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The Value of the 2020 WSOP “Value Menu”

The WSOP has released another portion of the schedule for the 2020 World Series of Poker. This time around, a group of “Value Menu” events were announced. These events have a buy-in of $1,000 or less.

After looking over these events, I have a few comments on the value menu schedule, along with some reasons why it falls short.

Dedicated Freezeouts a Good Idea

I’ll start with one of the things I like about the value menu schedule. There are five events on the schedule that are freezeout events, including two that are classified as “Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em” events.

The first is the opening event on May 27th for $1,000 and the other is on June 15th for $500. One growing problem with tournament poker is the proliferation of re-buy events. They shift the advantage to pros and those that can afford to fire multiple bullets.

Freezeout events give amateur players and those with limited bankrolls a shot at winning a WSOP bracelet. While they still have to content with pros and experienced players, they still have a puncher’s chance of taking down the most prestigious prize in poker.

Where Are the Mixed Games?

My biggest complaint about the value menu schedule is that it is almost exclusively NL Hold’em. There are only three events that are not exclusively NL Hold’em. Those events are either PLO or a PLO/NL Hold’em mix.

There are no Stud, Dealer’s Choice, Omaha Hi-Lo, or other forms of mixed games offered at a value menu price. This is very disappointing considering that the WSOP claims to be a haven for all poker players. There are players out there that would like a lower-cost mixed game option, but the WSOP is determined to feed the Hold’em lemmings.

You Get What You Pay For

Pay close attention to the structures for these value menu events. You’ll notice that most of the events feature limits of under an hour. Many have 30-minute levels and the turbos have 20-minute levels.

Much like when you use the value menu at McDonald’s, you don’t always get a quality product. Sure, that $1 cheeseburger is cheap, but it is also flimsy and may have been sitting around for a while.

For these value menu events, the structures are very fast and most end up being a lottery-style crapshoot way too early for many players.

Little One for ONE DROP is Not a Value Menu Tournament

While this will be viewed as splitting hairs, I don’t feel that the Little One for ONE DROP qualifies as a true value menu event. Firstly, the event is effectively $1,111 after the donation is considered. Next, the event is an UNLIMITED RE-ENTRY tournament.

I don’t mind a single re-entry or event a single re-entry per flight event being considered a value menu. However, an event with UNLIMITED re-entry is skewed for those with larger bankrolls. I’m not saying don’t hold the event, but don’t pretend this is a value event when it really isn’t.

Why Are Restricted Events On This List

If the WSOP is promoting “value menu” events to the general public, then all of the events should be open to the general public. You don’t go to Wendy’s and ask for .99 nuggets and get told that you’re not old enough or charged $5 for them because you’re male.

However, that’s what you have with some events in the value menu. You have four restricted events on the list. The Casino Employees Event is only for employees of the casino industry. The Ladies Championship is $1,000 for women and $10k for men. You have to be 50 to play the Seniors Event and 60 to play the Super Seniors.

If the events aren’t open to the general public, don’t list them as value menu events. Your average 27-year-old male can’t play in them or will be ridiculed if he does. So where’s the value?

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