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.
Writer of the Emmy-winning Weeds, Matt Salsberg is also a former WPT Paris champion and WPT POY. Follow Matt on X/Twitter.
How to prep for the summer grind
I'd recommend everyone bring their parents, kids, in-laws, and significant others with them, who all disapprove of this lifestyle and will shame them after each bust out and beg them to go home early. Just have a lot of people there who don't understand poker to engage in off-the-felt drama so that when they're grinding, their minds are cluttered with things that have nothing to do with the hands in front of them.
I'd also suggest eating huge starchy breakfasts right before play, drinking beer in the early levels to loosen up, and playing cash games during dinner breaks so you don't lose your momentum.
It's also a good idea to liquidate your assets before your trip in case you're stuck, so you can just jump into the high rollers if you're getting buried and hit the pits if the high rollers don't go your way.
What event are you most looking forward to playing?
The main is always the best event ever. There's nothing that comes close, so that's the obvious choice.
Unfortunately, and fortunately, I'm eligible for the $5k Seniors, so that one is second on my list. I played the $10k seniors at the Wynn in December, and it was full of animals who gave zero f***s about ICM on the stone bubble and just all went hard, which blew my mind.
What's the biggest event you're going to play?
Well, I've played six $25ks in my life and am 0 for 6, so I'll probably just stay in my lane and stick to the main, and probably the $10k 6-max, which I really love but bubbled last year. It's definitely one of the hardest events, but the pace is so great it makes up for the stiff competition.
I like playing against great players though. The Wynn $10k is a must, too. But if I ship a big one early, I could see myself playing a $25k.
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.
Images courtesy of WPT
