Vegas Plans

Damn I am one tired son of a... today. I feel like I have leprechauns dancing on my eyelids. 5:16 p.m...must...make...it....45....minutes....more....

I'm going to Vegas on Friday and I wanted to play in the $1500 World Series of Poker event on Saturday. But I also am considering the Venetian Deep Stack tourney for that weekend because it's cheaper ($540) and involved more play and less gambling, which I think is better for a cash game player like myself.

I've decided that I'm going to play the $540 deep stack tourney on Friday at Venetian and see how it goes. If I lose early or cash small, I'll go play a satellite at the Rio. If I go deep and cash $1000+ I'll use that for the WSOP on Saturday. I just have to hope that the tourney ends on Friday night.

Any thoughts are welcome and Big Time gave me a vote of confidence to just go for it, just treat it like a basketball game.

So I posted a poll type deal on the fullcontact forums and received the following responses:

What I wrote:

I'm heading to Vegas this coming weekend and would like some advice from anyone that's out there or even anyone in general because I'm having a tough decision which tournament I'm going to play.

Right now my active bankroll is 3796 and I'm ready to take a shot at a big tournament while I'm in Vegas. My bankroll started off at $200 about two weeks ago and I've been on somewhat of a heater in my cash games.

Now I want to take that shot.

So should I play in the $1500 NL WSOP tournament or the $540 Venetian Deepstack tournament?

I'd really love to play in the WSOP for the experience and chance at a much bigger payout, also for the possibility to face many known pros. On the other hand, it'd be a much bigger hit to my BR if I finished out of the money.

Part of me is saying "Just go for it, I only live once and I'm feeling good about my game right now. This is as good a time as ever."

On the other hand, I would be disappointed if I don't finish in the money. I'm strictly a live cash game player and most of my game is based on reads and feel, not statistics and numbers.

Of course a third alternative is to play cash games only or try and satellite in.

Any advice? What would you do in my position?

Here are the responses:

1. my vote is play the 1500 wsop event, gl in which ever you decide.
2. I think that both buy-ins are waay above your active BR-- I never like risking more than 5% of my active BR in one tournament (although I *have* bent that rule in the past). If --like me-- you are willing to "bend" the 5% buy-in rule, then definitely go for the $540 tournament. Imagine how poorly you would play when you know nearly half your (active) BR is at risk tied up in the tournament buy-in. Add to that the fact that the blind structures and field sizes in the $1500 WSOP NLHE events lead to a "crapshoot" atmosphere. I just can't see you playing better than your 'B' game in the WSOP, so I can't imagine this being anywhere near +EV.There's my "microstakes NLHE big blind" (i.e. 2 cents)
3. If they are not running at the same time I would play both.It would cost you $2040, which would be a huge hit to your bankroll but think of it this way ...Two weeks ago you only had $200 and you would still have $1756 left even if you did play both.Why not take two shots instead of one?
4. I'd recommend you play the Venetian tourney. It sounds like you'll be pretty upset if you lose the 1500, so you're saving 1000 by playing Venetian. It was a decent tourney, as well, and the one I played had over 500 entrants and first place won around 80,000. Also, the WSOP will still be here next year. You could use this year to increase your roll, and then take a shot next year (FWIW i have a fair sized bankroll and I still consider any events I play "taking a shot".
5. the venetian is the way to go.plus you dont need to rush any wsop events, it will still be here next year. So save a bit of cash and play a tourney that might be a little more in your favor.meaning u wont be worried about busting before the bubble.
6. I agree with Troyo. Play the Venetian. It's a comfortable room, dealers were fine. Played the 1k on 6-8. Roughly 330 players and they paid 37, if I remember correctly. One hour blinds and I got knocked out 80ish at 10PM. Go play a satellite, but check out the RIO...it's wild.
7. Play the WSOP, if only for the experience. Then build up your roll ready for next year. What you learn this time around will come in handy when you play next year.Let me correct that, play the WSOP $1500 and WHEN you cash in 14th you will have a head start on next year's WSOP.GL with whatever you decide.
8. Deep stacks, then maybe try a sat into the 1500
9. FACT: Both are beyond your Bank Roll.My choice play in the WSOP event. You will kick yourself with the what could have been. If you have clocked that up from $200 then your running hot at the moment then give the big time a shot. Lets face it it go back to Vegas any weekend and the $500 ish tournaments will always be available, but the WSOP is once per year.Personally, I'd leave $500 in you bankroll and take the rest vegas and write it off not as poker money but as holiday money. (sorry US translation - vactation money)Whether you use it all or part for poker, buy some drinks see a show, eat at a Wolfgang Puck establishment etc etc.So play in the WSOP. Otherwise you'll always wonder.... What if.
10. Venetian and it's an easy decision. Get a bigger bankroll before playing with the pros at the WSOP. Anyway, with the structure there there's a good chance you might bust before getting to play with big names.
11. So last year, I played the Venetian $180 tournament, cashed for $1700, and spent $1000 of that on a WSOP buyin.A year older and a year wiser, I wouldn't do it again. But that said, it is fun to be able to say "I played in a WSOP event". However the structure of the low buyin events are awful at the WSOP.Personally, if I were you, I'd probably skip both, and play one or more of the $180 tournaments or $330 tournaments at the Venetian. If you happen to cash well, maybe splurge on a WSOP event either this year or save it and use it next year.Just my 2 cents.
12. do the venetian.

And here's my desk at work on a Monday morning. J-3 and Dan Harrington side by side.