2s, everything. Click on one, and you get the clock, level, antes, prize pool, players remaining, average stack, etc.

Woah, that’s awesome. Thanks for pointing it out.


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The unfortunate reality of casinos allowing technology at the table to continue to accommodate. Most people I know only justify it for the supposed time saved. Which would’ not be much of a difference if players were engaged in the game they paid money to enter and ante’d during the dealer’s shuffle.

Total noob here, first trip. Will likely one do only cash games at the Rio. I assume I can call in ahead of time, but can someone point me where to go - the main cashier (please no). Is there a specific room where cash game/King's Room is located back by the tournament rooms?

holy crap, I've been using Bravo for at least five years and had completely ignored that button! Thanks!!

WOW ---- thanks man, would have never found it

Cash games and the King's Lounge are both in the pavilion room.

Never played in the King's Lounge, but for the basic cash games there's a bench against the wall where they take names for the lists. There's a cage poking out from the wall in the pavilion room with 4-5 windows on each side where you buy chips.

Low-mid stakes cash games are in the Green section (look at table number signs).

Semi off Topic - Where does the Venetian hold their Deep Stack Poker Series Events. The Physical location in the Casino is what I am looking for. Thanks in advance

Think it's back in the main poker room this summer, though they must have cleared some space given the series they're running.

They "temporarily" removed the walls that separate the poker room from the regular casino. Added tables like they used to, prior to last year's move to convention center. They probably added around 50? tables.

That makes sense, look forward to seeing it in a couple weeks. GL if you're playing!

Thanks for the info. Appreciate it.

No worries. Best of luck this summer!

So, you can register for the main event on day 2, starting with 100bbs. Why even have a day 1?

Does anybody know where I can find how many runners are entering the 8 pm Megas? I think they had a page somewhere last year for it.

Also, can't seem to find the page which lays out which specific days that Mega plays as 500 and which ones are 1K.

Planning on flying in Saturday afternoon around 1pm to play the Monster Stack WSOP next weekend. I don't want to risk getting stuck in big lines.

My understanding is that if I register online, I will be seated right at 10am when the tournament starts and bleed chips.

What is my alternative/best way to register and avoid long lines?

Come in deposit money at the cage to use at bravo poker online and buy your entry thru a kiosk is one approach.