Every year I look forward to the WSOP. This year is no different. I usually start looking for the house I rent for the summer about the time the schedule comes out. So by now, that has been squared away for a long time.
Most people look at the schedule and pick out the events they are planning to play. I think about that a little bit differently. I know I will play 25 or more events, and there are only a few that I am unlikely to play. I am comfortable and feel plenty competitive in all the different disciplines. I also know I will be playing poker almost every day during the WSOP. I usually take a break and go home over Father’s Day weekend. And I will usually take the day off before the main event. Otherwise, there will be some half days, but I am pretty much playing every day.
So I play to play the noon tournament every day unless I have a reason not to. Those reasons include things like:
Being in Day 2 of an event from the day before (or the final table)
I plan to play late in a good cash game (I make that choice each night depending on the game I am in, and how much I like the tournament at noon the next day. Sometimes I decide to just play the afternoon tournament.)
About once a week, I try to relax for half a day. I usually try and do that when there is an afternoon tournament I would rather play. Sometimes I play golf; sometimes I take my kids to putt-putt or just hang around the house and swim with them.
Most of my days start at the Rio. I play my tournament until I bag or run out of chips. The days I survive, I head home for a good night’s sleep. The days I run out of chips, I usually go looking for a cash game. I start by seeing what is going on at the Rio, then I will check Bravo or text some friends to see what games are going at Bellagio or Aria.
When I play cash, I try to get in the best game I can get in. I am comfortable playing most games; Limit or NL hold-em, PLO or the mix games. I just try and play where I think I have the highest expectancy. About once a week, my wife will bring the kids down, and we all have dinner together.
Then I get up the next day and do it again…