The World Poker Tour Deepstack Venetian will be held, as you might have guessed, at The Venetian Resort in Vegas.
The main event kick-off is on March 5th. The Venetian is also throwing a concurrent Deepstack festival series which runs from March 1st to March 28th, 2021.
Currently, the Deepstack Festival and the WPT event are both planned to take place live. Though you will want to double-check that whenever you book your tickets, because things change fast in these covidian times.
A full schedule for the series can be found on the WPT website. But the main highlight of the 35-event series will be the WPT Venetian Main Event ($5k buy-in, see below for details).
The rest of the events are NLH tourneys with buy-in between $300 and $1,100. The only exceptions are a $300 PLO event on the 22nd and a $300 PLO8 event on the 11th. Mixed game specialists, you have been warned.
The Main Event
The Main Event will be a $4,625 + $375 buy-in tourney. Players can fire off as many $5k bullets as they like until the end of level 8, when the tourney staff will be chipping up the 100s and late registration will close.
The 5th (Friday) and 6th (Saturday) will be Days 1A and 1B. After that, play moves on to Day 2. Day 1 will be ten blind levels long. Play will continue on consecutive days after that.
Players will start with 40,000 in chips. The blinds start at 100/200 with a 200 ante from the big blind. Blind levels are 60 minutes long for most of the tourney.
There will also be an action clock once the tourney is one table out from bursting the money bubble. This will be a 30-second timer that the dealer will reset after each player acts. Players will get a number of time extension chips that they can use to get an additional 30-seconds of thinking time.
The first-place finisher will also win an entry to the WPT Tournament of Champions to go along with their cash prize.
Getting there
There is no shortage of travel advice for getting to the Venetian.
Vegas is built on streamlined tourism. So, the airport is central and well connected by hotel shuttles, buses, and taxis. Or if you're in a nearby state you can blast down the iconic desert highways to the Strip. Given the temperatures in Nevada, foot-power is ill-advised as a form of transport.
Coming into the Venetian's Casino entrance from Las Vegas Boulevard, you'll find the poker room to your immediate left. However, if you do get yourself turned around, the staff will be happy to point you to the right place or to pass you off to someone who can. There is a map of the property online for further details.
The Venetian property's hotels have special deals in place for players in the WPT events. But it's worth shopping around for prices as there is still plenty of competition in the surrounding area.
Make sure you know your hand rankings and the rules of the game before signing up to play.
Stay COVID safe
The poker room has COVID safety rules in place. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the property and masks are mandatory.
It is best to familiarize yourself with them before arriving. The basics can be found on the Venetian's website, from which:
"In an effort to provide our guests with a poker experience they know and love in a safe environment, The Venetian Poker Room offers eight-handed cash game play. The eight-handed tables are outfitted with plexiglass dividers and follows the guidance of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. [...] The state of Nevada requires face masks to be worn in public areas. We ask that all Table and Card Game players and spectators refrain from smoking or vaping."
The Venetian no longer serves food at the gaming tables. However, one can get drinks on the floor. Masks must remain on unless you are actively sipping your drink though.
As always, check your local and destination guidelines for any additional COVID guidance. Note that for complex tax-based reasons, the Vegas strip, airport, and many other Las Vegas sites do not come under the city of Las Vegas's rules. Instead, check state and county guidance.
Featured image source: Twitter
