The countdown to the Main Event is on. This is part of a series of articles we'll release as the marquee event draws closer. Check back daily for more tips about everything from strategy advice on the felt to how and where to take your precious breaks.
We're one day away from the first starting flight of the most anticipated poker tournament of the year. The World Series of Poker Main Event begins tomorrow, Wednesday, July 3.
Many of you have had this date circled since the last card of the Main Event fell last year. But, if you've waited until now to begin planning your days, breaks, and strategy, I suggest spending a little thought before the cards start flying. The last thing you want is to be stressed, lost, or uncomfortable when you should be focusing on cards.
The essential choices
Before you do anything, you must decide which starting day to play. We already wrote a detailed piece about how it doesn't matter which day you play. Pick which day best fits your schedule off the felt. But, when should you sit down at the tables?
This is one tournament in which most players choose to sit down at the start of Level 1. It's special, it comes around once a year, and they want to maximize their time spent in the incomparable atmosphere.
Strategically, if you feel you are one of the better players in the field, there are additional reasons to sit down early. There will be players from all different skill sets, careers, and experience, many of whom don't frequently play $10,000 buy-in events. If you want their chips, get there early as they're the least likely to be there later in the day.
However, the Main Event is a tournament of endurance, testing your ability to stay focused for full days on end. If endurance isn't your strong suit, you may choose to late register this one. In fact, you can skip Day 1 altogether if you like and start Day 2 with 60 big blinds.
Buy in early if you can
The lines at this year's WSOP have been fairly good. Still, the last thing you want to do is be annoyed about standing in a long line you didn't expect before sitting down to play.
You can buy into the Main Event now if you so choose, and that's even if you're playing one of the later starting flights. Roll down to the cashier at the Paris Casino side in the late evening and you'll likely stroll right up to an open registration window. Or, if you have a tournament account set up, you can use the Bravo app to register and avoid the lines altogether.
Have a plan for breaks
When the clock hits zero on the two-hour levels, a flood of players will be heading out the doors in search of a place to spend their 20-minute breaks. If you don't know how you're going to spend it, it'll be gone before you know it. You'll wander for five minutes through the smoky Horseshoe always, stand in a long bathroom line, and have to rush back to your seat.
Those 20 minutes are invaluable to recharge, reset, and refocus. Treat them as such.
We're biased, but we think the best place to spend your breaks is the PokerOrg Clubhouse at the Legends Lounge. We already wrote a detailed article about what you can expect there. Come by, we'd love to see you and hear how your Main Event is going.
Stick to your game
This is one tournament where nearly every player gets nervous when they sit down. Goosebumps rise at the "shuffle up and deal."
This is no time to change everything about your game.
Sticking with what you know, what you've found success with in the past, and what lets you play your A-game is the way to go. We all know it's a long, deep structure. When you take your first bad beat or hit to your stack, be ready to take a deep breath and move on. Those who can't will likely not go far.
Take the thing down
We all dream of being the next Main Event champion. The anticipation, the journey, and the path to discovering who it will be will the the air of the WSOP for the next two straight weeks.
One of us will hoist the most coveted prize in the game. We hope it's one of our beloved members of The Org. It may be an ambassador of the game like one of our Player Advisory Board members.
Tomorrow the journey begins.
