WSOP satellites / Las Vegas trip debate

Hi all,

I have listed to Poker Fraud Alert for 2 years on the TuneIn radio app and given the amount of information you all have i thought this would be a great place to ask the following question.

I am thinking of coming down to Las Vegas for a class on July 1st. It is a class that I have really wanted to attend but I haven't been able to as I have always been gone with the military. Anyways this year I will actually be home. The class wont cost me anything but I still have to pay for a flight and hotel rooms. The only way I can justify spending the money on it in my head is if there are some WSOP Main Event satellites going on. I don't have a ton of money to through around but I do have a poker bankroll. Do you know what kind and how many satellites will be going on June 30-July 1st? When I do search for WSOP satellites all I get are bunch of information about online tournaments. However, I know I have heard about in person satellites that go on daily before the Main Event and to me it would not make sense for there not to be a bunch of live satellites going on the weekend before the Main Event.

Also, on the chance that all of the satellites are above my bankroll do you think the cash games will be active enough to justify the trip?

I look forward to your comments and questions.

Thank You!

Puck

http://www.wsop.com/2018/2018-WSOP-Schedule-v12.pdf
http://www.wsop.com/2018/FAQ'S%202018%20WSOP.pdf

Looks like the June 30 satties will be:
9AM $185 NLHE (pays $1.5k lammers + $100 cash for every 10 entries)
5PM $1100 Stud8 (pays $10k lammers + $100 cash for every 10 entries)

July 1...
9AM $185 NLHE (pays $1.5k lammers + $100 cash for every 10 entries)
5PM $1100 NLHE (pays $10k lammers + $100 cash for every 10 entries)

July 2-3 will have lots of satties for the main event:
$135 Buy-In Mega Satellites (10 entries = $1,100 entry + 20 cash) at 8 AM. Turbo format.
1,100 Buy-In (10 entries = $10K entry + 100 cash) at 8AM.
$250 Buy-In Mega Satellites (10 entries = $2,175 entry + 20 cash) at 2 PM. Turbo format.
$575 Buy-In Mega Satellites at 10 AM and 4 PM. (20 entries = $10K entry + 100 cash)
$1,100 Buy-In Mega Satellites at 1 PM. (10 entries = $10K entry + 100 cash)
$2,175 Buy-In Mega Satellites at 8 PM. (5 entries = $10K entry + 100 cash).


I've heard cash games are good during the WSOP, but haven't played them in the last couple years. Observations from when I did play them...

1) DO NOT PLAY CASH GAMES AT THE RIO. Period. No auto shufflers, subpar service, I once got shorted $2k in a $7k pot (partially my fault, partially the angle-shooter's fault, partially the dealer's fault). Just an all-around bad experience.
2) Waiting lists at the popular strip casinos (Bellagio, Aria, Venetian, Wynn) can be insanely long at peak hours. Especially for 5/10+. Use the Bravo app, call ahead and get on the lists early in the day. If you're playing 2/5 or lower and have a car, consider playing at off-strip casinos.

Major issues with the satalite sit and gos with collusion. Basically 5 locals vs you and three other guys.

Cash games did in fact suck at the Rio last summer the few days I was there for all the reasons listed above plus. Played a 1-3 at planet Hollywood and a 1-2 at the Excalibur my 9 year old daughter would have pulled down 1k in a day in.

Best advice - don't get sucked into the romance of "playing at the World Series"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daly

Major issues with the satalite sit and gos with collusion. Basically 5 locals vs you and three other guys.

Cash games did in fact suck at the Rio last summer the few days I was there for all the reasons listed above plus. Played a 1-3 at planet Hollywood and a 1-2 at the Excalibur my 9 year old daughter would have pulled down 1k in a day in.

Best advice - don't get sucked into the romance of "playing at the World Series"

---

Do you think the $1-2 to $2-5 games are good enough at that time to just go and play in the cash games. Right now my break even would be $700.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puck66

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daly

Major issues with the satalite sit and gos with collusion. Basically 5 locals vs you and three other guys.

Cash games did in fact suck at the Rio last summer the few days I was there for all the reasons listed above plus. Played a 1-3 at planet Hollywood and a 1-2 at the Excalibur my 9 year old daughter would have pulled down 1k in a day in.

Best advice - don't get sucked into the romance of "playing at the World Series"

---

Do you think the $1-2 to $2-5 games are good enough at that time to just go and play in the cash games. Right now my break even would be $700.

---

What are you trying to accomplish Puck? You live anywhere near a poker room now?

There are always some good games available in Vegas. But in my experience my local games are just as good and at times better than Vegas.

I guess I would like to take a cheap poker trip to go to the class while trying to play in a satelitte for a seat in the main event. I can't afford to play in the main event as I dont have a lot of extra money for trips. I will be taking a short break from the military on June 28 as I will be getting out for a few months to switch branches. There are some decent poker games where I live but there are also some weird rules such as dealers play in the games making it 10 handed due to the weird rules Oregon. In Oregon gambling is not allowed but "social games" are allowed. So the dealers play so they can say it is player dealt. There are several other weird rules but there are also advantage. For example no take is taken and instead you pay a door fee and the poker room or bar makes money from drinks and food bought at their establishment.