O-Poker

I'm torn on what to do about the WSOP. At the beginning of the year, I posted the following as one of my goals:

Play 3-5 Medium to Large ($1,500+) Live Tourneys (Prelim/Main Events) – As I mentioned above, I may shoot for playing some smaller buy-in live tourneys instead of just the WSOP Main Event. I’m considering heading to Foxwoods for the Foxwoods Poker Classic for some of the mid-size events at the end of March/beginning of April. I’ll also probably plan a trip to the Las Vegas during the early WSOP events and maybe head back for the Main Event if I win my way in or do well in the early events.

I was unable to go to Foxwoods for the FPC because work is pretty crazy right now.

I'm debating between two options.

1. Head out to LV from 6/10-6/15 and play 1-2 prelim events and a lot of cash games.

Events taking place during this time frame:
6/11/2008 21 No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $5,000
6/11/2008 22 H.O.R.S.E. (3 day event) $3,000
6/12/2008 23 No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $2,000
6/12/2008 24 Pot-Limit Holdem/Omaha (3 day event) $2,500
6/13/2008 25 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em $10,000
6/13/2008 26 Seven Card Razz (3 day event) $1,500
6/14/2008 27 No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $1,500
6/14/2008 28 Pot-Limit Omaha W/Rebuys (3 day event) $5,000
6/15/2008 29 No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $3,000
6/15/2008 30 World Championship Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $10,000

Would probably play some combination of Events 21, 23, & 27.

Pros

• I have a good excuse to head out during that time - My birthday and Father's Day. It could count as my wife's gift to me for both . :)
• I could play more than 1 WSOP event.
  
• I could stay at the Rio for very cheap thanks to a Harrah's Total Rewards flyer that I recently received in the mail.
• The $5k event has a pretty decent structure with 10k starting chips and 60 minute levels.
• There may be a blogger gathering during the same time. I've never made it to one of these. It would be awesome to meet a lot of other bloggers and put some faces to screen names.
  

Cons

• Probably wouldn't be able to go back and play in the Main Event even if I won a seat. (Not sure I could swing taking a week off and then another week 2 weeks later.)
• The structure for the smaller buy-in events isn't that great - $4k & $3k starting chips in the $2k and $1,500 events
  

2. Plan a trip during the Main Event and hope to win a seat before heading there.

Pros

• Get to play in the Main Event of the WSOP!!!
• Get to play in the Main Event of the WSOP!!!
• I had a blast when I played a couple of years ago (other than when Phil Ivey sat at my table)
• The field in the ME is weaker than any other large buy-in event. Some of the players are so horrible, you wonder how they are playing in a $10k Event.
• Potential for a lot larger win even if you just barely cash (lowest tier cash at the ME is probably equivalent to like 9-20th in a $1,500 event; 18th-27th in the $5k event)
• It is like 1,000 times more exciting to the play in the WSOP ME than any other tourney.
• If I win on a site like Pokerstars then I can get a free hotel on top of the WSOP package.
  

Cons

• All egss in 1 basket
• I may not qualify and be left standing on the sidelines watching like last year.
• May spend too much time, energy and bankroll trying to qualify and come up short.
• A long time to take off work.
• A lot of cash to put up for 1 tourney even if I win my way in.

Right now I am leaning more towards Option 1. I'll probably give myself another month to try and qualify for the WSOP ME. If I don't, I'll probably book the earlier trip.

Pokerstars WSOP Steps Follow Up

My original $100 investment in the steps is now down to one Step 5 Ticket and one Step 2 Ticket. I had been waiting around to find a weak Step 5 and stumbled across one last night. I wound up finishing a disappointing 3rd (replay Step 5). I'll probably play it one night this week. I have been amazed how many more beats you see in sngs vs. cash games due to the nature of the beast.