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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:26 pm
Post subject: WSOP 2005 |
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I hear that the WSOP 2005 is going to be the biggest event in poker history and have the largest prize pool of any sporting event ever. I have a couple of questions for the webmaster:
1) is this true ? sounds like TV hype to me.
2) What's the best way to get into this as a beginner. I understand poker, and Texas Holdem poker in particular is a skill game - how then should I go about practicing to have as good a chance as anyone in 2005 ?
Thanks in advance for any information you can give me. I will most probably sign up as a member of this site but pose he question to see if it's a useful resource first.
Cheers,
Peter. |
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webmaster
Site Admin
Joined: Nov 26, 2003
Posts: 668
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:13 pm
Post subject: |
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Welcome Peter,
Usually my turnaround time for questions to my forum is quicker than this. I have though been on my annual trip to Las Vegas this week.
The answer to your first question is most definitely yes. The 2005 World Series of Poker is likely to attract 5000 to 7000 entrants paying $10,000 each for entry. That will generate a prize pool over $5m.
The answer to your second question is a little more complicated, like the poker game itself. First of all I would caution any beginner that Texas Holdem, and the No Limit game in particular is a game of skill and perception like no other. You can learn it, but not in 5 minutes. The people you see on the TV appear time and time again in the finals of these major competitions, and it's not down to having good cards - statistics tell us they'll have the same cards as you and I over time but they are able to read people and situations better than anyone else.
Having a goal is great, but don't make any assumptions about the likelyhood of your making a TV appearance!
The best way to start would be to read some of the many books available on the subject (some of which can be seen at the bottom left of this site) and practice with friends at home. Home matches are a good start but internet play is different ball game. In my view, internet play is harder than playing in front of your opponent because you have less to read. With a person in front of you, you have lots of information such as pulse, breathing, eye contact to name a few human traits which become tells of card strength. On the internet you still have tells (such as reaction times and betting patterns) but there are fewer of them. The internet has it's advantages, including 24 hour play availability, real depth of players, and satellite tournaments which enable you to compete for entry to the WSOP and other land based poker tournemants for a minimal entry fee (this can be as little as $30). The 2003 winner, Chris Moneymaker (his real name not a stage name) walked away with $2.5m from an original $40 internet satellite entry.
This site should prove to be a useful resource to you also. It incorporates poker rules, strategy, and tips for both online and offline play. The forums are open to you and anyone else to pose a question which I normally answer within 24 hours if someone else doesn't do so for me.
Finally you should become a member because membership (nothing required but a valid email address) enables me to invite you to occasional freeroll texas holdem poker tounaments which I host from time to time. The 4th such tounament is expected to take place at the end of this year. Venue and prize pool will be notified to our members and advertised on the site shortly.
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