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Tips to Make Your First World Series of Poker More Enjoyable

The 2019 World Series of Poker is almost here and some of you may be going to Las Vegas for the first time to play in the event. If you’re new to the WSOP, we have a few tips that will help make your first time playing the World Series of Poker more enjoyable.

Register For Your Events Early

If you’ve ever followed WSOP action online or watched coverage of the opening days of the WSOP Main Event on ESPN, you have probably seen the insanely long lines for registration. That’s because players often wait until the day of the tournament to sign up. While that’s understandable if you decide at the last minute to play, but if you know you’re going to play in an event, this is just poor planning.

If you’re certain you will play in an event, you can register for events at any time at the Rio or even online. Personally, I recommend registering live as it’s more convenient. The best time to register for an event is after about 6 pm. All of the primary action for the day is concluded and the lines are either small or non-existent.

Also, consider registering for your events all at once, especially if you know they will not overlap. Also, if you decide later you don’t want to play in an event, you can get a refund on your buy-in up until the start of the event.

Play Some Satellites

Playing your way into a WSOP event via a one-table satellite is never a bad idea. These satellites offer a variety of entry points and are great ways to either reduce the cost of your trip or to expand the number of events you play.

My first WSOP, I intended to play three events but thanks to satellites, I was able to play in two additional events. They also serve as good practice.

Also, you never know who you’ll run into. Some pros will play satellites for practice or to pad their bankrolls. You probably won’t run into the Daniel Negreanu’s of the world, but you never know when you’ll run into Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, or others.

Don’t Carry Too Much Cash

Some of you are going to want to go crazy and carry large amounts of cash to play in events. This is not the wisest move. Flashing around too much cash can make you a target for criminal elements that like to stake out large events like this.

It’s wise to only take the cash you intend to play with. If you want to have a larger bankroll available, contact the Rio ahead of time about setting up a deposit marker account. With this account, you can deposit money at the casino and withdraw it at any main casino cage. This way, you’re not carrying around large amounts of cash.

Play Some Down Time

Most of you want to go on a major poker binge while in Las Vegas, but this can often lead to burnout. Instead, plan for some downtime while in Vegas. There are plenty of things to see and experience in the city, so why not take a day or two to explore the city. Take in a show, see the Fremont Street Experience, or even take a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Taking some down time will help keep you fresh and will also make for a more complete Vegas experience.

Remember to Have Fun

Some of us are so serious about our poker game that we forget to take some time to have fun. Poker is supposed to be a fun activity and when it stops being fun, it becomes a grind. You don’t want your first trip to the World Series of Poker to be a grind, so remember to have fun, even if that means reducing your playing schedule.

The World Series of Poker is a major bucket list for many players, regardless of the outcome of the actual poker. Keep some of the tips above in mind when you go to Las Vegas and good luck at the tables.

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