WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Hey everyone, I have a newbie question and not sure where to post it. I am looking foward to attending the 2008 WSOP and playing in 1 or 2 of the 1,500 NL events, I was wondering if anyone could give me a few tips on places to stay, I was considering the Luxor (stayed there once in the past) This will be my first WSOP and unfortunatly I am stuck unable to play any good games to build my bankroll since I am stuck in Iraq till April of 2008. I can only play cheap MTT since my connection here is terrible. Any advice or tips for a first timer to the WSOP?

EDIT: Also are the alot of satellites running for entries to these events such as the 1500 NL or other banroll building MTTs and if so do they all take place at the same casino?

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Well, first I'd make sure you'd have enough BR for the entire trip. The $1500 buyin events go rather quickly because of the blind structure. You're looking at half the field being eliminated by the end of the 3rd hour. To be honest, the Venetian Deep Stack tournies had far more play then the 1500 WSOP buyin events.

The rates at Luxor have been increased significantly and will continue to increase as MGM continues to de-theme the hotel. The real question is, how much are you willing to spend on a room?

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Search the Tournament Circuit forum for threads regarding the WSOP. Since it started in June, you'll have to look back several months. You might even want to look back for 2006 threads because there was a lot of good info posted then.

BTW, thank you for your service.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Luxor is a hike from Rio, and their poker room frankly sucks. And Mandalay to the south and Excalibur to the north are no great shakes. You have to get to MGM to find what I consider a worthy poker room. So if you wanna play low-limit sorta cash games, not in the Rio, perhaps you'd be happier in a more central location. Harrah's, IP, Flamingo, Bally's spring to mind. They should be similarly priced to Luxor.

There are single table satellites running all the time in a variety of sizes and configurations that pay out one or more $500 chips to first, or first+second, or whatever that can be used to enter any WSOP event.

Unless you just really feel a crying need to play in the WSOP, I second the notion of skipping the little WSOP events and doing the Venetian deep stack events if they continue them, or perhaps the Binion's baby events if they repeat it. Venetian's $330, $540, $1060 tourneys were great, but suffered from being so wildly popular they sold out many days. Binion's mirrored what was going on at the WSOP, but had buyins 10% the size...so if the Rio was doing a $1500 NLHE event, Binion's did a $150 NLHE event the day prior. Very playable structure, but not so good as V's deep stack tourneys. I've done all manner of these tourneys and definitely found the $2000/$2500-sized WSOP events a let-down since you get relatively few starting chips. I would so rather enter 4 $330 or 3 $550 Venetian events than one $1500 WSOP. But if you think you'll enjoy knocking out Layne Flack, or want to say you played in the WSOP, or want a shot at being on TV, it'll probably have to be done at the WSOP.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

[ QUOTE ]
Unless you just really feel a crying need to play in the WSOP, I second the notion of skipping the little WSOP events and doing the Venetian deep stack events if they continue them, or perhaps the Binion's baby events if they repeat it. Venetian's $330, $540, $1060 tourneys were great, but suffered from being so wildly popular they sold out many days.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cripes, if they don't continue them, someone needs to have their head examined. As you noted, they were wildly successful beyond all expectations. I would think their greatest concern is how to talk casino management into giving over more floor space for tables.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Thanks for all the suggestions! I am not so much interested in playing big limits, I am just looking to have a good time while I am there and play alot of poker with decent payout. I frequent Foxwoods in CT wheneve I am home, and although I almost all make it right before the money, the only time I did cash I won, since I started there my success has continued online and I win or cash in about 60% of the MTTs I play (low limits). I have been reading and playing every chance get and I feel that I have a signifcant chance in higher limits (dont we all) For these deep stack Venetian tourney, on average how many people enter? and are the payout just final table? I am relativley new to the WSOP scene and I had thought the levels were pretty long as oppose to quick. Also I thought there was a 3 day 1500 event with longer levels. Sorry for all the questions, it takes me forever to connect and log in over here about 45 mins from log in to get to this thread lol. Thanks again for all your help.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Venetian was getting about 500 entries for the $540 events, and I think around 300 for the $1060's. I don't know for certain how many they paid, but they usually pay the top 10%, so the payout was probably the top 4 or 5 tables.

The WSOP $1500 events had 1 hour levels. They are called 3 day events, but the first day knocks out the bulk of the people, the second day is short, and the third day just the final table. The Venetian events went till roughly 2 am the first day and final table the second day. I heard of a few times where the remaining prize pool was chopped at the end of the first day. Chopping was probably less prevalent at the WSOP because of the bracelet involved. I know that if I made a final at the WSOP I wouldn't chop it unless I was nearly dead.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

Yeah around WSOP time it seemed you had 4 tourney series all running at the same time in Vegas and each had there own market except for one.

Binions had the low rollers $100-$200 daily tourneys
Venetian had the mid rollers $330-$1060 daily tourneys
WSOP had the high rollers/pros $1500 and up daily tourneys

The Bellagio also tried to compete with their Bellagio Cup but didn't seem to get many players. Do you think Bellagio will schedule this tourney for the same time again next year and compete directly with the WSOP again? It seems they are just competing for the same players as the WSOP and they will probably lose out again.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

I doubt it, the structure was the same for the Bellagio Cup prelim events. Softer fields at the WSOP events, so why not go there. The only thing the BC had going for it was perhaps a NL game schedule on a day when a non NL tourney was schedule at the Rio, and that was only a handful of days.

Re: WSOP 2008 hotel question
 

I think OP should consider staying downtown and playing the Binion's events. They have quite good structures, and he will save a ton on hotel costs. Sounds like he just wants to play a lot of poker and have a shot at a good payday. Some people turn up their noses at the Binion's events but I thought they were great.

I played the 2k WSOP limit event and the $150 limit Binions event - in both case I was knocked out at 1:45 AM - only the WSOP paid nothing (71/472) and the Binion's event paid 3K (3/~250). So there are some good payouts at Binion's, maybe if OP has a good win he can then register for a WSOP event. He can always still cab it to the V if his money holds out. And last year rooms were like $40 or so for players registered in a tourney.