Well, here we are again in the middle of the World Series of Poker. The richest sporting event in the world is spreading 61 open gold bracelet events ranging from $1,000 to $1,000,000 in buy-in. By far the most popular events at the WSOP are the standard No Limit Hold'em fare; 18 of the 61 events are in standard full-table No Limit Texas Hold'Em format; another 10 are special variations thereof (heads-up, 6-max etc.)
These NLH events are so much more popular than any of the other games spread that although the prize pools are huge, defeating a field of 3,000+ players is incredibly difficult - no matter the game and no matter your skill level. That's just a heck of a lot of people to try to beat. Thus, while talented professional players often take down the NLH events, any individual professional in one of these tournaments has very little chance of finishing in first place and taking home the bracelet. So much as making the final table of such events pays at least $30,000. First place will commonly take down half a million dollars or more. The all-time record: At the 2006 WSOP Main Event, unknown Jamie Gold took it down for a cool $12 million dollars - with all $12 million in cash sitting on the table between him and runner-up Las Vegas Pro Paul Wasicka. Notably The Big One for One Drop promises to overthrow Jamie's record; the $1 million buy-in event promises to be the ultimate super-high-roller event. The prize pool could be as much as $43 million and first place could exceed $17 million dollars!
But trust me: If your goal is to win a WSOP gold bracelet, the Big One for One Drop is probably not the one to aim for. Large buy-in tournaments cause costly swings in your bank roll. It would take most of us an awfully long time to grind up $10,000 that could be lost on the turn of a single card at any moment in the Main Event. Large prizes are available in less expensive events, so us regular Joe's usually prefer to play in the $1,000 or $1,500 events - maybe $2500 - possibly $3,000. Which puts us into the most difficult of NLH tournaments - thousands of opponents - plenty of them highly skilled - and with just enough total donks putting wicked suck-outs of players left and right. It all adds up to a very unlikely road to WSOP gold.
So here's my theory: For those of us of modest bankroll, WSOP events with smaller fields in somewhat less popular poker variants may well be easier to win (or go deep in). So for the last four years I have been playing the $1,500 Fixed Limit Hold'em event. The first year I busted early-ish on Day 1; the second year I busted late on Day 1. Last year I bubbled about 12 off the money on Day 2, and finally this year just before dinner on Day 2, 80 other players and I cashed! Not long later I got my short stack all-in with QQ against 33, and he flopped his set. Min cash. Oh well. Maybe next year.
Having finally cashed in a WSOP event, I am beginning to feel vindicated in my belief that I could do well in the World Series of Poker by dedicating myself to the study of a less-popular poker variant. For this purpose I had carefully selected Fixed Limit Hold'em. The advantages that FLH offers to its devotees are:
1. FLH is deceptively simple. NLH players are forever getting themselves in all sorts of trouble in FLH tournaments. Tournament series which include FLH normally have it sandwiched in among many NLH tournaments. This encourages lots of all-but-dead-money. Most NLH players view FLH as a game for sissies, children and simpletons. I encourage all such non-believers to get in touch with Crazy Mike. He'll be waiting for you at Aria - anytime. The big blind is $4,000. I predict he'll make a believer out of you.
2. People can't really bluff in FLH. Fixed Limit games are not bluffing games. It will almost always be so cheap for your opponent to call you down that a bluff will rarely fold anyone off. This ineluctable fact is one of the less appealing aspects of the game. FLH tournaments simply don't afford the opportunity to make the same kind of daring moves that NLH tournaments do. But that said, there are excellent bluffing opportunities in FLH and devotees of the game will have a significant advantage in knowing which bluffs are actually +EV.
3. There is no book. Dan Harrington's three volume set on NLH tournament strategy is an outstanding landmark in the field of poker strategy. The books have proven to be so good, that the entire game of NLH has been made considerably harder by virtue of their publication. But no such books have ever been written on FLH as a tournament game. There are a number of books on FLH as either low or middle limit cash games, but none directly on the subject of tournament play. Of course, the same is basically true for just about any game other than NLH.
4. FLH is a highly logical game where an understanding of the unrelenting mathematics of FLH can give you a significant edge over those who are less savvy. But here again, this is true of all FL games.
I am really happy with my choice of game. I wish there were more FLH tournaments spread every year, but the WSOP remains steadfastly committed to including a full slate of FLH events. There are only about 8 live FLH tournaments each year oustide the WSOP. PokerStars is the only online operator with any real commitment to FLH tournaments. This make is extremely difficult for very many players to have significant experience in playing fixed limit tournaments.
In the FLH tournament world, the WSOP FLH events are 90% or more of all prize money available all year. So serious pros do not spend a lot of time focusing on FLH tournaments. Don't get me wrong: The serious pros are absolutely all over the FLH WSOP events, but those tend to be the only FLH events they ever play. Although their FLH skills may be outstanding (i.e. as to the tactics to employ in the play of each hand - check-raising, donk-betting, three-betting from the button etc.), these same pros may know almost nothing about how to factor in stack size considerations in Fixed Limit Hold'em. This is a very significant opportunity to get a huge advantage over the pros and indeed over the whole field.
But for all the benefits of FLH tournaments, I actually think there might be an even better choice: Razz. The WSOP spreads just one pure Razz tournament annually - a $2500 affair which is without question the de facto world championship of Razz. In a typical year there might be one or two other live Razz tournaments in the entire world. And those will be $100-$200 events. Razz tournaments are also quite scarce online. And if there is one game which is MORE rigorously logical and mathematical than FLH, it's Razz.
Hold'em is said to be a game that takes minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. This is simply not the case with Razz. Because Razz is a stud variant, for most of the hand the strength (or possible strength) of your hand is readliy seen by a thinking opponent. This makes Razz relatively easy to play; sniffing out bluffs and dodging bad beats is about all there is too it. Also Razz has a number of seductive pitfalls which experienced players can often easily avoid.
One real disadvantage of all Fixed Limit tournaments at the WSOP is that by the time the unpaid 88% of the field has been eliminated, the remaining 12% of the field tends to be fairly thickly populated by very serious FLH players, which makes the post-bubble play very tough. The final tables of such events often star-studded, though several unknowns make it every time. Look at the last couple of Razz bracelet winners:
2012: Phill Hellmuth Jr. - his unprecendented 12th WSOP gold bracelet - his record
2011: Las Vegas Pro Rep Porter
2010: Las Vegas Pro and WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassella
2009: Italian online and live cash game Pro Jeffrey Lisandro
2008: California Pro Barry Greenstein
2007: German online Pro Katja Thater
So maybe Razz isn't the best choice either . . .
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday, August 2, 2009
WSOP Europe dumps H.O.R.S.E.
It is a shame to see the way that Harrah's Entertainment constantly disses fixed limit poker. The latest slap is the elimination of the HORSE event from the World Series of Poker Europe.
Since at least 2006, HORSE has been shown to be the ultimate test of poker skill. While one unknown player after another has combined skill with a lot of luck to win the Main Event $10K No Limit Hold'Em tournament, the $50K HORSE event has been won by some outstanding players:
2006 Chip Reese
2007 Freddy Deeb
2008 Scotty Nguyen
2009 David Bach
Granted David Bach is not as well known as Reese, Deeb and Nguyen, but Bach is an excellent player who has many prior WSOP cashes to his name.
Besides, let's look at the entire final table. I haven't run the numbers on 2009 and 2006, but here are the players that were at the final table of the 50K HORSE event in 2007 and 2008:
Barry Greenstein (in both 2007 and 2008) holder of 3 WSOP bracelets
Doyle Brunson 10 bracelets
T J Cloutier 6 bracelets
Phil Ivey 5 bracelets
Scotty Nguyen 5 bracelets
Huck Seed 4 bracelets
Lyle Berman 3 bracelets
Chip Reese 3 bracelets
Dewey Tomko 3 bracelets
Freddy Deeb 2 bracelets
Thor Hansen 2 bracelets
David Singer 1 bracelet
Erick Lindgren 1 bracelet
Jim Bechtel 1 bracelet
Kenny Tran 1 bracelet
Robert Williamson 1 bracelets
Or in other words, among the 17 people at those two final tables, every one of them already had at least one bracelet and collectively they had among them 51 bracelets. I tabulated that last year, so in fact the numbers may have gone up a little, as I think Ivey, Greenstein and Lindgren have each won an additional bracelet since then.
Anyway, the upshot is that the HORSE event is plainly the true test of skill at the WSOP. As it also was in the WSOPE. But not anymore. Because Harah's has dropped the event. Again.
Since at least 2006, HORSE has been shown to be the ultimate test of poker skill. While one unknown player after another has combined skill with a lot of luck to win the Main Event $10K No Limit Hold'Em tournament, the $50K HORSE event has been won by some outstanding players:
2006 Chip Reese
2007 Freddy Deeb
2008 Scotty Nguyen
2009 David Bach
Granted David Bach is not as well known as Reese, Deeb and Nguyen, but Bach is an excellent player who has many prior WSOP cashes to his name.
Besides, let's look at the entire final table. I haven't run the numbers on 2009 and 2006, but here are the players that were at the final table of the 50K HORSE event in 2007 and 2008:
Barry Greenstein (in both 2007 and 2008) holder of 3 WSOP bracelets
Doyle Brunson 10 bracelets
T J Cloutier 6 bracelets
Phil Ivey 5 bracelets
Scotty Nguyen 5 bracelets
Huck Seed 4 bracelets
Lyle Berman 3 bracelets
Chip Reese 3 bracelets
Dewey Tomko 3 bracelets
Freddy Deeb 2 bracelets
Thor Hansen 2 bracelets
David Singer 1 bracelet
Erick Lindgren 1 bracelet
Jim Bechtel 1 bracelet
Kenny Tran 1 bracelet
Robert Williamson 1 bracelets
Or in other words, among the 17 people at those two final tables, every one of them already had at least one bracelet and collectively they had among them 51 bracelets. I tabulated that last year, so in fact the numbers may have gone up a little, as I think Ivey, Greenstein and Lindgren have each won an additional bracelet since then.
Anyway, the upshot is that the HORSE event is plainly the true test of skill at the WSOP. As it also was in the WSOPE. But not anymore. Because Harah's has dropped the event. Again.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
WSOP Time!
Haven't updated the old blog in quite a while, but the WSOP is on and there are 5 Limit Hold'em events! Here's the line-up:
Event 14 - Fri, Jun 5th 5:00 PM - Limit Hold'em 6-Handed - $2,500 updates
Event 26 - Fri, Jun 12th 12:00 PM - Limit Hold’em - $1,500
Event 33 - Mon, Jun 15th 5:00 PM - World Championship Limit Hold'em - $10,000
Event 38 - Fri, Jun 19th 12:00 PM - Limit Hold’em - $2,000
Event 50 - Fri, Jun 26th 5:00 PM - Limit Hold’em Shootout - $1,500
Event 14 is underway - actually the final table of it is playing down right now. Daniel Negreanu is still in it with only four remaining. If Negreanu should take it down, then that will be his third bracelet in LHE, putting him in leagues with Phil Hellmuth only. Otherwise he will have to settle for keeping company with Tony Ma, David Chiu, Erik Seidel, and Jay Heimowitz, who all, like Daniel, have two LHE bracelets.
I think this is the first ever 6-handed LHE tournament in the WSOP. It is a format that has gained a huge following on the internet and its nice to see that the situation is not lost on the WSOP organizers.
Nice to also see that the organizers have scheduled it so that there is a Limit HE event every Friday in June, making it perhaps a bit easier to organize around the schedule - at least for the likes of the Mayor.
Event 14 - Fri, Jun 5th 5:00 PM - Limit Hold'em 6-Handed - $2,500 updates
Event 26 - Fri, Jun 12th 12:00 PM - Limit Hold’em - $1,500
Event 33 - Mon, Jun 15th 5:00 PM - World Championship Limit Hold'em - $10,000
Event 38 - Fri, Jun 19th 12:00 PM - Limit Hold’em - $2,000
Event 50 - Fri, Jun 26th 5:00 PM - Limit Hold’em Shootout - $1,500
Event 14 is underway - actually the final table of it is playing down right now. Daniel Negreanu is still in it with only four remaining. If Negreanu should take it down, then that will be his third bracelet in LHE, putting him in leagues with Phil Hellmuth only. Otherwise he will have to settle for keeping company with Tony Ma, David Chiu, Erik Seidel, and Jay Heimowitz, who all, like Daniel, have two LHE bracelets.
I think this is the first ever 6-handed LHE tournament in the WSOP. It is a format that has gained a huge following on the internet and its nice to see that the situation is not lost on the WSOP organizers.
Nice to also see that the organizers have scheduled it so that there is a Limit HE event every Friday in June, making it perhaps a bit easier to organize around the schedule - at least for the likes of the Mayor.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
WSOP Circuit Schedule
OCT-02 thru OCT-14-2008 Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Thu, Oct 2nd No-Limit Hold’em $340
Fri, Oct 3rd No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sat, Oct 4th No-Limit Hold’em $1,060
Sun, Oct 5th Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em $225
Mon, Oct 6th No Limit Hold 'Em Turbo $340 T
ue, Oct 7th Pot Limit Omaha $550
Wed, Oct 8th No Limit Hold 'Em $340
Thu, Oct 9th No Limit Hold 'Em $550
Fri, Oct 10th No Limit Hold 'Em $1,060
Sun, Oct 12th Championship Event $5,150
OCT-24 thru NOV-02-2008 Horseshoe Hammond
Fri Oct 24 NL Hold-em $345
Sat Oct 25 NL Hold-em $555
Sun Oct 26 NL Hold-em $1,100
Sun Oct 26 NL Hold-em $235 Ladies Event
Mon Oct 27 NL Hold-em $555
Mon Oct 27 PL Omaha $235
Tue Oct 28 NL Hold-em $775
Tue Oct 28 H.O.R.S.E. $345
Wed Oct 29 NL Hold-em $2,100
Wed Oct 29 Omaha-8 $345
Fri Oct 31 NL Hold-em $5,150
Sat Nov 1 NL Hold-em $555
Sun Nov 2 NL Hold-em $345
NOV-06-2008 thru NOV-16-2008 Harvey's Lake Tahoe
Fri, Nov 7th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Nov 8th No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Nov 9th No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Nov 9th No Limit Hold'em (Ladies Only) $230
Mon, Nov 10th No Limit Hold'em $550
Mon, Nov 10th Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or better) $330
Tue, Nov 11th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Tue, Nov 11th H.O.R.S.E. $340
Wed, Nov 12th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Wed, Nov 12th No-Limit Hold’em (6-handed) $550
Fri, Nov 14th Circuit Championship Event $5,150
Sat, Nov 15th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sun, Nov 16th No-Limit Hold’em $340
DEC-05 thru DEC-18-2008 Harrah's Atlantic City
Fri Dec 5th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Sat Dec 6th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Sun Dec 7th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Mon Dec 8th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Tues Dec 9th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed Dec 10th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Thu Dec 11th No-Limit Hold’em $1080
Fri Dec 12th No-Limit Hold’em $2100
Sat Dec 13th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Sun Dec 14th No-Limit Hold’em $5150
Mon Dec 15th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Tue Dec 16th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed Dec 17th No-Limit Hold’em $230
Thu Dec 18th No-Limit Hold’em $230
JAN-20 thru FEB-09-2009 Harrah's Tunica
Tue, Jan 20th Event #1 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Jan 21st Event #2 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Jan 22nd Event #3 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, Jan 23rd Event #4 - No Limit Hold'em $440
Sat, Jan 24th Event #5 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Jan 25th Event #6 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Jan 26th Event #7 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Jan 28th Event #8 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Jan 29th Event #9 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, Jan 30th Event #10 - No Limit Hold'em $440
Sat, Jan 31st Event #11 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Feb 1st Event #12 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Feb 2nd Event #13 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Tue, Feb 3rd Event #14 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Feb 4th Event #15 - No Limit Hold'em $1,080
Thu, Feb 5th Event #15 - No Limit Hold'em $2,100
Sat, Feb 7th Event #16 - Circuit Championship $5,150
Sun, Feb 8th Event #17 - No Limit Hold'em $1,590
FEB-12 thru FEB-25-2009 Council Bluffs
TBA Thu, Feb 12th No Limit Hold'em $345
Fri, Feb 13th No Limit Hold'em $555
Sat, Feb 14th No Limit Hold'em $345
Sun, Feb 15th No Limit Hold'em $555
Sun, Feb 15th Ladies Championship $235
Mon, Feb 16th No Limit Hold'em $1,070
Mon, Feb 16th Omaha Hi/Lo $345
Tue, Feb 17th No Limit Hold'em $1,580
Tue, Feb 17th H.O.R.S.E $345
Wed, Feb 18th No Limit Hold'em $345
Wed, Feb 18th Limit Hold'em $345
Thu, Feb 19th No Limit Hold'em $555
Thu, Feb 19th NLH (6 handed) $345
Fri, Feb 20th No Limit Hold'em $345
Sat, Feb 21st No Limit Hold'em $555
Mon, Feb 23rd Championship Event $5,150
Mon, Feb 23rd Pot Limit Omaha $345
Tue, Feb 24th No Limit Hold'em $345
MAR-04 thru MAR-14-2009 Caesars Atlantic City
Wed, Mar 4th No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Mar 5th No Limit Hold'em $560
Fri, Mar 6th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 7th No Limit Hold'em $560
Sun, Mar 8th No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Mar 9th No Limit Hold'em $560
Tue, Mar 10th No Limit Hold'em $1,080
Wed, Mar 11th Turbo No Limit Hold'em $230
Thu, Mar 12th WSOP Championship Event $5,150
Fri, Mar 13th Turbo No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 14th Ladies No Limit Hold'em $230
MAR-19 thru MAR-29-2009 Harrah's Rincon (San Diego) Casino & Resort
Thu, Mar 19th No Limit Hold'em $230
Fri, Mar 20th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 21st No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Mar 22nd No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Mar 23rd No Limit Hold'em $340
Tue, Mar 24th No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Mar 25th No Limit Hold'em $440
Thu, Mar 26th No Limit Hold'em $770
Sat, Mar 28th Championship Event $5,150
Sun, Mar 29th No Limit Hold'em $230
APR-12 thru APR-29-2009 Caesars Palace (LV)
Sat 4/11/2009 1 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Sun 4/12/2009 2 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Mon 4/13/2009 3 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Tue 4/14/2009 4 6 Handed No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Tue 4/14/2009 5 Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Wed 4/15/2009 6 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Thu 4/16/2009 7 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Thu 4/16/2009 8 Pot Limit Omaha $500 + $50
Fri 4/17/2009 9 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Sat 4/18/2009 10 No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 + $70
Sat 4/18/2009 11 Double Stack Turbo No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Sun 4/19/2009 12 No-Limit Hold’em $1000 + $60
Mon 4/20/2009 13 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Mon 4/20/2009 14 Omaha 8 or Better $300 + $40
Tue 4/21/2009 15 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Wed 4/22/2009 16 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Wed 4/22/2009 17 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Thu 4/23/2009 18 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40 6,000
Fri 4/24/2009 19 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50 8,000
Sat 4/25/2009 20 No-Limit Hold’em $2000 + $80 15,000
Sat 4/25/2009 21 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Mon 4/27/2009 22 Circuit Championship $5000 + $150
MAY-08 thru MAY-20-2009 Harrah's New Orleans
Fri, May 8th 1 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, May 8th 2 - Limit Omaha H/L(8/B) $340
Sat, May 9th 3 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sat, May 9th 4 - Pot Limit Hold'em $340
Sun, May 10th 5 - No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sun, May 10th 6 - Pot Limit Hold’em $340
Mon, May 11th 7 - No-Limit Hold’em $550
Mon, May 11th 8 - Pot-Limit Omaha $550
Tue, May 12th 9 - NL Hold’em (6 Handed) $550
Tue, May 12th 10 - No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed, May 13th 11 - No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed, May 13th 12 -PL Hold’em/Omaha $550
Thu, May 14th 13 - No-Limit Hold’em $1,070
Thu, May 14th 14 - PL Omaha Hi-Low (8/B) $340
Fri, May 15th 15 - No Limit Hold’em $340
Fri, May 15th 16 - PL Omaha/Rebuys $235
Sat, May 16th 17 - No Limit Hold’em $550
Sat, May 16th 18 - Pot Limit Omaha $1,070
Sun, May 17th 19 - Ladies No Limit $340
Mon, May 18th 20 - Circuit Championship $5,150
Thu, Oct 2nd No-Limit Hold’em $340
Fri, Oct 3rd No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sat, Oct 4th No-Limit Hold’em $1,060
Sun, Oct 5th Ladies Only No-Limit Hold’em $225
Mon, Oct 6th No Limit Hold 'Em Turbo $340 T
ue, Oct 7th Pot Limit Omaha $550
Wed, Oct 8th No Limit Hold 'Em $340
Thu, Oct 9th No Limit Hold 'Em $550
Fri, Oct 10th No Limit Hold 'Em $1,060
Sun, Oct 12th Championship Event $5,150
OCT-24 thru NOV-02-2008 Horseshoe Hammond
Fri Oct 24 NL Hold-em $345
Sat Oct 25 NL Hold-em $555
Sun Oct 26 NL Hold-em $1,100
Sun Oct 26 NL Hold-em $235 Ladies Event
Mon Oct 27 NL Hold-em $555
Mon Oct 27 PL Omaha $235
Tue Oct 28 NL Hold-em $775
Tue Oct 28 H.O.R.S.E. $345
Wed Oct 29 NL Hold-em $2,100
Wed Oct 29 Omaha-8 $345
Fri Oct 31 NL Hold-em $5,150
Sat Nov 1 NL Hold-em $555
Sun Nov 2 NL Hold-em $345
NOV-06-2008 thru NOV-16-2008 Harvey's Lake Tahoe
Fri, Nov 7th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Nov 8th No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Nov 9th No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Nov 9th No Limit Hold'em (Ladies Only) $230
Mon, Nov 10th No Limit Hold'em $550
Mon, Nov 10th Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or better) $330
Tue, Nov 11th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Tue, Nov 11th H.O.R.S.E. $340
Wed, Nov 12th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Wed, Nov 12th No-Limit Hold’em (6-handed) $550
Fri, Nov 14th Circuit Championship Event $5,150
Sat, Nov 15th No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sun, Nov 16th No-Limit Hold’em $340
DEC-05 thru DEC-18-2008 Harrah's Atlantic City
Fri Dec 5th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Sat Dec 6th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Sun Dec 7th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Mon Dec 8th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Tues Dec 9th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed Dec 10th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Thu Dec 11th No-Limit Hold’em $1080
Fri Dec 12th No-Limit Hold’em $2100
Sat Dec 13th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Sun Dec 14th No-Limit Hold’em $5150
Mon Dec 15th No-Limit Hold’em $560
Tue Dec 16th No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed Dec 17th No-Limit Hold’em $230
Thu Dec 18th No-Limit Hold’em $230
JAN-20 thru FEB-09-2009 Harrah's Tunica
Tue, Jan 20th Event #1 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Jan 21st Event #2 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Jan 22nd Event #3 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, Jan 23rd Event #4 - No Limit Hold'em $440
Sat, Jan 24th Event #5 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Jan 25th Event #6 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Jan 26th Event #7 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Jan 28th Event #8 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Jan 29th Event #9 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, Jan 30th Event #10 - No Limit Hold'em $440
Sat, Jan 31st Event #11 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Feb 1st Event #12 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Feb 2nd Event #13 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Tue, Feb 3rd Event #14 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Feb 4th Event #15 - No Limit Hold'em $1,080
Thu, Feb 5th Event #15 - No Limit Hold'em $2,100
Sat, Feb 7th Event #16 - Circuit Championship $5,150
Sun, Feb 8th Event #17 - No Limit Hold'em $1,590
FEB-12 thru FEB-25-2009 Council Bluffs
TBA Thu, Feb 12th No Limit Hold'em $345
Fri, Feb 13th No Limit Hold'em $555
Sat, Feb 14th No Limit Hold'em $345
Sun, Feb 15th No Limit Hold'em $555
Sun, Feb 15th Ladies Championship $235
Mon, Feb 16th No Limit Hold'em $1,070
Mon, Feb 16th Omaha Hi/Lo $345
Tue, Feb 17th No Limit Hold'em $1,580
Tue, Feb 17th H.O.R.S.E $345
Wed, Feb 18th No Limit Hold'em $345
Wed, Feb 18th Limit Hold'em $345
Thu, Feb 19th No Limit Hold'em $555
Thu, Feb 19th NLH (6 handed) $345
Fri, Feb 20th No Limit Hold'em $345
Sat, Feb 21st No Limit Hold'em $555
Mon, Feb 23rd Championship Event $5,150
Mon, Feb 23rd Pot Limit Omaha $345
Tue, Feb 24th No Limit Hold'em $345
MAR-04 thru MAR-14-2009 Caesars Atlantic City
Wed, Mar 4th No Limit Hold'em $340
Thu, Mar 5th No Limit Hold'em $560
Fri, Mar 6th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 7th No Limit Hold'em $560
Sun, Mar 8th No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Mar 9th No Limit Hold'em $560
Tue, Mar 10th No Limit Hold'em $1,080
Wed, Mar 11th Turbo No Limit Hold'em $230
Thu, Mar 12th WSOP Championship Event $5,150
Fri, Mar 13th Turbo No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 14th Ladies No Limit Hold'em $230
MAR-19 thru MAR-29-2009 Harrah's Rincon (San Diego) Casino & Resort
Thu, Mar 19th No Limit Hold'em $230
Fri, Mar 20th No Limit Hold'em $340
Sat, Mar 21st No Limit Hold'em $550
Sun, Mar 22nd No Limit Hold'em $340
Mon, Mar 23rd No Limit Hold'em $340
Tue, Mar 24th No Limit Hold'em $340
Wed, Mar 25th No Limit Hold'em $440
Thu, Mar 26th No Limit Hold'em $770
Sat, Mar 28th Championship Event $5,150
Sun, Mar 29th No Limit Hold'em $230
APR-12 thru APR-29-2009 Caesars Palace (LV)
Sat 4/11/2009 1 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Sun 4/12/2009 2 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Mon 4/13/2009 3 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Tue 4/14/2009 4 6 Handed No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Tue 4/14/2009 5 Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Wed 4/15/2009 6 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Thu 4/16/2009 7 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Thu 4/16/2009 8 Pot Limit Omaha $500 + $50
Fri 4/17/2009 9 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Sat 4/18/2009 10 No-Limit Hold’em $1,500 + $70
Sat 4/18/2009 11 Double Stack Turbo No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Sun 4/19/2009 12 No-Limit Hold’em $1000 + $60
Mon 4/20/2009 13 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Mon 4/20/2009 14 Omaha 8 or Better $300 + $40
Tue 4/21/2009 15 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Wed 4/22/2009 16 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50
Wed 4/22/2009 17 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 + $60
Thu 4/23/2009 18 No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40 6,000
Fri 4/24/2009 19 No-Limit Hold’em $500 + $50 8,000
Sat 4/25/2009 20 No-Limit Hold’em $2000 + $80 15,000
Sat 4/25/2009 21 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em $300 + $40
Mon 4/27/2009 22 Circuit Championship $5000 + $150
MAY-08 thru MAY-20-2009 Harrah's New Orleans
Fri, May 8th 1 - No Limit Hold'em $340
Fri, May 8th 2 - Limit Omaha H/L(8/B) $340
Sat, May 9th 3 - No Limit Hold'em $550
Sat, May 9th 4 - Pot Limit Hold'em $340
Sun, May 10th 5 - No-Limit Hold’em $550
Sun, May 10th 6 - Pot Limit Hold’em $340
Mon, May 11th 7 - No-Limit Hold’em $550
Mon, May 11th 8 - Pot-Limit Omaha $550
Tue, May 12th 9 - NL Hold’em (6 Handed) $550
Tue, May 12th 10 - No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed, May 13th 11 - No-Limit Hold’em $340
Wed, May 13th 12 -PL Hold’em/Omaha $550
Thu, May 14th 13 - No-Limit Hold’em $1,070
Thu, May 14th 14 - PL Omaha Hi-Low (8/B) $340
Fri, May 15th 15 - No Limit Hold’em $340
Fri, May 15th 16 - PL Omaha/Rebuys $235
Sat, May 16th 17 - No Limit Hold’em $550
Sat, May 16th 18 - Pot Limit Omaha $1,070
Sun, May 17th 19 - Ladies No Limit $340
Mon, May 18th 20 - Circuit Championship $5,150
Sunday, October 12, 2008
World Series of No Limit Hold'Em?
Why is the WSOP Circuit scheduling so few events other than No Limit Hold'Em. I know NLHE is the most popular game out there, but couldn't we have a few 7 Stud or Limit Hold'Em events too?
In 2008, there were no less than 55 events in the WSOP and admittedly 25 of them were NLHE, but at least there were some variations within that (shootout, 6-handed, ladies, seniors, heads-up and with-rebuys). Limit Hold ’Em was less popular with four (one of which was shootout). The series also included 3 Pot-Limit Hold ’Em events and 3 mixed Limit/No-Limit Hold’Em events and a Pot-Limit Hold’Em/Omaha mixed game.
Omaha got a lot of love with 3 Limit Omaha 8 events, 1 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 and 4 Pot-limit Omaha High Only events (2 with rebuys). Seven Card Stud is not as popular as it used to be, but the series included two 7-stud events, 1 Razz event, and 2 Stud high/low events. There is even an Omaha 8/Stud 8 mixed event. HORSE has been on the rise and there were 3 of those events. And 2-7 Lowball had two events (1 single draw and 1 triple draw).
In all the 2008 WSOP fielded essentially 24 different games across 55 events. That’s quite a bit of diversity in games being spread. Admittedly some games are simply not as popular, but the WSOP is the WSOP and any game that can attract at least a couple hundred players ought to be a part of the series.Clearly the same philosophy is not at work in the WSOP Circuit schedule. The circuit thus far has scheduled 129 events, representing just five variations of poker (no-limit HE, limit HE, Omaha H/L, pot limit Omaha and HORSE).
The non-NLHE events represent just 10% of all the games spread. There is some variation within the NLHE events (6 ladies, 3 turbo, 3 six-handed and 1 heads-up), but in the end those account for only 13 of the 116 NLHE events. When did it become the World Series of No Limit Hold'Em Circuit?
Come on, Harrah's how about a little diversity in the circuit schedule?
In 2008, there were no less than 55 events in the WSOP and admittedly 25 of them were NLHE, but at least there were some variations within that (shootout, 6-handed, ladies, seniors, heads-up and with-rebuys). Limit Hold ’Em was less popular with four (one of which was shootout). The series also included 3 Pot-Limit Hold ’Em events and 3 mixed Limit/No-Limit Hold’Em events and a Pot-Limit Hold’Em/Omaha mixed game.
Omaha got a lot of love with 3 Limit Omaha 8 events, 1 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 and 4 Pot-limit Omaha High Only events (2 with rebuys). Seven Card Stud is not as popular as it used to be, but the series included two 7-stud events, 1 Razz event, and 2 Stud high/low events. There is even an Omaha 8/Stud 8 mixed event. HORSE has been on the rise and there were 3 of those events. And 2-7 Lowball had two events (1 single draw and 1 triple draw).
In all the 2008 WSOP fielded essentially 24 different games across 55 events. That’s quite a bit of diversity in games being spread. Admittedly some games are simply not as popular, but the WSOP is the WSOP and any game that can attract at least a couple hundred players ought to be a part of the series.Clearly the same philosophy is not at work in the WSOP Circuit schedule. The circuit thus far has scheduled 129 events, representing just five variations of poker (no-limit HE, limit HE, Omaha H/L, pot limit Omaha and HORSE).
The non-NLHE events represent just 10% of all the games spread. There is some variation within the NLHE events (6 ladies, 3 turbo, 3 six-handed and 1 heads-up), but in the end those account for only 13 of the 116 NLHE events. When did it become the World Series of No Limit Hold'Em Circuit?
Come on, Harrah's how about a little diversity in the circuit schedule?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
2008 All Time WSOP Leaders in Limit Hold'Em
1 David Chiu $1,039,345 14 cashes 2 bracelets
2 Erik Seidel $666,060 11 cashes 2 bracelets
3 Phil Hellmuth $641,545 10 cashes 3 bracelets
4 Hieu Ngoc (Tony) Ma $633,243 6 cashes 2 bracelets
5 Rob Hollink $502,931 2 cashes 1 bracelet
6 Farzad (Freddy) Bonyadi $497,395 5 cashes 1 bracelet
7 Todd Witteles $483,687 3 cashes 0 bracelets
8 Jay Heimowitz $464,280 3 cashes 2 bracelets
9 Jerrod Ankeman $457,966 1 cash 0 bracelets
10 Nani Dollison $441,440 1 cash 1 bracelet
11 Jack Keller $433,757 7 cashes 0 bracelets
12 Kevin Song $423,730 4 cashes 1 bracelet
13 Humberto Brenes $414,356 6 cashes 1 bracelet
14 Eric Froehlich $409,256 3 cashes 1 bracelet
15 Mike Majerus $407,120 1 cash 1 bracelet
16 Daniel Negreanu $406,164 5 cashes 2 bracelets
17 Dan Schmiech $404,585 1 cash 1 bracelet
18 Christian Van Hees $401,855 2 cashes 1 bracelet
19 Aaron Katz $393,753 2 cashes 1 bracelet
20 Eli Balas $378,746 7 cashes 1 bracelet
2 Erik Seidel $666,060 11 cashes 2 bracelets
3 Phil Hellmuth $641,545 10 cashes 3 bracelets
4 Hieu Ngoc (Tony) Ma $633,243 6 cashes 2 bracelets
5 Rob Hollink $502,931 2 cashes 1 bracelet
6 Farzad (Freddy) Bonyadi $497,395 5 cashes 1 bracelet
7 Todd Witteles $483,687 3 cashes 0 bracelets
8 Jay Heimowitz $464,280 3 cashes 2 bracelets
9 Jerrod Ankeman $457,966 1 cash 0 bracelets
10 Nani Dollison $441,440 1 cash 1 bracelet
11 Jack Keller $433,757 7 cashes 0 bracelets
12 Kevin Song $423,730 4 cashes 1 bracelet
13 Humberto Brenes $414,356 6 cashes 1 bracelet
14 Eric Froehlich $409,256 3 cashes 1 bracelet
15 Mike Majerus $407,120 1 cash 1 bracelet
16 Daniel Negreanu $406,164 5 cashes 2 bracelets
17 Dan Schmiech $404,585 1 cash 1 bracelet
18 Christian Van Hees $401,855 2 cashes 1 bracelet
19 Aaron Katz $393,753 2 cashes 1 bracelet
20 Eli Balas $378,746 7 cashes 1 bracelet
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Still More Updated LHE Tourney Schedule
Forthcoming Limit Hold'em tournaments:
July 28 - Reno NV - Grand Sierra Resort - $150+25
August 7 - Los Angeles CA - The Bike - Legends of Poker - $300+35
August 11 - FullTiltPoker.com - FTOPS IX - $200+16
August 19 - Los Angeles CA - The Bike - Legends of Poker - $500+45
August 21 - San Francisco - Bay 101 - Bay 101 Open - $300+30
September 4 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 6 - PokerStars.com – WCOOP - $200+15
September 7 - Atlantic City NJ - The Borgata - $300+50
September 8 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 8 - Robinsonville MS - Grand Casino Tunica - $300+40
September 13 - Council Bluffs IA - Horseshoe - $300+40
September 14 - Atlantic City NJ - Trump Taj - $300+40
September 16 - Robinsonville MS - Horseshoe Tunica - $200+30
September 18 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 20 - PokerStars.com – WCOOP - $1000+50
October 11 - Shakopee MN - Canterbury Park - $300+40
October 14 - Shakopee MN - Canterbury Park - $200+30
October 20 - Las Vegas - Caesar's Palace - $500+50
October 20 - Reno NV - Peppermill Casino - $200+25
October 22 - Reno NV - Peppermill Casino - $100+20
October 29 - Foxwoods - World Poker Finals - $530+70
November - The Taj - Trump Classic - $300?
November - FullTiltPoker.com - FTOPS X - $216
Saturdays - 5:00 pm ET - $215 - PokerStars.com
Sundays - 8:00 pm ET- $109 - PokerStars.com
Sundays - 8:45 pm ET - $75 - FullTiltPoker.com
Daily - 7:15 pm ET - $26 - FullTiltPoker.com
Daily - 6:00 pm ET- $33 - PokerStars.com
Daily - 8:00 pm ET- $33 - PokerStars.com
July 28 - Reno NV - Grand Sierra Resort - $150+25
August 7 - Los Angeles CA - The Bike - Legends of Poker - $300+35
August 11 - FullTiltPoker.com - FTOPS IX - $200+16
August 19 - Los Angeles CA - The Bike - Legends of Poker - $500+45
August 21 - San Francisco - Bay 101 - Bay 101 Open - $300+30
September 4 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 6 - PokerStars.com – WCOOP - $200+15
September 7 - Atlantic City NJ - The Borgata - $300+50
September 8 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 8 - Robinsonville MS - Grand Casino Tunica - $300+40
September 13 - Council Bluffs IA - Horseshoe - $300+40
September 14 - Atlantic City NJ - Trump Taj - $300+40
September 16 - Robinsonville MS - Horseshoe Tunica - $200+30
September 18 - Commerce CA - Commerce Casino - $200+25
September 20 - PokerStars.com – WCOOP - $1000+50
October 11 - Shakopee MN - Canterbury Park - $300+40
October 14 - Shakopee MN - Canterbury Park - $200+30
October 20 - Las Vegas - Caesar's Palace - $500+50
October 20 - Reno NV - Peppermill Casino - $200+25
October 22 - Reno NV - Peppermill Casino - $100+20
October 29 - Foxwoods - World Poker Finals - $530+70
November - The Taj - Trump Classic - $300?
November - FullTiltPoker.com - FTOPS X - $216
Saturdays - 5:00 pm ET - $215 - PokerStars.com
Sundays - 8:00 pm ET- $109 - PokerStars.com
Sundays - 8:45 pm ET - $75 - FullTiltPoker.com
Daily - 7:15 pm ET - $26 - FullTiltPoker.com
Daily - 6:00 pm ET- $33 - PokerStars.com
Daily - 8:00 pm ET- $33 - PokerStars.com
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