Tournament Advice

A Newbie at the WSOP? –Not anymore!

By Lilli Kirby

I have only been playing poker for the last year and a half.  Like so many, I learned on-line and fell in love with the game and the competition it provided me.  I had only been playing for about six months in live tournaments before I ventured to play the WSOP Ladies Event.  In one sense it was a wonderful experience.  It was a blast to be in a room playing poker with 1,100 women.  The poker celebrity list was endless.  On my way in, I literally ran into Greg Raymer.  “My Idol”, I cried, and he turned around looking out and into the crowd, and said “where?”  We laughed, he hugged me and I almost fainted.  I didn’t wash that shirt for a week.  I thought it was a sign from the heavens that I would do well because I had run into him before I would play my biggest event –ever! 

Unfortunately, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I was completely unprepared.  I learned playing at home on my computer is different than sitting down with nine other competitors, especially in a room of 1,100 and battling it out.  While I thought I knew I what I was doing, doing it was another issue all together.  I went to raise a hand and threw out the wrong color chip.  Instead of raising it to 150, I mistook the 100 chip for a 500 chip and accidentally raised it to 550.  I won the hand, thank goodness.  It took a bit to recover from that mistake emotionally. 

Trusting yourself is the key to good play, while losing confidence in yourself will put you on the rail.  After making a mistake, I have found the best way to recover is to simply forgive yourself and get right back in there and mix it up. 

Then, there is the issue of comfort level.  While at home I have my comfy chair with my laptop, my cat Streaker and my big puffy slippies.  But not here at the tables.  No comfy anything!  The chairs are hard, the competitors tough, and about 3 hours into the event my back was hurting.  Once the pain started, I was started to think more about my back than my cards.  I looked around for a cushion, but could not find one.  If you desire any cush for your tush, bring your own cushion. 

The potty breaks and dinner breaks killed me.  I’m not used to playing twelve hours at a time.  With 15 minute breaks every two hours, I had to really scramble to get out, get in, and get back.  With 1,100 ladies all using the restroom at the same time, it was like the once a year sale at Nordstrom’s.  I ended up running down the hall and using a vacant bathroom a quarter of a mile away.

Four hours into the event, I started to get hungry.  While a one hour dinner break was scheduled, I didn’t think I could wait.  On the other hand, I thought if I attempt to run out to grab a candy bar or a bottle of water, I would miss pocket Aces.  I just couldn’t break away.

So here I am at the WSOP.   I’ve been up since 5:00 AM to catch my flight, to rush to the to the tournament before it started.  Five hours into the tournament I was tired, hungry, my back hurt.  And I was playing for a first place prize of 350K.  But I wasn’t playing at all.  I was sitting in a seat that cost me $1,000, complaining, fighting fatigue and making bad choices.

The most important lesson I learned from this experience was to be prepared.  The smallest thing can kill your concentration, be it hunger, thirst, fatigue, or a sore butt.  If this wasn’t enough, after the dinner break I had little piece of something in my tooth. Sounds small, but after an hour I was going nuts.  It drove me crazy and I’m sure I missed a tell or two because of it. 

To play well, you must prepare yourself in every way.  This year, I’m bringing the biggest tote bag I can find, loading it with food, water, pain relievers, tums, energy bars, toilet paper, a tushy cushion, and a safety flare… just in case.  Oh yes, I am also bringing my extra set of glasses, extra sunglasses, extra ipod, and my notebook that I have been building with quick reminders.

Learn from one who has attended a World Series of Poker event horribly unprepared… Be Prepared –to play and win!

My checklist, feel free to download, print and take with you.