Questions for Dan and Good Luck

[redietz]

Dan is playing in various WSOP events starting today, I believe. First question: do you have a set schedule of what you'll be playing or do you modify a soft list as you go along? Does fatigue from playing one event ever affect your deciding to not do another? Do you ever play in any of the other tournaments going on simultaneous with the WSOP, like Binions, Golden Nugget, M, Planet Hollywood? If Alan or myself had, say, 3K to spend on WSOP tourneys, what would your recommendation be as to which tourneys for us as non-pros? Are the fields in the non-WSOP tourneys softer or tougher than the WSOP fields for comparably priced events?

Best of luck.

[regnis]

Can you hand pick based upon the competition? For example do you know who is or isn't in a particular game and choose a game with a softer field?

[Alan Mendelson]

Good luck to Dan!!

Regnis, yes, you can pick and choose which of the many, many tournaments you want to play.

My son is driving up to Vegas tonight to play in the Colossus. He pre-registered, has his table, made a reservation at Harrah's because a room at Caesars was not available for him (without me) and he plays in the session starting tomorrow morning at 10am.

For him it's all about the experience in playing in what may turn out to be the biggest live tournament in history.

I thought about going up there with him tonight but frankly I think it's a waste of $565 for me. On the other hand, Jason has figured that without making a bet he will have enough chips to post his blinds for at least one full day of play which means, he says, he won't be in any rush to play inferior cards. And then he said to me last night... "I just hope I don't bust out on the first hand."

[Chimp]

Good luck Dan!

[Rob.Singer]

Good luck Dan and good luck Jason. You both better win....and don't come home with anything you don't want.

[Dan Druff]

Dan is playing in various WSOP events starting today, I believe. First question: do you have a set schedule of what you'll be playing or do you modify a soft list as you go along? Does fatigue from playing one event ever affect your deciding to not do another? Do you ever play in any of the other tournaments going on simultaneous with the WSOP, like Binions, Golden Nugget, M, Planet Hollywood? If Alan or myself had, say, 3K to spend on WSOP tourneys, what would your recommendation be as to which tourneys for us as non-pros? Are the fields in the non-WSOP tourneys softer or tougher than the WSOP fields for comparably priced events?

Best of luck.

Thanks to everyone for the wishes of good luck.

I only play the WSOP. I don't bother with the other tournaments in town, because honestly they are too small to bother with, and the few bigger ones tend to be tough. Also, I'm not really a tournament player. I've always been a cash player, and only do the WSOP because I started off with incredible success in it in 2005, and developed a soft spot for that series.

Here is the schedule I am playing this year:

May 30 Event 5D $565 Colossus NL Holdem (7pm)
June 2 Event 11 $1500 Limit Holdem
June 5 Event 16A $1500 Millionaire Maker NL Holdem
June 7 Event 19 $3000 Six-Handed Limit Holdem
June 8 Event 20 $1500 NL Holdem
June 20 Event 42 $1500 Extended Play NL Holdem
June 22 Event 45 $1500 NL Holdem
June 24 Event 50 $10,000 Limit Holdem Championship
June 27 Event 55 $1500 50/50 NL Holdem
July 6 Event 68B $10,000 Main Event NL Holdem

So as you see, I'm playing tonight at 7pm.

The Colossus has over 20k entrants.

I am not in Vegas throughout the entire WSOP. I was during previous years when I lived in Vegas, but nowadays I have a family, and I don't want to be away from them for 7 weeks.

I select the tournaments which I feel I have the best chance at beating.

I am 10th all time in limit holdem amount cashed at the WSOP, so obviously I make sure to play every single limit holdem event. My WSOP bracelet is in limit holdem, and I also finished 3rd, 5th, 12th, and 19th in various other WSOP limit holdem events. I also had a 10th place in a mixed no-limit/limit event (which no longer exists). Sadly, they are down to just 3 limit holdem events now.

I also play select no limit events where I feel there will be a lot of recreational players in the field. I usually stick to the ones of $1500 buyin, though I am also playing the Colossus ($565) this year, as well as the Main Event ($10,000), which I do every year.

I would not suggest that you or Alan play any WSOP events. Recreational players have a very low chance of success in the WSOP. Even though there are many recreational players in the field, and a few get really lucky and run deep, for the most part they are at a huge disadvantage compared to the pros. Only about 10% of the field cashes, and I notice that in most events, the players remaining after about 80% of the field is gone seem to range from decent to really good.

With that said, you're actually better off in WSOP events of $1500 than you are at events for $1500 in other venues. This is because those tend to be the largest-buyin events at those venues, and will usually attract a higher percentage of good players. The WSOP still gets a large number of rec players. But the bottom line is that you should avoid all tournaments of $1500 if you aren't a good, experienced player. And being able to beat your local $1/$2 game at your home casino doesn't make you a good, experienced player, nor does success in some quickly-structured local tournaments.

Also, I always advise people to avoid tournaments priced at $2500 or above. There is a psychological barrier to $2500 to where recreational player just don't seem to want to enter them. They are MUCH tougher. You will notice from my schedule above that my only events above $1500 are the two limit holdem ones ($3000 and $10,000) and the $10,000 Main Event.

[Dan Druff]

Also, while busting out in the first hand (or sometime in the first hour) is frustrating, it's actually incorrect to play fearfully to avoid that happening.

In fact, it's much better that you "get it overwith" and bust early, than making it close to the money and busting there.

So basically, if you see a spot where you feel risking all of your chips is probably correct, you should do it, and not worry about the fact that you might be walking away from the table after only playing for 15 minutes.

With that said, early in the tournament it isn't required to gamble as much, as your chip stack is big compared to the blinds. It is actually sometimes correct to fold pocket kings preflop if you are convinced your opponent has aces. Later in the tournament, it is very hard or impossible to fold kings preflop.

[Alan Mendelson]

Best of luck tonight Dan.

I added up the cost of those tournaments and I hope you cash in all of them because that's a big investment you are making.

Jason busted early in the Colossus this morning. He had the nut flush (ace high) and the board paired giving a player a full house. Jason was the big blind and was fully aware of the danger with the board pairing but reasoned he had to take his shot because too much money was in the pot.

He re-entered the tournament and starts playing about 9pm tonight in a session that will continue until 3am.

[redietz]

Dan,

I've played only four or five limit tournaments in my life, and maybe a dozen pot limit. My sense as a novice was that those tournaments took more skill than no limit. Is there a reason you steer clear of pot limit tournaments?

Thanks for the info and hope you do well. I'm sure many Colossus players will be doing wild and crazy things regarding what they wear and behavior and such. Let us know.

Almost forgot to ask -- what is Extended Play?

[regnis]

Anyone know how Dan is doing? Hope he's doing well.

[Dan Druff]

Anyone know how Dan is doing? Hope he's doing well.

Lost the first two events I entered pretty quickly.

Next one is Friday.

[regnis]

Due for a good one then. Keep trying and good luck.