Making the Most of Playing in the WSOP as an Amateur

Back in May, we discussed some important considerations for amateurs looking for the best possible experience at the World Series of Poker—poker success, financial outcome, enjoying yourself, etc.  At the time, we knew that the WSOP would be back in Vegas, live, in 2021, but we did not know the tournament schedule. Now we do.

Below, I’ll sift through the events that may be most enticing for amateurs seeking WSOP success (with a few different definitions of what that may mean for you).

BEST “VALUE” EVENTS:

Generally speaking, the events that I think provide the best “value” are ones that are relatively-lower in entry fee while being at least one of the following:  a deepstack structure, allowing more play for your money; a freezeout format, preventing you from being in a situation where deep-pocketed pros can play crazily against you, knowing they can easily drop in a few rebuys if needed (while you’re playing straight/”real” poker); a totally different type of event that provides a unique type of enjoyment/entertainment.

In the first category, deepstack structures, we have the following events:  #8 ($800) on October 4^th, #30 ($1500) on October 15^th and 16^th, #33 ($800) on October 17^th, #43 ($1000) on October 26^th and 27^th, #46 ($800) on October 24^th, #61 ($600) on November 1^st, and #77 ($1500) on November 16^th.  The standard starting stack size for a “normal” $1500 entry event at this year’s WSOP is 25,000 chips.  For the $800 entry events I’ve listed, you start with 30,000 chips; for the $1000 event, you start with 40,000 chips; for the $1500 events, you start with 50,000 in chips.  Getting that much more play for your entry fee seems like a no-brainer from a “value” perspective.

The deepstack events above all do permit one re-entry (which I don’t necessarily mind), except for the Monster Stack (#30), which is a freezeout.  The other freezeout events I want to highlight that aren’t nosebleed entry fees are:  #26 ($1000) on October 13^th, #35 ($500) on October 18^th, and #75 ($1500) on November 15^th.  I do lament a bit that the default event seems to be re-entry these days, with a freezeout being highlighted as a positive attribute, as opposed to freezeout being the default and having a few free-for-all rebuy events; unfortunately, that will probably not revert any time soon, if ever.

Finally in terms of the best “value” I’ve found at this year’s WSOP, I want to highlight the tag-team event, #59, on Halloween.  It’s a $1000 entry fee, and you play the event as a partnership with another player.  Whether a spouse, sibling, friend, whomever you’d like to team up with—what a fun day to play a WSOP Bracelet event with someone you love hanging out with and playing poker with…a singular chance to team up in an individual game.

BEST CHANCE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU PLAY WELL AND RUN WELL:

#4, $500 “Reunion”, October 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, $5,000,000 guaranteed prizepool

#17, $1400 “Millionaire Maker”, October 8^th and 9^th, $1,000,000 guaranteed 1^st prize

#65, $1000 “Mini Main Event”, November 3^rd

These events are guaranteed to have large fields with massive prizepools, providing a chance for someone to “hit it big” without putting up a monster entry fee.  They range from a crapshoot-y structure (Reunion) to a fantastic structure (Mini Main Event), but whichever of these events you jump into, you’re going to have a chance to win a lot of money, and that’s an enticing carrot for any poker tournament.

BEST CHANCE TO WIN A BRACELET:

#48, the $1500 Shootout, October 25^th

For those who are unfamiliar, a “shootout” event is one that is played in “rounds”—you have to win what is essentially a single-table-sit-and-go to advance to the next round.  If you win your first table, you’re in the money.  If you win your second table, you’re at a WSOP Final Table.  And if you win your third table, you are a WSOP Bracelet winner.  Nothing about this is “easy” in any way.  But there’s something about winning three single-table mini-tournaments that is a lot less daunting than working your way through a multi-thousand-person field where every empty seat at your table is filled by another player/stack.

I think (almost) all WSOP events are worth playing if you have the time and money to do so.  But since most people have limited quantities of both, I hope I’ve provided a helpful guide on which tournaments make the most sense based on whatever your priorities are.  Have fun, run well, and I’ll see you on the felt!