How to Decide Which WSOP Tournament(s) to Play

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Feb 16, 2024 7 min read Last updated May 23, 2024

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is less than 100 days away, and poker players in their tens of thousands will flock to The Horseshoe to pursue their dreams of WSOP glory.

And with the schedule out, you've probably already thought about which events you'd like to hop into. This can be a tough choice if you need to mull over many variables like bankroll considerations, how long you can go for, etc. Luckily for you, PokerNews has tried to aid that decision process with this guide on how to choose best what WSOP tournament(s) to play.

Decide What You Are There For

Before you head to Vegas, you need to decide what you are there for. Some people play poker as a fun pastime and are not too bothered whether or not they cash. For others, it's a window of opportunity to write their name in poker's history books.

Simply put, you must decide if you are going as a recreational or professional player.

If you are there for a good time, then you should play events which you find the most enjoyable. If you are going with the sole aim of making as much money as possible, then you need to choose tournaments that you believe you'll have an edge in.

When Are You Going?

It goes without saying you should only play the events that begin and end when you are in Vegas. On average, a usual bracelet event lasts at least three days, so you don't want to be playing an event that culminates on the same date as your departure.

Of course, making a WSOP final table means you'll be able to absorb the costs of any rearranged flights, but if you are flying back home for work or any family commitments, that is more tricky to work around.

How Big is Your Bankroll?

Unless you have unlimited funds to fire into every tournament, then you probably need to consider the effects each entry will have on your bankroll.

To keep things simple, let's say you have $15,000 that is purely for poker and all your other expenses are already covered. Unless it is your sole dream to play the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, you should probably miss it because all it could take is one cooler in the early goings to wipe out two-thirds of your bankroll.

Below is a table of the number of events within a specific buy-in range for you to see what options are available.

Another aspect you must consider is whether the event you are playing permits re-entries. A $1,000 buy-in event could soon become a $3,000 expense, so just be sure you're familiar with the structure and format of whichever tournament you decide to play.

Poker Bankroll Management: An Introduction

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PokerNews Daily DeepStack Leaderboard Dates

2024 WSOP Full Schedule

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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