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.
Maria Ho has been inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, is a GPI award-winning broadcaster, 2023 Game of Gold Champion, and has more than $5.2M in career cashes. In 2007, she was the last woman standing in the WSOP Main Event, eventually finishing in 38th place. Follow Maria on X/Twitter.
How should players prepare for the WSOP this summer?
I feel players should focus on having a really good daily routine. And whatever that is, you must ensure you get enough hours of sleep. I think it's so important to sleep well.
Do everything you need to do before you start playing, even if you have to sacrifice getting to the event right on time. It would be great if you could make it on time, but I think it's much better if you have given yourself enough time in the morning to mentally and physically center yourself.
You must remember that the best-case scenario is that you will sit at that poker table for 12 hours for the rest of your day. So, you have to make sure anything else you need to get done before that event is done.
Once you're in the tournament, you have to be focused. Put your phone away. It's so easy to get distracted. I can't tell you how many things people are missing when looking down at their phones instead of paying attention to what's happening at the table.
Also, I’m very particular about the food I eat when playing. I go for high-energy foods that keep me full throughout the day. I'm always going to bring a high-protein snack, whether a bar or a filling snack like nuts. I always try to have a little food on hand so I'm not feeling depleted. I'm not scrambling for bad options.
Generally speaking, I have a low-carb, high-protein, very macro-based diet. I'm focusing on something that will sustain me through the day. Then, I don't eat that much during the dinner break. I’d rather spend my dinner break meditating or something like that than eating a big meal.
What WSOP event are you most looking forward to playing?
That’s an easy answer; it has to be the Main Event, right? There are so many events on the schedule that are cool and different and ones that you're not going to get to play every day. I like the $10K Dealer choice. That’s an amazing tournament.
But the WSOP Main Event is just so special. Even though I've played it, I think now for maybe 11 years, I’m excited every time I sit down. I get nervous in a way that I don't feel before any other tournament during the year. I can't put my finger on it. I think the Main Event is just the year's most memorable event.
What’s your favorite WSOP moment?
There have been so many.
One of the moments that stuck out to me was playing with a blind player. They had somebody look at their cards and then whisper to them the cards, the flop, and everything else.
That moment was so cool for me. This game exists where we are all essentially on an even playing field, right? And that person played so well that day. I was so impressed by them. Even though there were some elements that they weren't able to access, such as looking at their opponent across the table to pick up on reads.
But that doesn't mean they're not still using all their skill sets to make the best decision possible. And I think, at the end of the day, that's what poker is about. You can sit down, play with anybody, and have a chance to win. I love that. I love how it's so accessible to so many different people. Poker is not a game that discriminates.
That moment reinforced for me that poker is a game that brings everybody together. No matter what your circumstances are, you have a chance to win, and you have a chance to beat the best. And it's the kind of game anybody would want to participate in.
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
