7 replies to this topic

[nbliss16]

Hey I was thinking about my preparations for the WSOP Main event and thought that I would look to the forum for some help. Let me tell you what I have been up too so far and give you an idea on what I think I need. I would like and welcome any and all suggestions, execpt for sarcastic ones. Ok here goes...Not that it is the absolute greatest way in the world I have watched the following episodes of the last 2 WSOP Main Events:2003 Day 1 , 2, and 32004 Day 4 and Final Table These are the only episodes that I could get a hold of, although I have seen every eposide of both main events like 5 times a piece, just not since I quailifed for the Series. I am doing this to:- see how certain pros will play against the unknows (it was intresting to watch Gus Hansen on day 4) - too see what the people that made the final table did well that got them there (I can't think of a single one that didn't get amazing lucky)- To try and pick up some "tells" when people got a monster (for example, when Josh Arieh hit quad 10's on the turn against Greg Raymer...watch his nose!!!) and when they are bluffing.Anyways, I am working on downloading the rest. Some other things that I am doing is I have very trusted Poker mentor that is working on fine tuning some of the, shall we say, "crap" out of my game (Hey, anyone that went to Oxford and has a 5 figure bank roll has to know more then me, right?). We have worked alot on big stack poker (like what will be played in the first 3 levels or so), betting on the turn, reading the board, just stuff to make sure my game is at its sharpest come July 7th. And of course I have been playing alot, but all I can do is online. I live 6 hours from the nearest casino and the home games in Lubbock suck. here is some questions I have for the forum...1.) If you can, kind of in the mold of how daniel rates people in his player Bios, maybe go through a players game (from articles on him, reputation, hands you have seen him play, TV play, anything) go through a players No limit Holdem game and maybe analyze it for me (kind of like a scouting report). For example, I'll start with Daniel saying things like...Daniel Negreanu:Strengths: the best post flop player in NL Holdem, excellent reader of players, Open starting hand requirments, likes to talk alot to make people comfortable and think he is a "nice guy" then eats them alive, can make a big laydown, Plays in the biggest cash game in the world at the biggest stakes, can smell weakness from a mile away.Weakness: if his heart is not in a tournament he might not play at his best (but that is mostly in smaller events), had real tough time on day one of the 2004 WSOP, umm, umm, umm, is to skinny (aka not alot)Possible tell - (list on here if you think you got one, both if he has a strong hand or is bluffing)Some good Hand Examples (I don't remember this hand exactly, but try to be as accurate as possible) - 2004 WSOP Main event Day one - Daniel: Qc2cTurkish, Swede Guy: QJFlop - X Q XTurn - JRiver - XDaniel checked the flop, the other guy bet and Daniel called. On the turn Daniel Bet X amount of dollars and was called. On the river, he checked, the guy bet, and Daniel, looking puzzled, started asking questions. "are your from Europe? Where are you from orignally?" appearing to revert back to his knowlege of young, Swedish, internet type players and how good they are and how capable they are of bluffing. He even said "I can call a Swedish guy...". Daniel mucked and the guy took the pot. NL holdem television episodes -2004 WSOP event #XX 1,500 w/ rebuys2004 WPT Borgata Final Table2004 US Poker championships day 1ect. ect.Anything else you can think of...Here are some players that I have specifically in mind for this:Sam Farha, Erick Lindgren, Layne Flack, Huck Seed, Greg Raymer, Scotty Ngyuen, Gus Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, John Juanda, Ron Rose, Michael Mizrachi, Chris Ferguson, Blair Rodman, Amir Vahedi, Ted Forrest, Men Nguyen...basically the more really agressive players you can think of, the better.2.) Maybe, using the structure of the tournament, start a thread of a hand secnerio that might come up at the 2005 Main event and let's talk about it. Include things like...- Day, level, and blinds.- People that might be at the table. Or atleast the types of playes in the hand- Basically, be very specific3.) I need alot of help on the psycholigical side of playing in the main event. If you were me, how do you keep calm know you are the youngest person at the table ( I am only 21). How do I get over knowing I am playing for life changing money? ANY suggestionds here will help big timeEither PM me or reply to this thread about anything listed above. Oh, and if you think you might have spottted a tell on someone that might read what you found, I prefer a private message.Thanks alot for any and all help you provide! Seriously, I know I got almost no chance of making it but hey, why not prepare like I can do well, and give it my best.

[cdddc75]

With several thousand people in the field, worrying about tells or habits of any specific players is a waste of time.Play as much live poker as possible and learn how to read other opponents at the table.

[nbliss16]

With several thousand people in the field, worrying about tells or habits of any specific players is a waste of time. Play as much live poker as possible and learn how to read other opponents at the table.I think trying to know about the play of a specific play is a huge help if anyone of those people are at one of my tables. For example, say I sit down with some like Layne Flack or David Wiliams. I can have a pretty good idea of how he is going to play certain types of hands, what he is best at, how much he might bluff, his types of starting hands, ect. before he even knows my name.How is there not some great advantage in that?

[cdddc75]

nbliss16 said:

With several thousand people in the field, worrying about tells or habits of any specific players is a waste of time. Play as much live poker as possible and learn how to read other opponents at the table.I think trying to know about the play of a specific play is a huge help if anyone of those people are at one of my tables. For example, say I sit down with some like Layne Flack or David Wiliams. I can have a pretty good idea of how he is going to play certain types of hands, what he is best at, how much he might bluff, his types of starting hands, ect. before he even knows my name.How is there not some great advantage in that?

The odds of landing a player you have studied extensively are against you. And no matter how much you have studied them, they have studied themselves more. What you find from the past may not apply to their present game.Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable and confident in the environment. Play as much live poker and/or online MTTs as possible to get this feel. Working on your own game will help you thousands of more times than working on selected opponents that you may never see.

[nbliss16]

The odds of landing a player you have studied extensively are against you. And no matter how much you have studied them, they have studied themselves more. What you find from the past may not apply to their present game.Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable and confident in the environment. Play as much live poker and/or online MTTs as possible to get this feel. Working on your own game will help you thousands of more times than working on selected opponents that you may never see.Hmm...I think you have some good points. Some stuff to think about for sure.But I still think there might be some value in having a good understanding of how certain players tend to play. Howard Lederer and Phil Hellmuth don't play like Daniel and Josh Arieh.There is alot of time before now and July 7th. I think as well as working A TON on my own game (which is where most of the focues will be) it makes sense to learn about oppenets too.And just what if one of the those players I did know about were at my table?

[Scott3705]

Because... no offense to your abilities.... chances are you (and most people) will never see any of them at your table. I think I remember one pro saying it took him till his 5th table to actually see some one he knew. Best thing to do is go to as many live games as possible and I would also recommend finding large online tournaments to play in with a large field.

[nbliss16]

Scott3705 said:

Because... no offense to your abilities.... chances are you (and most people) will never see any of them at your table.  I think I remember one pro saying it took him till his 5th table to actually see some one he knew.  Best thing to do is go to as many live games as possible and I would also recommend finding large online tournaments to play in with a large field.

Thats like saying "I know I am going out on the first day, so don't worry about it". I might, but why should I get ready for it with that mind set. I want to do more then just what the other guy is doing. Do base players get ready by just "playing alot of catch" or football players just go "throw the football around in the backyard" before thier biggest games of the year?And remember that is a pro saying he didn't recgonize anyone. I'm no pro, of course. But I want to know if one is at my table.

[Scott3705]

nbliss16 said:

Scott3705 said:

Because... no offense to your abilities.... chances are you (and most people) will never see any of them at your table.  I think I remember one pro saying it took him till his 5th table to actually see some one he knew.  Best thing to do is go to as many live games as possible and I would also recommend finding large online tournaments to play in with a large field.

Thats like saying "I know I am going out on the first day, so don't worry about it". I might, but why should I get ready for it with that mind set. I want to do more then just what the other guy is doing. Do base players get ready by just "playing alot of catch" or football players just go "throw the football around in the backyard" before thier biggest games of the year?And remember that is a pro saying he didn't recgonize anyone. I'm no pro, of course. But I want to know if one is at my table.

Professional athletes focus on that part of their game that is the most pressing. Honestly, I do not think you can figure out enough about a way a professional plays by looking at the few hands ESPN tried to broadcast.As far as your baseball player/football player analogy. A pitcher will prepare for a big game when he know the 9 players that he is facing. A quarterback will understand the tendencies of 1 or 2 coaches. You are up against 2000-3000 people. Being sucessful in the WSOP is not about being prepared to tangle with the few pros you run into. It's about having YOUR game at its top level. All I'm saying is the best way to prepare it to play. Not study how the pros play. Cause who knows how many will make it aas far as you get.