The countdown to the 2024 World Series of Poker is on. Each day until the start of the series on May 28, we'll bring you tips and insider info from some of the biggest names in the game.
Clayton Fletcher is an American poker player who has twice finished in the top 100 in the WSOP Main Event. He has done extensive color commentary for ESPN, PokerGO, PokerStars, and CBS Sports Network. His popular podcast, Tournament Poker Edge, reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners annually. He lives in New York City, where he regularly performs stand-up comedy in all the major clubs in town. You can follow Clayton on X/Twitter.
How should players prep for the WSOP summer grind?
You want to play your best game, which may not be someone else's (or something else's) idea of theoretical optimization or another quirky concept.
It's a mistake to try to apply a concept during the summer that you only learned a week or two beforehand, because you probably don't fully understand it! There is an overwhelming amount of information out there; don't try to consume it all.
Know your own strengths and plan to exploit them through good game selection, high-level focus, and in-game observations. Just as Tiger Woods wouldn't try to change his swing on the way to the Masters, you shouldn't try to adopt a whole new playing style on your way to our version of a major. Play within yourself, shorten up that backswing, and have confidence in what you know.
What event are you most looking forward to playing?
I'm very excited for Event #76, the $10,000 Mystery Bounty! Listeners to the Tournament Poker Edge Podcast are well aware of my fascination with this format. I like any game where embracing variance is correct, and in these things, we really need to get in there and mix it up on day two.
I love to gamble, and I'm good at flipping, so I'm really excited for that one.
What is the biggest event you will play?
I'll play three $10,000 WSOP events this year and don't expect to go any higher than that buy-in level, but there are no guarantees that I won't!
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 WSOP and plan which events you're going to target this summer. If you're looking at the lower end of the buy-ins, check out The Rec's guide to the WSOP. If you're looking for action with a bigger budget, follow what Jennifer Tilly is doing.
Feature image courtesy of WPT
