Register ahead of time: The lines before a noon event, especially the smaller NLHE ones, can be a real problem. While the Rio staff does a great job keeping people moving, you can still spend a lot of your time in a line. To rectify this, simply head to the Rio the night before your event to register. I usually find that 9pm is the golden time to go. There are no more events that day, so the lines are usually non-existent. You can also register for multiple events at a time, and simply unregister if you make it deep in one of your events. Not only does the WSOP let you unregister without any difficulty, but they don’t take away your food voucher (score!). I once spent two hours waiting to register for a $2,000 event the day of the tournament. Never again.
Dinner: Your dinner break is a time to relax and get away from the tables. The last thing you want to do is to be standing in the middle of Rio, trying to decide how big your party is and where to go. Instead, find out when the dinner break is from the floorman and make a reservation. You’ll always end up picking up an extra few people on the way to the restaurant, so make sure you add another two people to the list of people that have already confirmed that they’ll be attending dinner. I would also recommend not eating too heavy, or you’ll spend your first level back from break in a food coma. Try to go with something light and grab fruit salad or a wrap on one of the later breaks.
Become friends with the media: The media is not only your key to get exposure and that ever elusive poker deal, but they are also poker enthusiasts that know everything that is going on at the Rio. If the computers are down on that day, or an event is close to being sold out, they’ll be the first people to give you a warning. When you tell them hands on break, you are not only making their job easier, but you will gain someone in your corner. It’s a win-win.
Do not miss the last hand before break: You (usually) get a twenty minute break every two hours. You will find that a few minutes before your hand is over, your ten or nine handed table has a lot of empty seats. People are desperate to beat the lines and fold their hands. Due to this, I tend to end up in big pots while everyone else is grabbing a slice of pizza. People are not only more likely to fold marginal hands pre-flop, but they are also more likely to give up on subsequent streets. Apply pressure when this situation comes up and reap the rewards.
Stay at the Rio: The rates might be a bit inflated during the series, but there’s nothing easier than going down an elevator, walk five minutes, and be in the midst of the WSOP. Parking at the Rio can be a hassle, and cabs anywhere are expensive. In the long-run, your best bet is to just be as closest to the action as possible. If you can’t get in the Rio, there is a shuttle from Harrahs you can take. Just allot extra time if you’re taking this route, as the walk can be a bit long, and the transportation can be a bit slow.
Lastly: Do not run in the hallway leading up to the Amazon Room. It’s built on a bit of an angle that can’t be viewed by the naked eye. However, I have tripped several times while walking, and I can only imagine I would have face planted if I was going at a fast pace. Be careful guys, there are lots of pitfalls in Vegas. Including slanted hallways.
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+1 for staying at the Rio — that made last year so smooth
Hey. I’ve qualified for the ME. Have you got any advice on tipping, eating at the table, rules of the casino. Do’s and don’ts. Cheers dude.
Do not tip in bracelet events. There is a % taken out of the prize pool for the staff. If someone has been exceptional, you can find them personally and throw them some extra money to say thanks, but in general do not tip at these events.
For all events in general, you should ask the floor is a % is taken out of the prize pool for dealers. If they do, don’t tip. If they don’t, then tip accordingly.
Grab a snack if you’re going to be eating at the table. There are 20 minute breaks every 2 hours, so you can eat during that time. When I’m eating at the table I tend to play tighter than usual, so I suggest going against that. It also can be messy, depending on what you eat.
As for the rules of the casino, I suggest reading the http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com FAQs. Most of your answers will be found there. As for do’s and don’t. The biggest thing I suggest is announcing what you’re raising to and keeping your hole cards covered. If you clarify what you are doing, there is less chance of mistakes happening.
Hope this answered your questions, karna. If you have anything else specifics, just post them here and I’ll get to them when I can.