Now that the WSOP* 2012 schedule has been announced, poker players everywhere are now avidly looking forward to playing in the event, but are you prepared? Do you realize what to expect on-site? Do you understand the best way to prepare for lengthy, grueling days of playing alongside the globe's top rated competitors?
Live and on-line players who have never played the event might be taking their very first shot at the tournament this summer. Some are experienced live players who have never ever played the main event while others could be former Internet players from the U.S. who choose to go this year for the first time playing live.
Whatever your situation, this post is Part 1 of three for any person wanting to get ready for this major tournament:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and consists of 61 poker tournaments of different types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, and so on.) and buy-ins. The best recognized event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are numerous smaller tourneys which players can participate in with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop some serious coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, with its $1 million buy-in. Something new for this year is the fact that there will be only three starting days for the main event, down from 4 last year. You are able to find a total list of all 61 events for 2012 in other parts of this article. For basic information on schedule, structures and guidelines go to WSOP.com.
Places to stay: The tournaments are all held at the Rio once again this year. Even though not situated on the Strip, the venue is close for the Strip. Locations to stay certainly include the Rio itself, the Palms Hotel (just across the street), and any strip hotel, all of which are inside a 15 minute cab ride. Caesars properties including Caesars, Harrah's, Bally's, and so on typically have a totally free shuttle going to the Rio at various times. Most do, but not all, so ask the hotel once you're planning your trip.
Other options are to get an apartment, condo or house. This is pretty attractive if you plan on going out for a month or more. Staying at a hotel all that time can get pretty exhausting with all the wading through gaming areas and the generally chaotic environment of any casino. It also may give you the ability to eat a healthier diet (more on that in Part 2-it is important) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is rarely near the strip. Finding a place to stay that you can count on being what you expect can be challenging but look for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or contact a real estate agent in Las Vegas for surest bets.
Location and layout: The Rio is, of course, a typical Vegas hotel, meaning it is like a giant shopping mall of gaming, retail, restaurant, hotel and more gaming. The WSOP is held within the convention area in the rear of the building. Plan on avoiding the main front valet and parking and go to the rear where there is special valet and parking area just for the convention space. Tell taxi drivers to drop you off at this valet too. You'll still be walking a bunch but this will reduce it down.
The basic layout covers two large rooms. Inside each is a sea of poker tables-a pretty awesome site for anyone who likes poker, actually. One room is where most tournaments start, sit and go and other satellite and small tourneys take place, and cash games are run. A myriad of cash games are offered and the action is quite good. This is also where the awards stage is located. The awards stage is where bracelets are given to event winners in brief ceremonies held around noon each day. Kind of entertaining is the playing of each bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style, during which all dealers pause games and most stand.
The other room is for tournaments only, and usually the later stages of tournaments although some start off there as well. It is also where a number of televised table set ups are, used to shoot feature tables and final tables. If you're a fan, you are able to actually watch final tables being shot for television, despite the fact that seating and standing is somewhat restricted.
Finally, you can find a number of mostly private players lounges set up by sponsors and also a common eating region. The common eating area has a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold choices. Many say they do not like the food, but there's a decent assortment and even some healthy possibilities so it's not too shabby considering the size of the affair. You can find also a few on-site restaurants but you have to send a friend to reserve a table at those if you expect to get seated while on a tourney dinner break because they get booked up.
So now you have the lay of the land.
Visit pokerplyr.com for WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part Two which covers "What to bring and How you can prepare." You can also find Part Three at the site.
*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively Harrah's). HIE does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with pokerplyr.com or its products, services, or promotions.
Live and on-line players who have never played the event might be taking their very first shot at the tournament this summer. Some are experienced live players who have never ever played the main event while others could be former Internet players from the U.S. who choose to go this year for the first time playing live.
Whatever your situation, this post is Part 1 of three for any person wanting to get ready for this major tournament:
Schedule: The event runs this year from May 27 to July 16, 2012 and consists of 61 poker tournaments of different types (limit and no-limit hold'em, Omaha, and so on.) and buy-ins. The best recognized event is of course the $10K buy-in main event (officially known as Event #61) but there are numerous smaller tourneys which players can participate in with buy-ins ranging from $1K to $5K. If you want to drop some serious coin, play the Big One For ONE DROP, with its $1 million buy-in. Something new for this year is the fact that there will be only three starting days for the main event, down from 4 last year. You are able to find a total list of all 61 events for 2012 in other parts of this article. For basic information on schedule, structures and guidelines go to WSOP.com.
Places to stay: The tournaments are all held at the Rio once again this year. Even though not situated on the Strip, the venue is close for the Strip. Locations to stay certainly include the Rio itself, the Palms Hotel (just across the street), and any strip hotel, all of which are inside a 15 minute cab ride. Caesars properties including Caesars, Harrah's, Bally's, and so on typically have a totally free shuttle going to the Rio at various times. Most do, but not all, so ask the hotel once you're planning your trip.
Other options are to get an apartment, condo or house. This is pretty attractive if you plan on going out for a month or more. Staying at a hotel all that time can get pretty exhausting with all the wading through gaming areas and the generally chaotic environment of any casino. It also may give you the ability to eat a healthier diet (more on that in Part 2-it is important) and also can save on food costs. Drawbacks include more hassles for transportation given that such accommodation is rarely near the strip. Finding a place to stay that you can count on being what you expect can be challenging but look for short-term rentals and sub-lets in real estate searches and forums or contact a real estate agent in Las Vegas for surest bets.
Location and layout: The Rio is, of course, a typical Vegas hotel, meaning it is like a giant shopping mall of gaming, retail, restaurant, hotel and more gaming. The WSOP is held within the convention area in the rear of the building. Plan on avoiding the main front valet and parking and go to the rear where there is special valet and parking area just for the convention space. Tell taxi drivers to drop you off at this valet too. You'll still be walking a bunch but this will reduce it down.
The basic layout covers two large rooms. Inside each is a sea of poker tables-a pretty awesome site for anyone who likes poker, actually. One room is where most tournaments start, sit and go and other satellite and small tourneys take place, and cash games are run. A myriad of cash games are offered and the action is quite good. This is also where the awards stage is located. The awards stage is where bracelets are given to event winners in brief ceremonies held around noon each day. Kind of entertaining is the playing of each bracelet winner's national anthem, Olympics-style, during which all dealers pause games and most stand.
The other room is for tournaments only, and usually the later stages of tournaments although some start off there as well. It is also where a number of televised table set ups are, used to shoot feature tables and final tables. If you're a fan, you are able to actually watch final tables being shot for television, despite the fact that seating and standing is somewhat restricted.
Finally, you can find a number of mostly private players lounges set up by sponsors and also a common eating region. The common eating area has a handful of different food stations serving hot and cold choices. Many say they do not like the food, but there's a decent assortment and even some healthy possibilities so it's not too shabby considering the size of the affair. You can find also a few on-site restaurants but you have to send a friend to reserve a table at those if you expect to get seated while on a tourney dinner break because they get booked up.
So now you have the lay of the land.
Visit pokerplyr.com for WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part Two which covers "What to bring and How you can prepare." You can also find Part Three at the site.
*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively Harrah's). HIE does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with pokerplyr.com or its products, services, or promotions.
About the Author:
JJ Cage is a poker player and is Chief Editor at pokerplyr.com. You can see his WSOP 2012 Guide -- Part Two here and get more great advice on surviving and succeeding at the WSOP. For thoughtful poker news analysis, useful poker tips, and must have poker info visit pokerplyr.com
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