Playing the World Series of Poker for the First Time

What is playing at the World Series of Poker like? That is one question I have been asked by many poker players. For those that have never been to the WSOP, playing for the first time in any event can be a bit overwhelming.

First, when you enter the Amazon Room, you are greeted by a sea of poker tables. In every direction there are tables, and at the height of the day, many are full with tournament players. For those used to playing in a home game or a small casino, this sight alone can be a little awe inspiring. I know awe inspiring is a little strong for a game such as poker, but the initial sight can inspire such.

Next, you go register for a tournament. When you reach the registration desk you will need a Total Rewards card, your ID, and the buy-in for the event. In exchange you will receive a seat card and a comp ticket for $10. I personally recommend you go register a day or two ahead of time to avoid any lines. Don’t bother with pre-registration online. You still must go to the registration window and get your ticket. The only thing pre-registration does is that it keeps you from having to carry around the money in your pocket.

Next comes the big day. You are ready to play in your first WSOP event. You are made to wait in the hallway while the event is setup. Players are lined up like cattle waiting to get into the doors. Finally, the staff opens the door and the cattle rush is on to get to the tables. You look down to your card and make your way to the table. Fortunately the tables are color coded and have signs to make it clear where to sit.

When you arrive, you must present your seat card and your ID to the dealer. He will make sure you are who you say you are and keep his copy of the seat card. At this point, you will sit back and wait for the other players to come in. You will see many pros walk by, and if you are lucky enough, or unlucky depending on whom you get, one will sit at your table.

My very first WSOP Event was Event #4 of the 2006 WSOP. It was a Limit Holdem event. I’m in seat 7 at the table, which is fine by me as I have a good view of the table and I am not in many people’s way. Eventually, my other opponents all look up to watch the person coming to our table. In seat 9 sits…Erik Seidel. At the time he was a 7 time bracelet winner. Of course, he won #8 in 2007.

Naturally, every other opponent at my table became irrelevant at that point. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time but Richard Brodie was also at my table. I figured it out later on, but Richard is not that big of a name, so my not knowing him at that time was not unusual. I did know him by his online name however. Online, Richard is known as Quiet Lion on FTP.

At this point, I was naturally nervous. I had only been playing tournaments for about 6 months and now I was on the biggest stage in the world with one of the all time greats at my table. Of course then I happened to turn around and saw Phil Ivey at the table behind me. It then clicked in my head that I was in way over my head, or so I thought.
Eventually, I tried to focus on playing pots against other opponents. Unfortunately, this wasn’t working as most of my strong hands were getting outdrawn. I was one of the shorter stacks at the table, but so was Seidel. Finally, my big test came. I was heads up in a hand with Erik Seidel. I had raised preflop with pocket nines and Erik made the call. At this point, both of us had about 500 to 600 chips

The flop came all undercards. I made a bet out onto the flop. Seidel then raised me. I put him on a big ace as I would figure him to reraise prefop with an overpair. I made the call. The turn fell one of the worst cards for me when a king hit the turn. If he had A-K, I was behind. I checked to Erik, who then naturally bet out into me. I wish I could say that I had some fantastic read on Erik or that I “knew” that he was beat, but I didn’t. I honestly believed that he might have a king. However, the pot now had 6.5 big bets in it. It would be wrong for me to fold. If Seidel held something like A-Q or worse, then I was still ahead. I made the call.

The river fell a 4. I still have only a pair of nines and checked to Seidel. He fires out one more bet. I was beginning to have a sense of dread come over me as I reached for chips. I figured I was about to become crippled after paying off kings. However, the pot was laying too big a price to fold, and I called. I said, “If you have kings, you got me” as I showed my pocket nines. Erik showed a somewhat pained looked as he showed A-7. I had to look stunned as I was. I thought I was beat. Instead, I picked off a bluff and crippled Erik Seidel.

Afterwards, I calmed down a bit and continued to play my game. Erik made a bit of a comeback but still only lasted a couple more hours. In the end, I was able to actually build a few chips and made the money in my first ever WSOP event. In the end, I learned that when you go to the WSOP, you must play your game. Don’t let the fact that you are against pros intimidate or overwhelm you. In the end, the only difference is the skill between the two of you.