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.
Brad Ruben is a four-time WSOP bracelet winner and a WSOP Circuit Main Event ring winner. He donates 1% of his tournament wins to Shields and Stripes, a nonprofit that provides Military Veterans and First Responders the opportunity to heal visible and non-visible wounds. You can follow Brad on Instagram.
How should players prep for the WSOP this summer?
The series is an absolute grind, so it's imperative that players get in as good as shape as possible. Tournaments take up to 12 hours a day, which is very grueling on the body and the mind.
Daily exercise, yoga, meditation, sauna, cold plunge, or whatever you prefer to get fit is essential, both leading up to the series and during the series. Being in a good place physically and mentally raises the floor of your performance.
What event are you most looking forward to playing?
Other than the Main Event, which is always epic, and the reason that I and several others got into this beautiful game in the first place, I'm most looking forward to the inaugural $10,000 Big O. The inaugural $1,500 Big O last year got an amazing turnout and I'm expecting this one will as well.
What's the best way to begin to learn mixed games?
Super System is a great place to start to learn the fundamentals of each game. I watch videos on Run it Once and replays of previous WSOP mixed events, but I feel the best teacher is experience.
After knowing the basics, look for small mixed cash games and tourneys. Take notes on some interesting hands and review them with a friend who is more learned in the games, or review them with a coach.
What advice do you have for players who are new to playing the Main Event?
First and foremost, have fun! Also, make sure it's within your bankroll. If it isn't, try to satellite in or sell some action. It's a large buy-in, and if you're thinking about the money instead of the game, you're going to struggle.
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.
