Anyone familiar with single table tournaments at the Rio beginning on May 29th? Is this something they have every year at this time?

I called, and was told these are not satellites and also that they have no idea what the buy-in would be!

Thanks!

Here's a link to last year's STS list, it's been the same for the last few years so I doubt it will change. Basically only the top section is relevant.:

https://www.wsop.com/2017/2017%20WSO...%20Details.pdf

There's a section of 20-40 tables dedicated to these, they run all the time, some people swear by them and play little else during the series. You can buy as many tickets as you want at one time, and then just sit down at a new table with the appropriate ticket anytime during the summer. You get paid out in lammers in increments of $500 with a little cash on the side (used to tip the dealers). Chops happen frequently. The 175 and 125 levels are very popular followed by 275. 525s go surprisingly often, and 1030s even do well, especially the day before marquee events.

Majority of people/tables also get last longers going to increase the prize pool rake free, so expect that topic to come up as people are sitting down.

The other games are hard to get going. If you dont want to play NLHE at these levels you'll wait a while. Really the only time odd games get going (even plo) are the day before their respective bracelet events.

So then these are satellites. The woman I spoke to in the poker room said they were not. But why should she know anything LOL.

I admit to being a bit confused. It seems they are paying you in lammers that you would use for WSOP events, perhaps? If so, what exactly is the chop?

Technically they are not direct satellites but what you win is tournament buy in chips in increments of 500, then the rest in cash. You can easy enough buy and sell those tournament buy in chips @ The Rio to players.

Cool guys. Your intel is appreciated!

These are associated with the WSOP. The best way to think about it is the WSOP is an independent organization that's just renting space from the Rio hotel, because that's basically what it is. The Rio hotel has very little direct connection with the WSOP, so it's not a surprise that people in the poker room don't know what's what.

What chop? These SNGs are winner take all

Most of them that I’ve played get chopped before the end, unless one player is an overwhelming chip leader.

They are chopped almost always. I have seen and been a part of chops even when there was an overwhelmimg chip leader because of the fast structure. WSOP will not facilitate the chop, but one guy gets the payout and then distributes the agreed upon chop.

questions about the one hand flips for a main event seat: When do those start and is there a rake on those tourneys or is it ten handed, 1k each.

If you can find 9 other guys and a deck of cards, there's no rake. Otherwise, the WSOP gets paid. Always.

The bunch that I played in last year rarely had chops. I dunno.

Rake for the 1k flips is the same as it is for the regular 1k sats which is $20 per person. You're expected to leave a good tip if you win. You win $10k in lammers plus $100 cash.

They tend to run maybe 1 day before the main event starts through the last starting day. Occasionally they'll pop up before other big events like the 50k.

I have played in a few over the years and all have been chopped. I usually play at O/8 or HORSE tables and as mentioned earlier, they only go the day before/of a bracelet event and play 8 handed. Last year we got down to 3 people and one guy has 80% of the chips. He offers me and the other guy $250 each which we accepted. He took 2 $500 lamers. I took 1 and gave the other guy $250 in cash. Another time I had about a 2 to 1 chip lead heads up and we chopped 2 to 1

Keep in mind all SNG tables are all super turbo so things can change very quickly.

One hand flip= All players put up $1K and go all-in and winner gets a ME seat OR $10K cash?

Never heard of this. Please advise. Thanks.

I have chopped about ten of these over the last 6 years. Only 2 did not chop. In a $175 last year I was heads up with a guy who wanted 75% of the money with just under 50% of the chips. Fortunately I dispatched him fairly quickly simply by checking back top pair on the flop and letting him spew. Two years ago in a $325 I ended up heads up with a goofball who had earlier screwed up a reasonable chop situation for the last 4 players. I had him slightly out chipped and discussing a chop with him was not possible at that point. I got it all in with a set on the flop and was 91% to win but he hit a runner runner straight and shortly thereafter got the win. That one stung a bit.

Yes. All players put up $1030 at the cage and take their seats. Crowd gathers around table. One hand is dealt out and the winner gets $10k in lammers and $100 cash. They happen every year. There's also 500 and 1k sats where the table agrees to 10 or 15 minute levels so they can finish faster and move on to another.

Must they play the ME or can they take the $$$?

Whats an acceptable tip for the dealers in these?

You get a bunch of $500 lammers which you may use for any remaining event (only a few are left) or you can attempt to sell them which hasn't been a problem in past years. Those lammers become worthless once the WSOP ends so don't wait.

I played in one last night. Got heads up and told the other guy I didn’t want the lammer so we decided to chop. He paid me cash for my half of the lammer and there was still some extra cash available on the side so we played that down and I won. Not a bad start to my trip this year!

Won another one today. These sit and goes are super soft. I highly recommend

In which sort of ways are they soft? Too tight?

Yes, people seem to be in shove or fold mode the first orbit or two hoping for a quick double up. After that, people play super tight. Easy to steal blinds.

Much appreciated.