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Preparing For First Wsop Tournament


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As you can see, I haven't made many posts but I read through these forums a lot and I appreciate any advice I can get.So, a few weeks ago I turned $8 into a $2k WSOP package on FullTilt and I plan on playing a $1,500 event (I know, slight brag post). After going to the WSOP the past few years for cash games and satellites I am finally going to play so I am obviously excited about that. I have had a lot of success in the SNG satellites at the WSOP but never enough time to play an event. I considered selling my chips due to my bankroll but in then end I really only spent $8 and it should be a good experience no matter what.As for preparing for this, I have been very happy with my game lately but have no results to show due to the luck factor. I focus on whether or not I am making the right decisions and I have definitely been doing well in that sense over the past months. What I am wondering is if I should read or re-read some books on MTT strategy in preparing to play this tournament? It's been a while since I have read anything besides articles in Cardplayer or something from a forum like this. Would you read or re-read or just focus on your current game or both? Is it possible that reading books on MTT strategy between now and June could hurt or will they only help? Just looking for advice on what kind of approach I should take in preparing for this.Note: I have limited time to play live tournaments before the WSOP.Thanks.

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I'm very interested in some responses to this, too, as I'm in a similar position to the OP.

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Some suggestions from my similar experience last year:1. Don't obsess about this one tournament. It's all I could think about for weeks. By the time it started, I was so worked up, there was no doubt that I would screw up at some point. I ended up making a stupid mistake that I would rarely make, and took a pretty early exit. I took it too seriously, tried too hard, and didn't play my regular game.2. Enjoy the experience. Vegas during the WSOP is awesome.3. While the quality of players at your table may vary from complete donks to professionals, I found my tables to all play tight. Obviously, the better players were TAG. What I didn't see, like you do in internet mtts, are people pushing early with hands like AJ, AQ, and similar. Good Luck out there.

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Some suggestions from my similar experience last year:1. Don't obsess about this one tournament. It's all I could think about for weeks. By the time it started, I was so worked up, there was no doubt that I would screw up at some point. I ended up making a stupid mistake that I would rarely make, and took a pretty early exit. I took it too seriously, tried too hard, and didn't play my regular game.2. Enjoy the experience. Vegas during the WSOP is awesome.3. While the quality of players at your table may vary from complete donks to professionals, I found my tables to all play tight. Obviously, the better players were TAG. What I didn't see, like you do in internet mtts, are people pushing early with hands like AJ, AQ, and similar. Good Luck out there.
Thanks Sandwedge, and you are right on with your first and second points. I have been to the WSOP the past few years and it has always been a great experience even without playing any major events. Now that I won a seat and have time to play in one of the events, it has obviously gotten me really excited. I have already thought about how I need to not put too much pressure on myself and just go play and enjoy it. I really think that mindset will help me out. It helps to remember that it's only costing me $8...I try not to look at it as if I was spending $1,500.
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What type of tournament are you planning on playing in? LHE, NLHE, mixed game?I played a $1500 LHE last year (my first WSOP) and I was a little worked up. But once I sat down and the cards were in the air I felt right at home. My table was on one of the rails and while there was no pros on the table, people still stopped to watch us play so that was a little different. But other than that, it was like playing in a regular casino tourney.$1500 was not a lot of chips to start with and one big hand pretty much wipes you out. Which is what happened to me when in two succesive hands I had QQ vs. KK and then held AK vs QQ. The hour long levels help give you some play though.This year they are doubling the starting chip counts. So you'll be starting with 3K chips in the event you play.It sounds like you played live before but just in case you haven't played live tournaments in the past, I would highly suggest playing in at least one or two before you go out there, just to get used to handling the chips/cards and following the action correctly. Definitely read/re-read Harrington's books and practice your game.I don't think rereading a book can hurt, in fact their might be something obscure that you forgot about that might help correct something in your game.Good luck!

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I would probably skim through a few books, like HoH vol. 3 and Ace on the River. Always good to to be thinking. I might play a $50 buy-in tourney somewhere in Vegas either the day before or a couple of days before the $1,500 event. Getting in some live-game practice is extremely helpful. Go to sleep early the night before. The last time I played a "big" event, I went to bet at my normal time but I had a hard time sleeping because I was thinking about the tournament. Get plenty of sleep and eat a filling but not overly heavy breakfast.Just do whatever it takes to put yourself in the right mindframe.GL/TID

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Read (or Re-read) HoH 1-2 at least. Don't get too obsessed. And, get in as much live tourney practice as you can. I played in Events #2 and #6 last year and there were people of all skills involved. Enjoy yourself and book your flight and room (if they aren't included in your prize) early to get them at reasonable prices.-M

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^^^^^^^^^By this point, extra reading with relatively little time to perfect your new knowledge may only confuse you and mess up your game, a game that obviously got you into the WSOP as it was. Just keep practicing and make note of things to work on as you practice. As good as many of the books are for learning, no learning experience will help you more at this point than actually playing and discovering new things through trial and error.

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i will reiterate what chucksty posted on p5s a while back re: 1500 prelim events:"this is how much preparation you need to make for the 1500 chip events.scenarios1)damn ak- i hope i can get it all in preflp against a pocket pair2) i hope that guy has ak and i can get these 9's in as a baby fav.3) aa or kk - please god let someboday have a pocket pairbest piece of advice: don't lose any showdowns"

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If you've never played live, experienced players will regard you as basically one giant tell factory unless you do something about it...read every book on live play you can get your hands on (Caro, Navarro, etc.) and play live as much as you can. One small practical exercise: when you're playing online, get in the habit of not reacting no matter what happens. If you have a digital camera that makes movies, film the hell out of yourself as you play and try to notice what you're giving away. Good luck, man!

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If you've never played live, experienced players will regard you as basically one giant tell factory unless you do something about it...read every book on live play you can get your hands on (Caro, Navarro, etc.) and play live as much as you can. One small practical exercise: when you're playing online, get in the habit of not reacting no matter what happens. If you have a digital camera that makes movies, film the hell out of yourself as you play and try to notice what you're giving away. Good luck, man!
Jesus, that is FANTASTIC advice.
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I might play a $50 buy-in tourney somewhere in Vegas either the day before or a couple of days before the $1,500 event. Getting in some live-game practice is extremely helpful.
++Definitely hit some low buy-in MTT's to get some live tourney experience under your belt before you play the event. I haven't played many live MTTs since beginning my SNG / MTT career but i think the play is alot different than online. And, once you start playing in the event, remind yourself that the tournament only cost you $8, so relax, remind yourself that this is a freeroll and that essientially you have nothing to lose, and go get em.
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I played one of the $2K events last year and it was actually the biggest field I'd ever played against live with 1919 players, or something like that. You get all worked up to play in it, you worry about tons of little things and excited about even more and when you finally get there, you realize it's just a card game. There are good players, there are bad players and there's you. Some people will get lucky and some won't.The thing is that the chips are pretty short and you don't really have any room to make mistakes or you'll be out in no time. You just gotta play solid and hope things go your way in the beginning and enjoy the experience.I still had fun and I got busted out after 6 hours, getting it all in PF for 35BBs with my AA vs T6o of the villain. You might wonder how such a ridiculous hand could happen, but then you remember ti's the WSOP.

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I played one of the $2K events last year and it was actually the biggest field I'd ever played against live with 1919 players
Was that event #6?I played in that one also. I went out right before the dinner break with 10-10 on a 9 high board. He had Q-Q :club:
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Some suggestions from my similar experience last year:1. Don't obsess about this one tournament. It's all I could think about for weeks. By the time it started, I was so worked up, there was no doubt that I would screw up at some point. I ended up making a stupid mistake that I would rarely make, and took a pretty early exit. I took it too seriously, tried too hard, and didn't play my regular game.2. Enjoy the experience. Vegas during the WSOP is awesome.3. While the quality of players at your table may vary from complete donks to professionals, I found my tables to all play tight. Obviously, the better players were TAG. What I didn't see, like you do in internet mtts, are people pushing early with hands like AJ, AQ, and similar. Good Luck out there.
I completely agree. #1 especially. Last year was my first experience at the WSOP (Event #2) and I played so tight I squeaked. Granted, I feel I'm alot better player today then I was then, but I let the fact that it was the WSOP and that I was just amazed to be there let it affect everything.At least you get double chips this year, starting off with 1500 doesn't leave you much room if you get no cards.Definitely alot of TAGs and barely any LAGs. You'll have a story to tell, no matter what, and that is always cool. Have fun! that's the most important part!
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Was that event #6?I played in that one also. I went out right before the dinner break with 10-10 on a 9 high board. He had Q-Q :club:
My #6 was 15 minutes long last year. KK vs AA.Oh crap, wrong forum. Don't hurt me Zach!
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