With that said, it is important to not dwell on the negatives. There have, by contrast, been many moments which have sent the poker world alight and buzzing with excitement this year, most notably the inaugural Galfond challenge which garnered enough attention to be covered by non-poker-related news outlets, a rare occurrence nowadays.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the upcoming and highly anticipated heads up battle between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk, which will no doubt have us gripped for much of the remainder of 2020, something many of us wouldn’t have predicted a year ago.

So, with that being said, it inspired me to make some predictions of five things I think that we’ll see happen in poker in 2021.

1. More US states will legalise online poker

I think that in the past many US poker players would have laughed at the idea of a presidential candidate nominee championing the legalisation of online poker. Well that’s exactly what Andrew Yang did when he tweeted his support for online poker.

Online poker is legal in 4 states. The state-by-state rules are variable and push many players to offshore sites. We should clarify the rules and make it legal in all 50 states. US players and companies would benefit and new tax revenues could be used to mitigate addiction.

— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) October 26, 2019

Online poker currently is only available in New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and even then many of those states’ players can only play in ring-fenced areas rather than as part of a global player pool.

But with poker legalisation a matter up to each individual state, places like Michigan and West Virginia are poised to start offering their constituents a platform to play on in 2021 after having passed legislation in 2019.

Furthermore, PokerStars, which provide their services to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, brokered an agreement with Caesars Entertainment (Eldorado Resorts) which could mean that online poker may become available in states like Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Ohio and Missouri (to name just a few) if legislation passes in 2021. It wouldn’t take much time to get these states onto the PokerStars platform, as the infrastructure already exists. With no major issues showing in states where online poker is legal, I think we may see a domino effect sooner than we think.

And for those players restarting or just starting their legal online poker journey, they’ll be looking to boost their bankrolls and will want to take advantage of the 2021 toplist of no deposit bonus offers.

2. The return of live poker tournament series

Okay, this one may seem like an obvious one, but it is one prediction many of us will relish. Many poker rooms are slowly re-opening across the world but mainly just offering cash games. However, with strong reports that a vaccine will be available by the end of Q2/beginning of Q3 in 2021 and with human trials already underway, it seems to me that we’ll see flagship tournament series return to the live poker table. And as many rooms are already offering cash games, tournaments can’t be too far behind. There is hope, my friends!

Which option will we see for WSOP 2021? pic.twitter.com/OMpCFqEzw1

— CardsChat (@CardsChat) October 21, 2020

3. Expect more poker challenges

As mentioned, the inaugural Galfond Challenge and the upcoming Negreanu/Polk battle have had the poker community on tender hooks with the former even transcending beyond poker culture.

As shown with Galfond’s epic comeback against Venividi, poker can still carve stories that break barriers. As such, I think we’ll see a plethora of high stakes challenges set by some of the biggest names in poker.

Why do I think these matchups will help grow the game? Because they allow stories to be written that non-poker fans can admire; the average person is going to find the idea of someone fighting back from a close to $1 million deficit more interesting than “X player wins poker tournament for $X.”

This will hopefully allow for new characters to emerge from the game, and it is no secret many of us say/think that it was the characters that we saw on High Stakes Poker, for example, that helped poker reach its peak popularity.

4. The year of Landon Tice

A name that some of you would have heard of but not all, 21-year-old Landon Tice, is starting to take the poker world by storm. His playing in some of the highest stakes games at such a young age and being successful has of course drawn comparisons to the likes of Tom Dwan back in the 00s.

I’d rather battle and improve than play in soft games.

I’m looking to be one of the greatest, not just print money in soft spots.

— Landon (@LandonTice) October 23, 2020

And with his ambition to become one of the biggest names in poker as well as being one of the best, expect to hear the name Landon Tice a lot more in 2021.

5. Online sites further crackdown on RTA

Real-Time Assistance is a topic that is currently dominating poker discussion following the outing of Fedor Kruse, an online streamer and brother of German Footballer Max Kruse, using real-time assistance whilst playing. Starting off playing low stakes, Kruse quickly became an online crusher playing for high stakes thanks to his ‘dream machine,’ which allowed him to make the optimal decisions whilst playing.

Since then GGPoker has announced that more players have been caught using RTA, and as such 13 players were banned from the site with nearly $1.2 million returning to affected players.

You can learn more about RTAs from a rousing discussion among panelists Chris Wallace, Nick Jones, David Lappin, and Matt Berkey on episode 3 of ‘The Orbit.’

And with online sites looking to keep the poker eco-system in balance, you can expect to hear of further crackdowns next year.

There are a few of these multi-lesson challenges available, but in this review we’re looking at the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge. For 30 consecutive days a new video lesson was released, accompanied by a short quiz upon completion to test your newfound skills. Now, as mentioned, all 30 days of content are available on demand, and can be consumed in whichever order you choose. First, here’s a look at the list of all 30 lessons:

1. Learning Your Opponents Through Preflop play – Jonathan Jaffe (35 min)
2. 3-betting at Different Stack Depths – Jonathan Little (12 min)
3. Exploitative Plays to Crush Live Tournaments part 1 – Faraz Jaka (62 min)
4. Short Stack Preflop Play – Matt Affleck (80 min)
5. Exploitative Plays to Crush Live Tournaments part 2 – Jaka (50 min)
6. Short Stack Post-flop Play – Affleck (64 min)
7. $10k Bellagio Day 1 & 2 Review – Jaffe (83 min)
8. Live Play & Explain Part 1 – Little (38 min)
9. Button vs Big Blind Play – Jaffe (91 min)
10. Advanced Big Blind Defence Strategies in Tournaments – Affleck (73 min)
11. Review of Blaz $10 Online Tournament Win Part 1 – Little (21 min)
12. Review of Blaz $10 Online Tournament Win Part 2 – Little (23 min)
13. Review of Blaz $10 Online Tournament Win Part 3 – Little (18 min)
14. How to Complete PokerCoaching Homework – Little (24 min)
15. Complete October 2019 Tournament Homework – Little (37 min)
16. Reviewing Jonathan’s Deep Run in the Online $1k Freezeout Part 1 – Michael Acevedo/Little (61 min)
17. Reviewing Jonathan’s Deep Run in the Online $1k Freezeout Part 2 – Acevedo/Little (102 min)
18. Live Play & Explain Part 2 – Little (49 min)
19. Mastering the HUD: VPIP & PFR – Alex Fitzgerald (33 min)
20. Mastering the HUD: C-Bet Statistics – Fitzgerald (35 min)
21. Mastering the HUD: Fold to C-Bet Statistic – Fitzgerald (12 min)
22. Mastering the HUD: Check-Raise Statistic – Fitzgerald (13 min)
23. Mastering the HUD: Test Your Skills – Fitzgerald (72 min)
24. Live Play & Explain Part 3 – Little (50 min)
25. Bubble Thoughts – Little (22 min)
26. Introduction to ICM – Affleck (92 min)
27. Mastering High Roller Final Tables Intro & Part 1 – Little (30 min)
28. Mastering High Roller Final Tables Part 2 – Little (27 min)
29. Mastering High Roller Final Tables Part 3 – Little (27 min)
30. Tips to Crush Small Stakes Tournaments & Final Exam (30 questions) – Little (63 min)

In total, this adds up to almost 24 hours worth of elite No Limit Hold ‘em training content.

My recommendation for consuming this challenge would be to tackle it in one of two ways: either as originally intended with one lesson per day over 30 days, which is the most easily digestible process, or by combining the multi-part lessons and consuming those together in slightly longer chunks.

For example, Faraz Jaka’s 2-part series on Exploitative Plays to Crush Live Tournaments could be watched together. Moreover, Days 11-13 could easily be watched in one sitting, as they are a 3-part hand history review. Also, if you wanted to merge lessons on pre- and post-flop short stacked play, Matt Affleck’s Day 4 and 6 lessons could be watched together.

There are other examples of this as well, and for the purposes of a more easy-to-follow review of the content, I’ll be combining those lessons and reviewing them one section at a time, with their days of the challenge denoted at the top of each section.

Now, with that all said, let’s dive into it!

Day 1: Learning Your Opponents Through Pre-flop Play

I was very happy to see this lesson, which I’ve discussed in previous reviews, included in the challenge, and even kicking it off on Day 1 no less.

Jonathan Jaffe takes students through a series of pre-flop situations and provides analysis of what tendencies a player will have based on their actions. A super light raise from early position obviously suggests a loose/maniacal player, but there can be a lot more behind that raise. Getting reads on your opponents is critical, and Jaffe guides the student through the multitude of other things to consider. This is a lesson that’s useful for players of all skill levels.

Day 2: 3-betting at Different Stack Depths

Jonathan Little brings us an intensive crash course on how you should be 3-betting, outlining the many different strategies required based on your stack size. Range charts are provided for a variety of stack depths, from 15 BB to 75 BB and up, along with a chart breaking down what 3-bet sizing you should be using, based on your stack depth.

The importance of 3-betting with good blockers when short stacked vs. 3-betting with a more linear range when deep is discussed, along with what stack size your 3-bets should be an all-in.

Plus, Little lays out the situations in which you should defend more and not 3-bet from the big blind when short.

Days 3 & 5: Exploitative Plays to Crush Live Tournaments Parts 1 & 2

Given that this review was being written during the COVID-19 pandemic with live tournament poker at a minimum around the world, I’ll admit that I saved these videos for last. And wow, was I pleasantly surprised by how much of these videos are also applicable to the online game, notably smaller stakes where players are very exploitable!

Part 1 focuses on pre-flop exploits, such as how to target weak opponents, exploitative blind stealing, 3-bet attacks, and the ever popular psychological warfare! Getting too boggled down in the specifics would take too much time, but I will mention one critical concept of playing strong exploitative poker: you are going to be playing more hands. Maybe not as many as Faraz Jaka is known to, but to play this style effectively, you will be widening your ranges. (Jaka will explain where and when are the best spots for this throughout – it actually ties together nicely with theories from Jaffe’s lesson on learning your opponents’ pre-flop play. The supposed maniac raising suited Kx in early position? Well here he is.) As such, YOU MUST BE FOCUSED and paying incredible attention to the table and know how to potentially exploit each player.

Of note in part 1, easily the coolest slide I’ve seen in any poker training material out there is Jaka’s section on psychological warfare. That’s right, sorry to disappoint, but you don’t want to be the Macho Man when you’re playing. Oooooooooh…no?

Part 2 goes into post-flop play, with a lot of discussion on downbetting and smaller post-flop bet sizes, except when you can exploitatively use larger sizing against the non-believers to maximize value. The importance of recognizing and overfolding against players who are completely unbalanced in their ranges is also discussed.

Jaka wraps the series by analyzing several live hands he’s played, including a cool hand against Jessica Dawley at the final table of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, and why at a table with just them and three amateurs, he felt she was the player he could most successfully exploit.

Days 4 & 6: Short Stack Pre-flop and Post-flop Play

If I was compelled to pick something as the best or most important section of the series, Matt Affleck’s videos on short-stacked play would get my vote. This is mainly because, as Affleck himself notes, of any element of tournament poker short stack is what you’ll be playing the most, and it’s an area where you can create more EV than the majority of your opponents.

The pre-flop video discusses the hugely important concept of ‘lazy shoves’ and how to better play a 15-20 BB stack by using split ranges. Sure, just piling in your 15 BB stack with KQo in the hijack is profitable, but if you take a more strategic polarized/linear approach, there is much more EV to be made.

Affleck breaks down which hands to instead min-raise and call off to a 3-bet shove, which hands to min-raise/fold, and which are still just a straight shove.

Re-jamming is also discussed thoroughly, with the key concepts of getting hands you dominate to call and getting hands that dominate you to fold!

Why are we 3-bet shoving A9s, A5s and A4s along with AKs and AQs, but not AJs and ATs?

These are solid GTO baselines for 3-bet jamming, but Affleck also notes that there are plenty of opponent-based exploits that must be considered as well.

The short stack post-flop video uses a lot of PioSolver and hand breakdowns to analyze what your best options are with a shallow stack-to-pot ratio (SPR). I think many amateur players would be surprised how much play you have on a sub-25 BB stack. Protection and equity denial is king, and every 4-5 BB pot you can drag when short stacked is a huge win. Affleck guides you through when your top pair is a monster, when your 2nd pair is safe and when it isn’t, which draws are worth applying pressure with, and which blockers can be bluffed to steal a key pot for you.

I can honestly say I am infinitely more comfortable playing a short stack since studying these videos. There are spots I wouldn’t have taken before that have now kept my stack alive and grown it repeatedly at key points in a tournament. Recently I navigated my way into the money of the WPT Poker Industry Invitational despite being on a 15-20 BB stack with 30 players left and 15 making the money. Affleck’s teachings kept me alive, got my stack healthy, and gave me the best opportunities possible to run my stack up. I even got my 2nd pair in dominant for a potential 36 BB double up with 11 left, until the 2-outer came for my opponent on the river. But hey, I got it in good, thanks to what I learned from this training.

Day 7: 10k Bellagio Day 1 & 2 Review

The first week of lessons wraps up with what kind of felt like an extended version of one of PokerCoaching.com’s hand quizzes. Jonathan Jaffe is back with a review of hands he played on the first two days of his 6th place run in the 2019 Bellagio Five Diamond Main Event.

Hands are all from earlier levels with deeper stacked play and, as such, Jaffe explains how he likes to play these levels more like a cash game (more PokerCoaching.com Cash Game resources here), making his opponents uncomfortable by playing bigger pots than they may have liked or expected to. He goes deep into his thought process of each hand, analyzing his decisions street by street. Throughout the video, Jaffe takes questions from students on each hand, also discussing how he would have played alternate runouts on certain hands.

He discusses various concepts, including the importance at higher stakes of having some ace/wheel bluffs in early position against other early position opponents.

There are plenty of fun and interesting hands to dissect, including a wild one four ways with AJo on the BTN vs. a UTG raise, a UTG+1 call, and then a call from the SB. How good do you feel on an A87 rainbow flop, and how do you proceed?

Days 8, 18, 24: Live Play and Explain Parts 1, 2, & 3

Recently, Jonathan Little has been streaming his Sunday online tournament sessions, and naturally he saw this as an opportunity to teach his students how to better grind the online streets.

The 3-part series is a cool look at, and explanation of, Little’s Sunday grind, firing tournament after tournament with tables covering every corner of his computer monitor.

If you’re not a multi-tabler, this series will definitely boost your comfort level of adding volume to your sessions. In general, I wasn’t, but since watching this series I’m more comfortable adding three or four tables to my sessions, and am still seeing my winrate move in the right direction.

Little provides plenty of advice and tips throughout including…

• Play as many tables as you’re comfortable with.
• Use a HUD if you can.
• Organize and prioritize your tables to keep track more easily.
• Don’t waste time sweating results, just make the best decision and move on.
• Don’t let bad runouts on smaller buy-in tables tilt you and impact your decisions on higher priority tables.
• Multi-tabling is not about improving skills. It’s about utilizing strategies and maximizing volume.
• If you’re rebuying or buying in short, there will be more variance. Be ready for it.
• Don’t just register everything. Game select and find the best games to maximize your ROI.

Lower priority tables cascaded top left. Higher priority tables separate.

It really is impressive to watch Little playing 10+ tables and having no issues keeping track and playing as optimally as possible. While he admits that occasionally he does make mistakes, and that will come with mass multi-tabling, his focus and decision making is almost always on point. It was very cool to see him recognize a spot where he needed to fold a flush in one of his smaller buy-in tourneys where a lesser player would have just gone ‘oh, flush, call’, before clicking on to the next decision.

Day 9: Button vs. Big Blind Play

Jonathan Jaffe says he considers button vs. big blind play the most complex area of No Limit Hold ‘em because you’re dealing with such wide ranges in both spots, leading to difficult situations. I’ll happily agree with him. Range analysis in this scenario is very difficult, but Jaffe does a good job as he runs through a simulated session with two of his students using PokerStars play money home game software.

To be honest, this was a bit confusing to follow at times because it was set up visually as a heads up match, with the button player instructed to act as if there was an imaginary small blind between himself and the simulated big blind. There are a bunch of different scenarios presented, but I would recommend primarily listening to Jaffe’s commentary as opposed to watching the action to avoid the visual confusion.

Day 10: Advanced Big Blind Strategies in Tournaments

Day 10 brings another meaty and thorough class with Matt Affleck, which was also one of my favourites in the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge.

Remember the good old days when the big blind would fold too much because they didn’t want to play a junk hand out of position? Remember when it was then determined that it was mathematically correct to defend the BB with a wide range because the pot odds dictated it? Well, now the problem with most players is that they’re defending too wide, and you likely are too, especially multiway!

Affleck discusses how most poker players make a lot of mistakes in the big blind because they assume their pot odds are correct to be seeing a flop in almost any situation that hasn’t been 3-bet. Position of the raise, and the size of the raise are not fully considered, leading to players getting themselves into horrific spots. And just because your pot odds are so fantastic with five players in the pot by no means justifies flicking in a few more chips with a junk hand that can easily be dominated if you hit the board.

The coordination between raw equity, EV, and equity realization % is broken down, with Equilab used to illustrate the key points.

One solution to poor big blind play is to increase your 3-betting. As much as players over defend the big blind by calling, they’re under 3-betting grossly in spots that are very profitable. Most players just default to calling, again ‘since they’re getting such a great price’, but there are plenty of hands that can be 3-bet, and Affleck shows you where and why. Some theories referenced in his short stack videos are applicable here as well, as we’re now 3-betting weak aces to get medium aces to fold. Some marginal suited hands can be 3-bet as well because most people just are not calling enough 3-bets in general, and many hands that would have you dominated are now folding!

Finally, while fewer hands should be defended from the big blind with deeper stacks, the opposite is true with a short stack! It may seem counter-intuitive to defend a higher percentage of your stack when short, but that’s just it. If you’re short, you can happily get your stack in with pairs and good draws, whereas it would be heinous to commit a larger stack with the same hand strength.

Day 11-13: Review of Blaz $10 Online Tournament Win

As mentioned earlier, this 3-part miniseries can be ripped through in a little over an hour, as Little reviews a student’s win in a $10 6-handed tournament. Despite the relatively short runtimes of each of the three videos, there are still many key strategies to take away. None is bigger than the simple reminder that just because a tournament is short-handed, it does not justify opening ranges unnecessarily wide. A 6-handed table is just like a 9-handed table, just that the first 3 players have folded.

Case in point, one of the student’s opponents is playing a ridiculous 79% VPIP with a 13% PFR. Several pots are contested against this player, with maximally exploitative lines discussed in both small and large pots. Plus, not only are they an absolute muffin to play against, a blatant bet-sizing tell is picked up, too!

Once that player is disposed of, other situations are analyzed, including vs. a player the exact opposite of our 79/13 friend. What adjustments need to be made against a far more aggressive player with a high 3-bet percentage?

At the final table, an ICM suicide is narrowly averted thanks to the opponent folding vs. the student’s overplay of third pair with an open-ended straight flush draw on the turn.

Oh, you got called and the 4 of diamonds rolled off? Cool 3rd pair bro.

Days 14 & 15: How to Complete Poker Coaching Homework & October 2019 Tournament Homework

A staple of any PokerCoaching.com curriculum is the monthly homework assignments, and the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge is no exception.

Using the PokerCoaching.com Range Analyzer, students input their own ranges into a chart based on a hand scenario provided by Little. The student first creates a pre-flop action chart, saves it, then adjusts it street by street, based on the community cards and opponent actions of the hand.  Hand combinations are categorized into ranges for premium made hands, marginal made hands, draws, and junk.

The Day 14 video is a tutorial on how to create your charts and save them in the PokerCoaching.com forum for review during the monthly homework webinars hosted by Little. On Day 15 you’ll actually create a series of range charts, and then compare them to the analysis provided in the accompanying video.

Little will suggest how you should balance your betting and checking ranges, by adding or removing hands from the various categories. I would recommend familiarizing yourself with them though before jumping into these homework assignments. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by them, but have since learned to love them as a great way to study ranges and work on GTO range balancing.

Days 16 & 17: Reviewing Jonathan’s Deep Run in the Online $1k Freezeout Parts 1 & 2

In this pair of videos, PokerCoaching.com’s GTO wizard Michael Acevedo dissects Little’s play in a deep run against a table full of online killers.

A warning before you dive into these videos. This is VERY high-level GTO hand analysis between Acevedo and Little. Acevedo analyzes mostly to Little’s level of understanding, not necessarily to a student of the site. PioSolver is used frequently, and not explained to the layman poker player at all. You will need to be somewhat familiar with the program.

With that said, indeed, this is some VERY high-level GTO hand analysis!

REVIEW: Michael Acevedo’s Modern Poker Theory Video Packs

It’s fascinating to observe their poker minds at work, breaking down a queen-high river call, discussing the merits of min raising vs. slightly bumping up raise sizes, analyzing when a 15-20 BB shove is recommended (contrary to other short stack lessons), range betting vs. pot control, and tons more.

Remember, this is an elite player analyzing an elite player, playing against other elite players. This is NOT the review of the $10 tourney. There is some discussion of exploitative plays that could be applicable to smaller stakes tournaments, but for the most part we’re flying way above the rim here.

Day 19-23: Mastering the HUD (VPIP & PFR, C-bet, Fold to C-bet, Check-Raise, Test Your Skills)

It’s nearly three weeks into the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge before Alex Fitzgerald makes his first appearance, but the Assassinato’s entire course on Mastering the HUD gets a full five days worth of attention and it’s invaluable.

NOTE: Importantly, if you don’t play in an online poker room that allows HUDs, the 30-day challenge essentially just became a 25-day challenge. You can skip it entirely.

Fitzgerald admits he hated using a HUD at first and actually didn’t for five years. However, if you play on a site allowing HUDs and are not using one, you’re at a tremendous disadvantage against players who are.

Lots of numbers and colors can be scary, but once you learn them you’ll be the one they fear!

You’ll learn the ins and outs of the key numbers, learning how to play optimally against, and maximally exploit your opponents, based on their statistical tendencies. Fitzgerald acknowledges that unless you’re playing regularly with the same players your sample sizes will be small, but that will still tell you at least as much as in a live tournament setting.

Plenty of hand examples are provided in each section (especially Day 23) for students to consider, not just based on their potential opponent’s stats, but on other players and factors.

After watching this course, I’ve revamped my own HUD and am using it much more effectively. It’s undeniable that the difference in how the game feels based on using or not using a HUD is pretty large. With that said, if you can gain that advantage in decision making based on live analytics, it really is something you should be doing, and this section will prepare you thoroughly.

Day 25: Bubble Thoughts

Little’s 22-minute Bubble Thoughts class is all about pressure, pressure and more pressure; determining if your opponents care about sliding into the money, and if so, making life as uncomfortable for them as possible.

Find out where they don’t want to go, then make them go there!

Jonathan Little

There are obviously specifics to consider, such as stack sizes, position, and player type, and Little will go through what to look for that will give you the green light to attack. Reading weakness is always key to playing aggressive poker, but no time more so than on the bubble.

Several examples are analyzed, including an interesting situation showing how drastically a button shoving range changes on the bubble, depending on the quality of opponents in the blinds. A 64% range dropping down to 8%, sounds extreme, but it is justified against players who will call off too wide.

This section also leads into the next part of the challenge with some ICM discussion, and a reminder to pass on those tiny edges if you have a skill advantage, because ICM doesn’t take skill into consideration.

Day 26: Introduction to ICM

In this section you’ll dive deep into ICM with Matt Affleck. The title may say ‘Introduction’, but this class has heaps of great info throughout the beefy 92-minute runtime.

For those completely unfamiliar, Affleck starts off with a brief discussion on the difference between chip EV and $ EV, with a simple example of a winner-take-all sit n’ go payout vs. a top 3 payout.

The very cool concept of ‘Risk Premiums’ takes up a good chunk of the lesson. Affleck assigns an added percentage to a player’s pot odds when determining whether to make a call (think of it like a calling tax). We know a big stack is risking very little by calling a shove against a short stack, but to see specific formulas incorporated into various all-in situations based on stack sizes is a very cool guide to consider.

Post-flop ICM consideration with regard to bet sizing is compared to Risk Premiums, as the larger the bet you face, the higher the risk premium. You may seemingly only need 25% pot odds to make a call, but considering ICM and your risk premium, you need as much as 45-50% to justify putting your stack at risk.

Plenty of in-game examples are dissected through ICMizer to determine the profitability of potential all-ins. Consideration of risk premiums are thoroughly incorporated and considered.

Of note, Affleck discusses how risk premiums are even higher in satellite play. In a recent WSOP Online satellite, I was in a lengthy stretch of play with a ton of smallish/medium stacks (myself included) at the table as the bubble approached. Accounting for risk premiums saved my stack in a couple of key spots, whereas had I only considered the pot odds, I would have made an incorrect and tournament-ending decision. Instead, I made tighter folds, where others committed ICM suicide. As a result, I made it to the target tourney while others did not.

Days 27-29: Mastering High Roller Final Tables

We’re into the home stretch as we hit Day 27, and after almost four weeks of hard work this part of the series almost feels like the end of a school year when you’d get treated to watching a movie in class.

Yes, there is obviously a lot of high level poker that can be studied and learned from here, but you can also just kick back and enjoy watching some of the very best in the world play a $2,000 online final table.

Little had not actually watched this final table before doing the commentary on it, so it’s fun to watch him analyze the play in real time.

Since it is an online high roller final table with plenty of wizards, there is a lot to be taken away from it, notably the almost universally EXCELLENT play. Things you’ll see that Little discuses and analyzes include:

• Lots of GTO play
• Additional thoughts on min-raising vs. raising slightly more
• Players knowing when to check their marginal hands
• Tiny C-bets that make it difficult for opponents to defend properly against, instead of ‘betting to make your opponent fold’
• No blind C-betting – lots of consideration of opponents’ ranges
• Proper ICM-related decisions and play
• Minimal over-aggression and unnecessary 3-betting
• Good river decisions; recognizing showdown value and not needing to bluff
• Developing a final table limping range
• High level exploitative plays
• Head- up strategies and ranges

Day 30: Tips to Crush Small Stakes Tournaments and Final Exam

Congratulations! You made it to Day 30!

But before you can say you’ve completed the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge, there’s one more lesson with three tips to crush small stakes tournaments.

Oh… and the final exam!

You’ll have to check out the video for all the details, but the three tips are:

1. Exploit wide ranges! Low-stakes players don’t play well with wide ranges. Little will teach you how to combat these players most effectively, especially in late position.
2. Maximally exploit weak players! As you get deeper in tourneys, the stakes get higher and many players will get uncomfortable.
3. Play optimally on pay jumps! Your timebank is your friend. No, tanking isn’t sexy, but if it’s the difference in making a pay jump and boosting your ROI, then it’s tank time, baby!

After Little goes through these points, he wraps up with a 40-minute Q & A session with students on a wide variety of topics.

The final exam consists of 30 multiple choice questions, similar to the short quizzes at the end of each day’s lesson. Many of them aren’t too tough, but there are a few that might catch you. But really, if you’ve paid attention and have absorbed the information provided, you should have no problem registering a strong score (ahem…)

Aced it!

PokerCoaching.com 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge: Worth the Price!

As I have mentioned a couple of times in this review, I’ve had immediate success implementing the teachings of the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge, to my own game.

One test of the effectiveness of a training course is how quickly it pays for itself. Well, while working through the challenge for this review, it paid for itself multiple times over! With so many different aspects of tournament play discussed in this series, its an invaluable resource that can be enjoyed by signing up for just 1 month of PokerCoaching.com Premium access.

If you take on the 30-Day Tournament Preparation Challenge and put in the work, improved tournament results are a virtual certainty.

Of course, there are plenty of other ladies-only tournaments held throughout the calendar year as well, but up until now there’s never been one central online hub listing them all. As such, Cardplayer Lifestyle is proud to announce the launch of this dedicated Ladies Poker Tournament Schedule for 2020 that will serve to highlight poker tournaments for women around the globe. For those who can’t travel to Vegas this summer (or who don’t have the bankroll to play in the Ladies Championship), there are many other poker tours and venues across the globe hosting tournaments exclusively for women all year round.

In order to compile the list below, we have reviewed all publicly available tournament schedules looking to identify tours offering special ladies-only tournaments. Some are standalone tournaments, while others are part of a yearly series, like the Women’s Series at Playground in Montreal, Canada. Others, still, aren’t located in land-based venues, but on the high seas!

Although cashing in women’s events does not award players points towards GPI rankings, they do bring female players together. In fact, some tournament series offer poker lessons for beginners or strategy lessons for more advanced players.

Here, then, is the 2020 Ladies Poker Tournament Schedule. If you are a tournament organizer and we missed your event, you wish to add additional details, or you wish to report any errors we’ve accidentally made, please get in touch ([email protected]) so we can add it to the list below. We will endeavor to keep the list updated throughout the year, as new ladies events inevitably get announced.

Enjoy and see you at the felt!

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. We suggest contacting the casino or organizer to verify all information before making any travel arrangements.

SKIP TO: FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER

HIGHLIGHTS: WSOP Circuit & International Circuit 

Both of these series host Ladies Event for under $300 (or foreign currency equivalent) with the winners also receiving coveted WSOP rings.

• Three US Circuit stops that will feature ladies events have been announced, in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Tulsa.
• In Europe, King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic will host a €10K guarantee Ladies Event on March 14.

ON THE HIGH SEAS

If all-you-can-eat buffets and days at sea are more your style, two fantastic cruise companies — Card Player Cruises and Ship It Poker Cruises — give you the chance to both play poker on the high seas as well as have a wonderful, affordable vacation. Just note that bookings must be made directly with each company, respectively if you wish to play in the poker room.

• Ship It’s 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Royal Caribbean Oasis of Seas features a $200 Ladies Only tournament on March 31 with a $1K WSOP Ladies Championship ticket added to the prize pool.
• At the end of April, Card Player Cruises will host the LIPS and Chix Championship at Sea during their 7-nights Western Caribbean Cruise, featuring a $150 Ladies Event.

February 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: MPN Grand Finale

Location: Casino Gran Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Series Dates: February 1-9

Ladies Event: February 9

Buy-In: €110

Additional details: 20k starting stack, 20-min blinds. One re-entry per player, optional €5 add-on at the start – you will get an extra 5k chips, FREE soft drinks and 50% discount on massages.

This event is hosted by Daiva Byrne and Fantastic Ladies in Poker Facebook group. Satellites with some extra seats added for this event available via MPN, including via Betsson Poker.

Event: WPT Deepstacks Brussels

Location: Grand Casino Brussels Viage, Brussels, Belgium

Series Dates: February 4-9

Ladies Event: February 9

Buy-In: €150

Additional details: 20K starting stack, 20-minute levels and a single re-entry. This event also boasts no rake, so all €150 goes directly to the prize pool.

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Hearts

Location: Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, California

Ladies Event date: February 9

Starting time: 10AM

Buy-In: $125 (100 +25)

Additional details: 10K chips, 20-minute levels, optional $10 for additional 5K chips. *On all events unless otherwise stated, $300 is withheld for the winner’s seat to the LIPS Grand Championship.

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Hearts

Location: Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Nevada, USA

Ladies Event: February 15

Starting time: 12PM

Buy-In: $125

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels

Event: WPT Germany by partypoker LIVE

Location: King’s Resort, Rozvadov, Czech Republic

Series Dates: February 9-23

Ladies Event: February 15

Buy-In: €220 (200 + 20)

Additional details: 30K starting stack, 30-minute levels, one re-entry

partypoker Ladies has their own Facebook group that has more details on upcoming partypoker LIVE events. There are also partypoker Ladies online freerolls.

Event: Hollywood Columbus February Poker Schedule

Location: Hollywood Casino, Columbus, Ohio

Ladies Event: February 15

Buy-In: $150

Additional details: $3K guarantee, 20K starting stacks, 15/20 minute levels, registration through level 8

Event: February Meet Up of the Ladies Club at the Hippodrome Casino

Event Date: February 18

Additional details: The Ladies Club at the Hippodrome hosted by Kerryjane Craigie meets once a month on a Tuesday and offers the ladies a chance to meet up and chat about what they love and loathe about poker, followed by a NLH tournament with prizes. Meetings in February, March, and April will qualify towards the Win You Way to Vegas loyalty race.*

To find out more and to register for the next event, join the Facebook group.

*Terms and conditions apply. Must be a member of the Hippodrome Casino. Must be able to travel to the US. Not transferable and no cash alternative.

Event: King’s of Tallinn

Series Dates: February 17-23

Location: Olympic Park Casino, Tallinn, Estonia

Ladies Event: Paf Queens of Tallinn, ladies only event, February 22

Buy-In:  €60 (50 + 10)

Additional details: 10K starting stack, 25-minute levels, single re-entry – complimentary Hilton’s spa access for women players from 11AM-2PM

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Event: February 22

Buy-In: $175 CAD (160 + 15)

Additional details: This is the second edition of the Women’s Series at the Playground Casino. Through a series of five tournaments (each with a $5K guarantee), ladies have the opportunity to earn points to qualify for the Championship Event, which will be held on December 5.

Event: 2020 Texas Star State Championship hosted by LIPS

Location: Freerolls Poker Club, Katy, Texas

Series Dates: February 21-23

Additional details: A three-day series that offers $40 single table satellites into the $210 Texas Star State Championship, which begins on Saturday, February 22.

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 2 – Manchester

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Manchester, England

Series dates: February 22-March 1

Ladies Event: February 29

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: Unibet Open Dublin

Series Dates: February 25 – March 2

Location: Bonnington Hotel, Dublin, Ireland

Ladies Event: February 29, #QueenRules

Buy-In: €100 (80 + 10)

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels, 1 re-entry, registration through the start of level 7.

The Queen Rules event takes on a new twist as the Queens outrank the Kings in the deck. Learn more about #QueenRules here.

March 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: WPT Deepstacks Paris by partypoker Live

Location: Club Pierre Charron, Paris, France

Series Dates: February 20 – March 2

Ladies Event: March 1

Buy-In: €150 (135 + 15)

Additional details: 20K starting stack, 20-minute levels, registration through end of level 4

Event: Mardi Gras Poker Series

Location: Horseshoe Bossier City, Louisiana

Series Dates: February 26 – March 1

Ladies Event: March 1

Buy-In: $160

Additional details: Hosted by the Women’s Poker Association.

Event: PokerStars’ Women’s Sunday

Location: Online

Date: March 8

Buy-In: $22

Start time: 2:20PM Eastern Time

Additional info: Online satellites available at PokerStars for as little as $2.20. Late registration available for 1.5 hours. The winner receives a Platinum Pass to the 2020 PSPC in Barcelona, scheduled to be held on August 20-24.

Event: Helix Tiffany Cup powered by Poker League of Nations

Location: Jamul Casino, San Diego, California

Ladies Event: March 8 

Buy-In: $100 plus $10 bonus buy: Jack Your Stack Structure

Additional details: $3,000 guaranteed NLH tournament celebrating International Women’s Day.

The Tournament starts at 2pm, with late registration until 5:30pm. The winner will receive a crystal trophy and a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver bracelet as well as points toward Helix Player of the Year. 

Event: bestbet Orange Park

Event: WPT at the Venetian/ Deepstack Showdown Poker Series

Event: WSOP Circuit King’s Resort

Location: King’s Casino, Rozavadov, Czech Republic

Series Dates: March 5-23

Ladies Event: March 14

Start time: 3PM

Buy-in: €220 (200 +20)

Additional details: 20K starting stack, 25-minute levels, one re-entry, registration closes after 8 levels, €10K guarantee

Event: WPTDeepstacks Maryland

Location: LIVE! Casino & Hotel, Hanover, Maryland

Series dates: March 13-23 (schedule)

Ladies Event: March 14

Buy-In: $240 ($3,500 guarantee)

Event: Ante Up Spring Poker Classics Series Vee Quiva

Series Dates: March 14-29

Location: Gila River Hotels & Casino, near Phoenix, Arizona

Ladies Event: March 15

Buy-In:  $230

Additional details: 10K starting stack, $10K guarantee

Event: WSOP Circuit Harrah’s

Location: Harrah’s, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Series Dates: March 5-16

Ladies Event: March 15

Start time: 3PM

Buy-In: $250 (200 + 50)

Additional details: Structure here, 10K starting stack, unlimited re-entry, registration open until the beginning of level 9

Event: WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa

Location: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Series Dates: March 11-23

Ladies Event: March 18

Start time: 4PM

Buy-In: $250

Event: Ladies Event – MGM National Harbor

Location: MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland

Date: March 21

Start time: 1:15PM

Buy-In: $200 ($5K guarantee)

Additional Details: MGM National Harbor has held various Ladies Events in the past. In October they hosted a $200 NLH Ladies Event with a $5K guarantee. For more information on the March event or to be added to the mailing list for upcoming Ladies events, please contact the assistant poker manager at [email protected].

Event: Hollywood Columbus March Poker Schedule

Location: Hollywood Casino, Columbus, Ohio

Ladies Event: March 21

Buy-In: $150

Additional details: $3K guarantee, 20K starting stack, 15/20 minute levels, registration through level 8

Event: Foxwoods Poker Classic

Location: Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut

Series Dates: March 6-23

Ladies Event: March 22

Start time: 11AM

Buy-In: $1,000 (Ladies discounted to $250)

Additional details: 30K starting stack, 20/30-minute levels, unlimited re-entry

Event: March Meet Up of the Ladies Club at the Hippodrome Casino

Event Date: March 24

Additional details: The Ladies Club at the Hippodrome hosted by Kerryjane Craigie meets once a month on a Tuesday and offers the ladies a chance to meet up and chat about what they love and loathe about poker, followed by a NLH tournament with prizes. Meetings in February, March, and April will qualify towards the Win You Way to Vegas loyalty race.*

To find out more and to register for the next event, join the Facebook group.

*Terms and conditions apply. Must be a member of the Hippodrome Casino. Must be able to travel to the US. Not transferable and no cash alternative.

Event: bestbet Jax WPT Deepstack Ladies

Location: bestbet, Jacksonville, Florida

Series Dates: March 20-30

Ladies Event: March 25

Buy-In: $240

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 30-minute levels

This Ladies Only Event will be featured on the bestbet live stream feature and also final table.

WPTDeepStacks is heating up next month! Plan your visits to @LivePokerRoom and @bestbet_jax! @VinceVanP_WPT breaks down the two events. https://t.co/Q16dyYKkI7 (March 20-23)https://t.co/OUUOvlwcDh (March 27-30) pic.twitter.com/NGHy2PisOh

— WPTDS (@WPTDeepStacks) February 6, 2020

Event: WSOP Circuit, Bally’s Las Vegas

Location: Bally’s, Las Vegas, Nevada

Series Dates: March 19-30

Ladies Event: March 25

Buy-In: $250 (200 + 50)

Additional details: 2-day event, 10K starting stack

Event: 888poker LIVE Bucharest

Location: InterContinental Hotel, Bucharest, Romania

Series Dates: March 23-29

Ladies Event: March 26

Buy-In: €60 (50+10)

Additional details: Winner also receives a guaranteed 888poker LIVE Barcelona 2020 package

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 3 – Edinburgh

Location: Grosvenor Casino Maybury, Edinburgh, Scotland

Series dates: March 21-29

Ladies Event: March 29

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: NV State Ladies Championship hosted by LIPS

Location: Green Valley Ranch, Las Vegas, Nevada

Series Dates: March 26-29

Additional details: Several events scheduled from Thursday to Sunday including a 2-day, $210 Nevada State Championship event with 20K starting stack and 30-minute levels, $130 NLHE Warm-Up Welcome Event, and $130 Pajama Jam NLH tourney, where players are encouraged to wear their pajamas.

Event: Norwegian Championships (closed event, restrictions apply)

Location: City West Hotel, Dublin, Ireland

Series dates: March 27-April 6

Ladies Event: March 31

Buy-In: €400

Additional details: The 2019 Ladies Championship had 131 entries, making it one of the largest Ladies Events in Europe. Please note that the Norwegian Championships is ONLY open to those players with Norwegian passports. More information can be found on the website or via the closed Facebook group.

Event: Ship It Poker Cruises, 7 night Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Location: Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas

Series Dates: March 29 – April 5

Ladies Event: March 31

Start time: 2PM

Buy-In: $200 (175 +25)

Additional Details: 15K starting stack, 10K bonus for $20 dealer appreciation, 30-minute levels, registration through level 8

In addition to the Ladies only tournament, there are poker tournaments and cash games on board. Vanessa Kade will be attending (with Unicorn Celeste) and Mark Gregorich will be doing at least one if not two mixed game hand labs. Remember, cabins must be booked directly with Ship It Cruises to be eligible to play in the poker room.

April 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: Australian Poker Tour

Location: Bankstown Sports, Sydney, Australia

Series Dates: April 1-5

Ladies Event: April 4

Buy-In: $100 AUD (85 +15)

Additional details: The Australian Poker Tour hosts a Ladies Event sponsored by Women’s Poker Association at each stop, usually on Saturday. The APT stops at Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Sydney hosts a $100 Buy-In Event while Brisbane and the Gold Coast offers a $60 Buy-In. In January, The APT Brisbane Ladies Main had 82 entries and Alison Conway was the winner.

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Event: April 4

Buy-In: $175 CAD (160 + 15)

Additional details: This is the second edition of the Women’s Series at the Playground Casino. Through a series of five tournaments (each with a $5K guarantee), ladies have the opportunity to earn points to qualify for the Championship Event, which will be held on December 5.

Event: Irish Open

Location: City West Hotel, Dublin, Ireland

Series Dates: April 6-20

Ladies Event: April 9

Buy-In: €250 (225 + 25)

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 30-minute levels, late registration until 9PM

Still availability to Book your room for the Irish Poker Open 2020 this April 6th to 13th at Citywest Hotel Player Promo Code: IOP2020

Enter the code on Website when booking:https://t.co/icfIz40tqL

Poker B&B rates
– Single: €111
– Twin/Double: €121
– Triple: €151 pic.twitter.com/cCHEPL3dWW

— Irish Open (@Irish_PokerOpen) January 31, 2020

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Clubs

Location: Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Nevada, USA

Ladies Event: April 18

Starting time: 12PM

Buy-In: $125

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels

Event: April Meet Up of the Ladies Club at the Hippodrome Casino

Event Date: April 21

Additional details: The Ladies Club at the Hippodrome hosted by Kerryjane Craigie meets once a month on a Tuesday and offers the ladies a chance to meet up and chat about what they love and loathe about poker, followed by a NLH tournament with prizes. Meetings in February, March, and April will qualify towards the Win You Way to Vegas loyalty race.*

To find out more and to register for the next event, join the Facebook group.

*Terms and conditions apply. Must be a member of the Hippodrome Casino. Must be able to travel to the US. Not transferable and no cash alternative.

Event: PPWC Ladies Event

Location: Holiday Inn, Sao Paolo, Brazil

Series Dates: April 21-28

Ladies Event: April 24

Start time: 5PM

Buy-In: R$500

Additional details: Unlimited re-entry, with late registration until Level 8; 20k starting stack, 25-min levels, 17% of buy in taken as registration fee with an additional 3% taken for floor staff, dealers, and associated costs. Top five finishers will receive a free seat to the PPWC Main Event.

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Clubs

Location: Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, California

Ladies Event date: April 26

Starting time: 10AM

Buy-In: $125 (100 +25)

Additional details: 10K chips, 20-minute levels, optional $10 for additional 5K chips. *On all events unless otherwise stated, $300 is withheld for the winner’s seat to the LIPS Grand Championship.

Event: LIPS and Chix Championship at Sea, 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise

Location: Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas

Series Dates: April 26 — May 3

Ladies Event: Date TBA

Buy-In: $150

Additional details: There will also be a $340 Main Event open to all passengers. According to Linda Johnson, passengers will have opportunities to hold a sloth, feed iguanas, learn to salsa dance, etc. Prices for this cruise are the lowest of the year, starting at less than $100 per day. There will also be private excursions, free beginner’s lessons, and private parties.

Event:  Asian Poker Tour: APT Philippines 2020

May 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown

Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Ladies Event: May 2

Start time: 2PM

Buy-in: $250

Additional details: Re-entry, with $10,000 GTD and a $1,1000 Event #44 seat added for the winner.

Event: iNinja Poker Tour

Location: Atlantis Casino, Reno, Nevada

Series Dates: April 30 — May 10

Ladies Event: May 7

Buy-In: $200

Start time: 11AM

Additional Details: The Ladies Event is co-branded alongside the LIPS Poker Tour.

Event: bestbet Orange Park

Event: 888poker LIVE Barcelona

Location: Casino Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Series Dates: May 14-25

Ladies Event: TBA

Additional details: Every 888poker LIVE stop will host a Ladies Event. 888poker hosts series in Romania, Spain, Russia, Estonia, and England.

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 4 – London

Location: The Poker Room, London, England

Series dates: May 14-24

Ladies Event: May 24

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

June 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Event: June 6

Buy-In: $175 CAD (160 + 15)

Additional details: This is the second edition of the Women’s Series at the Playground Casino. Through a series of five tournaments (each with a $5K guarantee), ladies have the opportunity to earn points to qualify for the Championship Event, which will be held on December 5.

Event: Venetian DeepStacks Championship Poker Series

Location: Venetian Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Series dates: May 4-July 26

Ladies Event: LIPS Ladies Event June 14

Starting time: 11:10AM

Buy-in: $565 (500 + 65)

Additional details: 50K guaranteed. Players receive a 20K starting stack and play 40-minute levels. This is a 2-day event.

Event: Goliath 2020

Location: Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Series dates: May 27-July 8

Ladies Event: June 15

Buy-in: $350 (300 + 50)

Additional details: This is a 2-day event with the restart on June 16. The Ladies Event boasts a $50K guarantee with a $10K guarantee for 1st place. Players receive a 20K starting stack and play 30-minute levels

Event: 2020 WSOP Ladies Championship

Location: Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Series Dates: May 26 — July 15

Ladies Championship Event: June 17-20

Buy-In: $10,000 ($1,000 for ladies)

Additional details: 20K starting stack, 1-hour levels, one re-entry

Seoul, South Korea’s Jiyoung Kim tops a 968-entry field to win the 2019 @WSOP Ladies Event. Kim earns $167,308 and the bracelet in her first-ever WSOP cash. https://t.co/ShSFUm91y7 pic.twitter.com/jm5zKhzSfh

— WSOP (@WSOP) June 24, 2019

Event: Grand Poker Series

Location: Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV

Series Dates:

Ladies Event: June 18

Starting time: 11AM

Buy-In: $150

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 30-minute levels, $10K guaranteed

Event: Australian Poker Tour

Location: Southport Sharks, Gold Coast, Australia

Series Dates: June 17-21

Ladies Event: TBA

Buy-In: $60 AUD

Additional details: The Australian Poker Tour hosts a Ladies Event sponsored by Women’s Poker Association at each stop, usually on Saturday. The APT stops at Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Sydney hosts a $100 Buy-In Event while Brisbane and the Gold Coast offers a $60 Buy-In

July 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 5 – Luton

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Luton, England

Series dates: July 5-13

Ladies Event: July 13

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: bestbet Orange Park

Event: Poker EM 2020

Location: Casino Velden, Velden am Wörthersee, Austria

Series Dates: July 14-25

Ladies Event: Ladies EM, TBA

Additional details: The Poker Europameisterschaft (Poker EM, which translates to European Championships), is held every summer in Velden am Wörthersee in Austria, and this will be its 31st annual series. The Ladies EM has been held since 2017; Jessica Teusl has won the event for three consecutive years. More details to be announced soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlnxDAZH8TK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Diamonds

Location: Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, California

Ladies Event date: July 26

Starting time: 10AM

Buy-In: $125 (100 +25)

Additional details: 10K chips, 20-minute levels, optional $10 for additional 5K chips. *On all events unless otherwise stated, $300 is withheld for the winner’s seat to the LIPS Grand Championship.

Event: Grosvenor Casinos presents Goliath

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Coventry, England

Series Dates: July 29-August 9

Ladies Event: July 31

Buy-In: £60 ( 50 + 10)

Additional details: Women’s Event with £5,000 guarantee, 12K starting stack and unlimited re-entries. Players will have 2 hours and 15 minutes of registration period with five, 24-minute levels then reducing to 20-minute levels. The 2019  Women’s event drew 194 entries. Satellites are running on Grosvenor’s website. 

August 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: 888poker LIVE Sochi

Location: Casino Sochi, Sochi, Russia

Series Dates: August 6-14

Ladies Event: TBA

Additional details: Every 888poker LIVE stop will host a Ladies Event. 888poker hosts series in Romania, Spain, Russia, Estonia, and England.

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Event: August 8

Buy-In: $175 CAD (160 + 15)

Additional details: This is the second edition of the Women’s Series at the Playground Casino. Through a series of five tournaments (each with a $5K guarantee), ladies have the opportunity to earn points to qualify for the Championship Event, which will be held on December 5.

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Diamonds

Location: Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Nevada, USA

Ladies Event: August 15

Starting time: 12PM

Buy-In: $125

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels

Event: Australian Poker Tour

Location: Bankstown Sports, Sydney, Australia

Series Dates: August 20-23

Ladies Event: TBA

Buy-In: $100 AUD

Additional details: The Australian Poker Tour hosts a Ladies Event sponsored by Women’s Poker Association at each stop, usually on Saturday. The APT stops at Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Sydney hosts a $100 Buy-In Event while Brisbane and the Gold Coast offers a $60 Buy-In

September 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: 888poker LIVE Tallinn

Location: Tallinn, Estonia

Series Dates: September 1-7

Ladies Event: TBA

Additional details: Every 888poker LIVE stop will host a Ladies Event. 888poker hosts series in Romania, Spain, Russia, Estonia, and England.

Event: bestbet Orange Park

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 6 – Leeds

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Leeds, England

Series dates: September 6-13

Ladies Event: September 13

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: Australian Poker Tour

Location: Eaton Hills, Brisbane, Australia

Series Dates: September 23-27

Ladies Event: TBA

Buy-In: $60 AUD

Additional details: The Australian Poker Tour hosts a Ladies Event sponsored by Women’s Poker Association at each stop, usually on Saturday. The APT stops at Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Sydney hosts a $100 Buy-In Event while Brisbane and the Gold Coast offers a $60 Buy-In.

October 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Event: October 3

Buy-In: $175 CAD (160 + 15)

Additional details: This is the second edition of the Women’s Series at the Playground Casino. Through a series of five tournaments (each with a $5K guarantee), ladies have the opportunity to earn points to qualify for the Championship Event, which will be held on December 5.

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 7 – Luton

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Luton, England

Series dates: October 3-11

Ladies Event: October 11

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Queens

Location: Bicycle Casino, Bell Gardens, California

Ladies Event date: October 18

Starting time: 10AM

Buy-In: $125 (100 +25)

Additional details: 10K chips, 20-minute levels, optional $10 for additional 5K chips. *On all events unless otherwise stated, $300 is withheld for the winner’s seat to the LIPS Grand Championship.

Event: Malta Poker Festival

Location: Portomaso Casino, St. Julian’s, Malta

Ladies Event: Ladies First, October 31

Buy-In: €100 (90 + 10)

Additional details: 20K starting stack, 20-minute levels, one re-entry

According to Ivonne Montealegre, “Malta Poker Festival’s Ladies First is one of the only events that is committed to making live satellites even a few months before the event, so we make it very accessible for the ladies to participate.”

November 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: 2020 LIPS Queen of Queens

Location: Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Nevada, USA

Ladies Event: November 7

Starting time: 12PM

Buy-In: $125

Additional details: 15K starting stack, 20-minute levels

Event: Grosvenor UK Poker Tour, 2020 Leg 8 – Blackpool

Location: Grosvenor Casino, Blackpool, England

Series dates: October 31-November 8

Ladies Event: November 8

Buy-in: £100 (90+10)

Additional details: Starting stack 20K, 25-minute levels and unlimited re-entry for 2 hours

Every GUKPT stop hosts a Womens Event and players can earn points towards the Womens League and compete for three prizes outlined here. Click here for current Womens League standings.

Event: bestbet Orange Park

Event: 888poker LIVE London

Location: Aspers Casino, London, England

Series Dates: November 16-29

Ladies Event: TBA

Additional details: Every 888poker LIVE stop will host a Ladies Event. 888poker hosts series in Romania, Spain, Russia, Estonia, and England.

December 2020 Ladies Tournaments

Event: Women’s Series presented by Playground and the Women’s Poker Association

Location: Playground Casino, Montreal, Canada

Ladies Championship Event: December 5

Additional details: The Championship Event is only open to qualifiers.

Sure, this statement seems like nonsense. And it generally is! I’ve put some thought into it, and I believe that the reason most of these people have the belief they do is because:

1. They lose money in bigger chunks to bad players
2. They tend to remember losing big pots to bad players more than other hands, and
3. Most people who say this absolutely hate the big variance that comes with playing against bad players.

I’ve also seen many of these same people move up in stakes in an attempt to solve this problem, and they get slaughtered.

There is also a particular skill set that they may be lacking. The ability to quickly identify a very weak player, adjust to their playing style, and make the right decisions based on accurate hand ranges, are necessary components to beating a truly terrible player. Since the problem is so common, let’s take a shot at it.

My Quick and Dirty Guide to Beating Low Stakes Tournaments*

Let’s start with what I refer to as “structure anxiety”. Many players feel like a fast structure takes all the skill out of the game, and they feel constant pressure to chip up and take risks or they will be blinded off. If this describes you, ask yourself this question: “Is there ever a time when you should play a hand differently because of the length of a the blind levels?”

While it is possible to come up with a few spots where you might theoretically alter your play based on structure, it would be very rare. In most cases, the size of the pot, your opponent’s range, and the stacks behind, pretty much dictate the action and how soon the blinds are going up has no effect.

When I first started playing poker for a living, I was playing single table tournaments on partypoker. Yes, I’m that old. And I was considered one of the “online poker kids” back in those days. When I switched to playing a few of the sit and gos with the turbo structure, it felt like constant pressure. My ROI went down a little, as I expected, but my hourly rate actually went up. Making 10% in nine tournaments per hour was better than making 13% in five tournaments per hour.

Playing poker professionally as a teenager/college student really solidified this for me. Calculate hourly rate and adjust your time tasks/time accordingly

— HH (@RealHerbHoover) August 1, 2019

I have taken this knowledge to multi-table tournaments as well. My ROI might be higher in a great structure, but a faster structure means that my hourly rate might be just as good or better. People make terrible mistakes in fast structures, and a lot of nitty players that you would rather avoid will either tilt off their chips in frustration or skip the tournament altogether, making the tournament a lot more fun and often more profitable. The last thing I worry about when thinking about playing a tournament is the structure.

Let your structure anxiety go. It doesn’t matter to the play of the individual hand, and your opponents are playing the same structure you are. Just play solid smart poker with the stack you have, and everything will be fine.

Another common complaint is that “they always call”. Well, give me a ring next time you have a table like that, I know how to beat the hell out of a table full of calling stations. I make my living beating tables full of calling stations. Your frustration is probably due to one of two things:

1. You may be focusing on the bad beats

This is common. It also does you no good at all. You play good poker, and eventually you’ll get paid. Focusing on short term bad luck is not only a waste of time, but it will make you play worse. I see it every day. People who are so afraid of bad beats that they play badly simply in an attempt to avoid them.

If you see someone open raise for six big blinds in a tournament, they almost always have a big hand and are afraid of a bad beat. And when they just win the blinds with their raise, they are happy they didn’t lose a big pot. They have no idea that they allowed me to fold Ace-King instead of re-raising it, simply because they made a bad play. And they don’t care. Because they expect to lose if they get called. It’s a matter of their emotions costing them money at the table. Stop being afraid.

2. You could be playing very badly against loose players

I see this every time I play, too. Someone will open raise to three big blinds, and get called by a player who they know is playing almost any two cards. Then they give that player 80 big blinds on a 963 rainbow board with two jacks because they think that a bad player can’t have a good hand.

If a bad player limps into the pot, do you know how much to raise? Let’s look at an example hand, and you can answer the questions yourself and see if you agree with my assessment after.

A bad player who calls raises and plays almost every hand limps at the 300/600 level from middle position. You are on the button with a pair of tens. You each have around 20k in your stacks. How much do you raise here?

It varies depending on how bad the player really is, but my goal here is to pick the highest number that will get them to call, or I won’t raise at all. I don’t mind seeing a flop multi-way and keeping the pot small with a pair of tens, especially if the blinds are bad players as well and I can win a big pot if I flop a set. My typical raise here would be to around 2,600. This puts heat on the limper, get the blinds out, and either wins me the pot or gets me heads up with a lot of money in the pot when I have the best hand and I’m in position.

If I was in the small blind, but everything else was the same, I would raise to more like 3,600 because playing against a calling station out of position can be tough and I want to get as much money in now as I can or simply win the pot pre-flop.

If this bad player is very readable, then a smaller raise is also fine. Make it 1,700 to get the blinds out, and beat the bad player after the flop. However, it is important to remember that this player sees a lot more flops than you. They may be super loose pre-flop, but after the flop, when the big money goes in, they have “home field advantage” because they have been seeing flops with bad hands for many years and they are probably pretty good in such a situation.

So What’s the Key to Beating Bad Players?

If you aren’t beating bad players, you need to work on your skill set. It’s not a hard thing to do; it’s just something you haven’t learned how to do yet. Give it some thought, schedule a lesson with your favorite coach to talk about it, or keep working on your skill set and learning how to handle wide ranges with different stack sizes.

If you can’t beat a table full of fish, you have no shot at beating a table full of pros. I know it may not feel like this is true, but I promise that it is. If every player who thought they could beat a table full of pros was correct, the pros would be broke and these recreational players would be crushing them in the biggest cash games in the world.

What if I CAN Beat Bad Players? Why Am I Not Winning Low Stakes Tournaments?

The real question with smaller buy-in tournaments, is often which ones to play. The rake is high, the structures are fast enough that a low ROI Is guaranteed, and there aren’t ten more tournaments starting immediately like there were back my partypoker days. If your ROI drops to 25% because of a fast structure, and the rake is 25%, you are breaking even. If your ROI is actually 50% because you are a really great small stakes player, then you make 25% of a buy-in, which may be enough to cover your gas to drive to the casino and a few tips for drinks at the table, but you aren’t going to make much money.

The fields will always be soft, and while a little better structure is nice, the best thing to look for in low stakes tournaments is a low rake: $100+25 is pretty standard, but if you can find $125+25 it’s better, and if you are paying $75+25 the tournament is going to be tough to beat.

So…

Find smaller stakes tournaments with low rake, often in the $200 range. Work on your skills. And let that structure anxiety go. You are playing a hand, not a structure. Play your hands well and you’ll be fine.

*Results not guaranteed. Use my advice at your own risk!

This is something that happens to everyone, from recreational players to hardcore professionals. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to rekindle the flame and bring back the excitement you have for the game. If you’re looking for some ideas, here’s my list of the top 5 ways to enjoy poker more in 2019 (in no specific order).

Try New Game Variants

Most of us are used to playing No Limit Hold’em and/or Pot Limit Omaha. Of course, there are many more poker variants out there and learning how to play these can be a very entertaining experience. If you feel like you need a change of pace, you can always look for alternative options like Seven Card Stud, Razz, or even a game like Chinese Poker.

Image credit: PokerNews.com

You’ll find that many online poker sites offer these different variations across all stakes, so you can start at micro stakes or get involved with some small buy-in tournaments. While things may seem hard at first, give yourself some time to learn the ropes and keep in mind that most players you’ll be facing at small stakes aren’t experts, either. Once you learn the rules, sticking to some general poker tips should help you hold your own just fine.

Focus More on Your Own Play

Many of us often go on auto-pilot when playing poker online and divide our attention between the games we’re playing, a YouTube video, scrolling through our social media feeds, and chatting with a friend, etc. If this is something you do, try to organize your time in a way that allows you to fully focus on your games and get rid of all distractions.

When it’s crunchtime for tests, get rid of distractions (yes, even twitter). Even a small distraction every 10mins decreases productivity

— Dr. K (@medschooladvice) November 27, 2017

This will allow you to really think about your decisions and could help you see the game in a whole new light. After a while, you’ll start noticing things that used to be just background noise, such as specific bet sizing or timing tells. While it may be hard at first, focusing more on your games should make your playing experience much more enjoyable and entertaining. The additional benefit of this approach is that you’ll also make better, more informed decisions, which should help improve your win rate as well.

Give Poker Tracking Software a Shot

While professional online poker players can’t imagine playing without the help of poker software, many recreational players seem to think they don’t need these tools. The truth of the matter is, HUDs and trackers can do wonders for your game and can help you discover a whole new world that you didn’t even know existed.

Keeping track of your opponents and figuring out how to use their stats to adjust your play isn’t just the way to make your money. It can also be very enjoyable and entertaining as it will feel like a whole new game. All of a sudden, you’ll have a plethora of information at your disposal and will need to figure out how to interpret this information to make the best decisions.

While HUDs can be scary and confusing at first, you should take some time to get used to it. Perhaps you can play slightly lower stakes at first while figuring things out, but once you crack the code, you’ll surely enjoy every subsequent session much more.

Mix In Some Live Tournaments

Many online players have never tried their hand at live play. Some are too scared of the live setting, while others don’t think there is enough value in playing a single tournament for several hours (as compared to their typical multi-tabling online). However, if you’re looking for ways to enjoy the game, even more, you should definitely give the live play a shot.

Live and online poker are two completely different beasts and mixing up some live events if you’ve been playing exclusively online can be a fun way to try your hand at something new. While it may be a bit scary and confusing at first, it will give you a chance to apply completely different skills as you’ll have to make adjustments and use your live reads as you go.

Looking to play some live poker this weekend? Find the best room near you https://t.co/Srykj70Fai #poker #casino #playpoker pic.twitter.com/p6lnvhIynw

— PokerPilgrims (@PokerPilgrims) December 22, 2018

Of course, there is also the social element that you just don’t get with online poker. Playing in a live tournament can be a lot of fun, especially if you are an outgoing person, as there are always people ready to strike a conversation and have some fun. While your goal is always to win, there is no harm in having some fun while at it and playing a live tournament here and there can be a great way to rekindle your flame for the game.

Set Up a Home Game With Your Buddies

Just like live tournaments, home games can be an excellent way to play for fun without worrying too much about results. If you have friends who play poker, which most of us do, invite them over for an entertaining home game.

Ideally, you want to set up a relaxed and enjoyable environment where everybody feels comfortable. Cash games are a better option for a home game, simply because people can play as much as they like. Tournaments can be a bit frustrating because once you bust, you have to sit around doing nothing while everybody else is having fun.

Don’t go crazy on the stakes, though. Come up with stakes that are high enough to be entertaining but not so high that someone will go home feeling bad. Your goal is to have fun and enjoy the game, so money should be secondary. You could also try and spice things up by throwing some new games in the mix or making the game “dealer’s choice” so everyone can pick their game from the rotation of few games you all know how to play.

Bottom Line

There are many ways you can enjoy poker, and you should always try your best to make sure that you do. If you feel like the game has become boring and it doesn’t excite you as much as it used to, perhaps consider implementing some of the tips from this article and see if it helps bring back the old flame in the coming year!

Tip 1: Adjust Your Ranges

Very broadly speaking, live poker tournaments are much softer than online tournament as they attract more recreational players with less experience. This fact should be reflected in the way you construct your ranges, as a more exploitative approach will usually do better than sticking to GTO ranges and balanced play.

It doesn’t mean you should completely abandon the idea of hand selection and just get it in with random hand, but you’ll usually have a chance to see cheap multi-way pots and can take advantage of that. Try to mix in some hands that have solid nuts potential, like suited aces and pocket pairs, and see if you can get lucky on the flop. When you do, try and go for the maximum value; when you don’t, don’t get stubborn and insist on winning pots at all costs. Simply wait for a better opportunity.

This poker tournament strategy works well in live events because players don’t pay as close attention as they do online to what you’re doing and they don’t have stats available to them to indicate your exact ranges. Playing an exploitative style in live MTTs will pay off in the long run, simply because there isn’t as much downside to it. If people aren’t taking advantage of your exploitative play, just go for it.

Tip 2: When Blinds Go Up, Start Pouncing

An aggressive approach to poker is generally considered to be good, but this especially applies to live tournaments. As the blinds start to go up and antes kick in, you should start putting your chips to work and open with a broader range of hands. This doesn’t mean you should be reckless with your stack, but if you are in late position and there are no aggressive actions in front of you, there is no reason to be shy about going after the pot.

The reason why this approach is even more effective in live tournaments than in online MTTs is the fact people really hate busting live events; there’s much more of an emotional connection to one’s tournament life. When playing online, people aren’t particularly shy about getting their chips in the middle because there is always another tournament they can register for right away if they feel like playing some more. Additionally, they don’t have to deal with the “walk of shame” that comes with busting in a live tournament.

Keep all these factors in mind when playing live and, as blinds go up and those uncontested pots become increasingly important, look to become the table captain. Of course, always stay aware of the situation and adjust your play accordingly if you notice someone is starting to challenge you, but stealing blinds aggressively can be one of the best ways to build your stack in live tournaments.

Tip 3: Don’t Neglect Live Tells

Some players believe that poker tells are overrated; others think tells are hugely important in live games, and it is hard to say who’s right and who’s wrong. However, the fact remains that live tells do exist, and they’re something you should most certainly take advantage of when possible.

Rounders’ Mike McDermott had a keen eye for spotting tells in his opponents.

Many good books and articles explainin how to crush live poker games while taking into consideration different types of tells. Thus, we won’t go into specific reads in this article, but you’ll be missing out on a lot of information if you aren’t paying attention to the behavior of other players. Keep in mind that many players in live tournaments aren’t hardcore professionals – unless you’re playing in High Roller events – so they won’t be particularly good at hiding their emotions.

Moreover, you don’t have to be a master of psychology to recognize many of these tells. They should be fairly easy to spot because they’re part of normal human behavior, so you’ll instinctively know how to interpret them. The old saying “Strong means weak and weak means strong” holds true in many cases, so you can often easily interpret your opponents’ behavior.

Naturally, you should still stick to playing solid poker and making decisions primarily based on the underlying math of the situation, but keeping an eye out for obvious tells should help you win extra few pots or lose fewer chips in bad spots.

The popularity of card games is undeniable – across the globe millions of people take part in games ranging from the well-known classics like poker and blackjack to more off-the-beaten path modern games like Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering. Wherever you go in the world, you’re sure to find people taking part in this classic pastime as a way to relax and have fun with friends. Of course, as poker players, we know that card games aren’t just all about fun and relaxation, but also about competition and making money. With the World Series of Poker currently in full swing it’s a reminder that hordes of people love playing tournament poker, but crowds aren’t just limited to poker.

Just how big can card tournaments become, and what do they involve? The infographic above, entitled “High Card: The 10 Biggest Card Tournaments of All Time” takes a look at some of the biggest and most exciting ones to have ever taken lace across the world.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t start out with poker. The Big One For One Drop tournament has always attracted the world’s best players and it’s set to take place once again at the conclusion of this summer’s festivities at the Rio in Las Vegas. This tournament features a million-dollar buy-in and awards a HUGE cash prize to the winner, with a sizable chunk of the proceeds – namely, $111,111 per entry – being donated to charity. In 2012 Antonio Esfandiari won a staggering $18,346,673, the biggest live tournament poker prize ever.

Of course, it’s not just the high rollers who can cash big in Vegas, as hundreds of thousands of people participate in the dozens of events held during the World Series each year. This results in hundreds of millions of dollars in prize monies being awarded to card players of all stripes, whether professionals or amateurs.

While not technically a card game, Mahjong’s similarity to Gin Rummy and its long-held position as a central part of Chinese culture has earned its top tournament a place amongst our list. The 2007 World Series in Mahjong saw 265 avid players fight it out for the $500,000 cash prize, with Li Li winning out against his competitors.

While Pokemon enjoys vast popularity across all forms of media, let’s not forget the card game that once succeeded in sweeping the world. In particular, the Pokemon U.S. National Championships has featured over 1,000 players. While the popularity of this game has waned since its prime, there are still thousands upon thousands of fans who enjoy it to this day. In 2016, Nick Robinson was the one to take the crown for this tournament, winning a considerable prize of $10,000.

So, now you know about some of the biggest card tournaments out there! While most card games serve as a kind of casual hobby or even a way to kill time, it’s clear to see there are some truly big players out there who have managed to make their living through professionally playing cards. The opportunities are endless for keen players, and the stakes are high. Whether it’s blackjack, baccarat, bridge, or baloot, there’s always something to love about a good card game, and we’ll forever see popular games like these attracting millions of eager players the world over.

Several casinos hold lower buy-in events during the same time as the World Series of Poker and offer players an excellent opportunity to grow their bankrolls, earn buy-ins for the WSOP, or even serve as another place to play after they bust out of that day’s bracelet event. Notably, Kenny Hallaert posts the full schedule of such tournaments each summer.

Sorry it took me a while this time but this is the link for the 2018 Sumer tournaments in Vegas starting with the WSOP. https://t.co/KaEBkRnRKu @Kevmath https://t.co/e8p1ZcFVUy

— Kenny Hallaert (@SpaceyFCB) December 12, 2017

If you’re heading to Las Vegas this summer, here are five reasons why you should consider playing in the non-WSOP events around Las Vegas.

1. Play Many More Events for the Same Money

Let’s assume you’re planning on going to Las Vegas for a week or two and only have $2,000 to play in events. You might be able to play in two bracelet events max. Your other option would be to take that money and play in smaller tournaments around Las Vegas. Depending on the venue, you can enter some events for as little as $100.

The core schedule at most venues outside the Rio consists of events ranging from buy-ins of $100 up to $600. This allows you to really stretch your bankroll and play in more events. If you do well, you could perhaps parlay your winnings into a bracelet buy-in.

You can also split up your play. Enter a $1,000 buy-in event at the WSOP and take the other $1,000 and play in other events around the city. This is the “best of both worlds” option. You get the WSOP experience while being able to afford to play in other events. The more you play, the more chances you give yourself to win.

2. Warm-up or Practice for WSOP Events

The great thing about the World Series of Poker is that they spread poker variants that you don’t very often in other venues. These events attract specialists, mixed-game enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to play something other than NL Hold’em every day.

Casino organizers across Las Vegas recognized this as an opportunity and some venues run lower buy-in variants of WSOP events as part of their schedule. Events at other venues are a great way to practice for upcoming WSOP events. For example, Planet Hollywood is offering a $300 buy-in Dealer’s Choice event the day before the $1,500 Dealers Choice at the World Series of Poker.

Most often, you will find a low buy-in version of a WSOP event one to two days prior the WSOP version of the event. From there, you can look over the structure sheets to determine which are worth your time.

3. You Never Know Who Will Show Up

When I first started playing live poker in Las Vegas in 2006, I was surprised at the number of pro players who were playing in the smaller events around Las Vegas. While you probably won’t run into any celebrity pros like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, or Fedor Holz, you may often find yourself playing against old-school pros, Poker Hall of Famers, and other well-known pros that you may have seen on TV throughout the years.

One of my most memorable tables just for star power was in a small $210 Stud 8 Event a few years back. Barbara Enright, Linda Johnson, Susie Isaacs, Marsha Waggoner, and Robert Turner were all at the table. If you’re looking to meet and play against top caliber competition without breaking your bankroll, these smaller events are perfect.

READ MORE: On Poker Budgets and Poker Bankrolls

Mixed games events are my favorite events to play due to the percentage of old-school pros you’ll find in the field. Sometimes the stories you hear during the events are worth much more than the price of admission.

4. Fantastic Way to Build Your Bankroll

Many serious poker players will admit that the non-WSOP series around Las Vegas during the summer present excellent ways to build or supplement your bankroll. While the prize money pales in comparison to what’s offered at the Rio, you can still score five-figure wins on a consistent basis.

Who couldn’t use an extra $25k, $50k or more in their bankroll? Considering that the average field strength will be softer than that at the Rio (massive field events excluded), you’ll have a much better chance of making the final table and winning roll-building money in these events than at the WSOP.

5. Experience More of Las Vegas

There are many poker players who go to Las Vegas for the WSOP and never leave the Rio. That’s pretty sad considering the number of poker rooms throughout the city. Plus, the city of Las Vegas itself is pretty darn great! One great thing about going to these different tournament series around the city is that you get to check out different casinos and different parts of Las Vegas that non-poker tourists enjoy, too. Indeed, the multitude of offerings is something that sets Las Vegas apart from other “casino destinations” that don’t have nearly the same impact on the gaming industry.

Personally, I absolutely loved playing and later staying in Downtown Vegas. Maybe I am a bit old school, but I felt more at home playing at Binions and the Golden Nugget than I ever did at the Rio. I also enjoyed The Orleans; yes, even the $4/$8 Omaha Hi-Lo game known for having some of the grouchiest players on the planet.

You get to play in different poker rooms, meet new people, try out new casinos, and enjoy more of Las Vegas than just the “WSOP Experience.” For me, my fondest memories of summers in Vegas are at the events outside the Rio.

While the World Series of Poker is the ultimate goal for many poker players, it is not the only game in town. The next time you’re out in Vegas during the summer, consider playing at some of these events. You may find that they are much more your speed than the massive, better known events at the Rio.

There are two really big mistakes that I see from recreational players in satellites. In fact, I see these from working pros too!

Survival Is the Name of the Game

Most recreational players are used to doing things a certain way. Whether it is correct or not, they have a preferred way of playing in a poker tournament, and they often carry that style into a satellite, which can be a huge mistake. The key in satellites is to preserve chips, stay alive, and chip up as safely as possible. In the very early stages of a satellite, it can be correct to splash around a tiny bit to try to chip up, but in later stages that attitude becomes terribly expensive.

Have you ever considered folding aces preflop? Not only have I considered it, I have done it on more than one occasion in a satellite and I am sure that it was the correct play. Let me explain why.

No matter the hustle .. remember survival is the name of the game???

— T-Roc??? (@T_General10) February 13, 2018

Let’s say that you started with 100 people in a satellite that pays 1 in 10. The buy-in was $100 and the top 10 finishers win a seat to a $1,000 WSOP event. There are 11 players left and you have the second biggest stack with 80,000 chips. The player on your right has the biggest stack with 82,000 chips. There are two players below 5,000 chips and the blinds are 2,000/4,000 with a 500 ante.

The first thing we notice here is that one of the two short stacks is almost certain to get eliminated within the next 10 hands. If you get up from your seat and walk away, you are guaranteed a seat. You have already won the maximum prize… unless you screw it up.

Now you are on the big blind, and everyone folds to the small blind, the stack that is slightly larger than yours. Everyone is scared to play a hand, so this would not be uncommon. But what happens next certainly seems odd. He shoves all-in for 82,000 chips.

It gets even weirder when you look down at two aces. What are you going to do now? Can you fold two aces in this spot? This is the best hand in poker! If you call and he also has two aces, you are only going to lose when he makes a four flush, which will be very rare. If he has the best possible hand against you, 67 suited, you are still a three to one favorite. And he will usually be in worse shape than that. Think of all the chips you could have!

But we don’t play tournament poker for chips do we? We play it for money. And chips don’t always equal money. In fact they never do, and in this specific case the difference between chips and money is huge. If you could buy an extra two million chips for $20, should you do it? How much more likely would it be that you are going to get a seat (again, a seat being the top prize in this tournament)? Save your $20; your seat is already locked up… unless you call with those two aces.

If you fold, we know that you are going to get a seat every time, so your equity is $1,000. But what if you call? If we assume that you are a four to one favorite, then the math looks something like this:

• 80% of the time you will win the hand, your opponent will be crippled, and you will definitely win a seat. So your equity will be 80% of $1,000, or $800.
• 20% of the time you will lose and go broke, leaving you with zero equity and a happy table celebrating their chance to play the big event while you walk out the door with nothing.

Your total equity is now $800+0, so you would lose $200 in equity by getting all-in preflop with the best hand in poker. Now we can compare that to your chip equity where you double up 80% of the time and go broke only 20%. Your stack increases by an average of 80% or 64,000 chips. So you make a play that on average increases your stack by 64,000, but also decreases your equity by $200. Welcome to the world of tournament poker.

This is a situation that we often see in regular (i.e., non-satellite) tournaments, too, but there is not usually such a drastic difference. If the above was news to you, some education on tournament theory will be a big help. I can recommend RedChipPoker.com, LearnWPT.com, or David Sklansky’s book Tournament Poker for Advanced Players. There are many articles online about it as well; simply Google “poker tournament theory.”

Being able to roughly calculate the equity of a play in real money instead of tournament chips is important to the success of a tournament player. This is even more important in a satellite. Rather than cruising along in your standard tournament mode, you must change your thinking. Try getting used to asking yourself the following question:

“How often will I get a seat with each of my options here?”

You should be asking yourself this question quite often as you reach the later stages of the satellite. There is money to be made playing satellites, and answering this question correctly will help you claim more of it.

Taking a Shot

The second huge mistake I see doesn’t happen at the table; it happens at the cashier window. Many players have the idea that if they can afford the buy-in to the satellite, they should play it. But when we talk about variance in tournaments, and what size bankroll is necessary, we assume that you will cash around 15% of the time. If you first must play a satellite, win it, and then cash in the tournament itself, that percentage goes way down.

Let’s assume that you are playing tournaments with a reasonably small field, and you don’t have to protect your bankroll too much because you also have a job. If you have a good enough job, or just don’t need to worry about maintaining a bankroll just for poker, then play whatever you can afford. But if you are trying to build a poker bankroll and don’t want to rebuild it from your paychecks, then you should be following reasonable bankroll management practices. With small fields, a good player can probably get away with playing anything where he has 50 buy-ins for that event. I don’t have a job, and really don’t want to get one, so I stick with 100 buy-ins.

This means that if you are going to play a $1,000 buy-in tournament, you should have $50,000 in your poker bankroll if you are going to be serious about bankroll management. But this does not apply to satellites because the variance of the satellite and the tournament together is much higher than just playing a tournament.

If we assume that you are a very good satellite player, playing a 1 in 10 satellite, you should get a seat about 15% of the time. This is a nice profit for you. But if you are playing the tournament as well, and assuming you are a very good player, you will cash about 20% of the time. Now, instead of putting money back into your bankroll 20% of the time, you are going to walk away with something .15 * .20 = .03 or about 3% of the time. This drastically increases your variance.

You should generally only play satellites into tournaments that you would play even if you didn’t win your way in. The satellite is a way to save or make money, not a way to “take a shot” at a bigger event that you wouldn’t normally play. I know, it takes the fun out of it doesn’t it? If you are just playing for fun, then don’t worry about a bankroll and just have fun. But if your bankroll matters to you, don’t decimate it by playing satellites into events that you can’t afford to play otherwise.

There Are Other Ways

You can still play satellites into events you can’t afford, but you must do something to cut down that variance. You can do this by:

• Selling the seats you win. This is a very low-variance approach and you could play satellites higher than your usual buy-in if you are doing this. Just make sure to get very close to full value for the seats when you sell them. This may mean showing up on the day of the tournament to sell the seat to players waiting in line so that you can get 95% of the value of the seat.
• Selling action in the event before you play it. Learn about selling action so that you don’t screw this up, but sell enough action that your own piece of the tournament is a buy-in that you can afford with your bankroll.
• Play the satellite with non-bankroll funds. Just pull money out of your entertainment budget. If taking a shot is that much fun, then enjoy yourself, but don’t punish your poker bankroll for your entertainment.

My favorite thing about satellites is probably your favorite thing, too. They give recreational players a chance to play big events that they usually wouldn’t be able to afford. This spares me the pain of being at a table full of silent grinders with headphones and book bags. All hail the satellite, Saver of the Day, Bringer of Recreational Players, Low Variance Cash Cow, and The Great Creator of the Moneymaker Effect!

The experience of playing with serious basketball players was eye-opening. They were incredible. I was used to being the best player on the street courts where I played, and I expected them to be better than I was, but it was like being a child playing with grown men. Playing with the best poker players in the world is a similar experience if you show up to the WSOP after being the best player in your home game or at your local card room. But it doesn’t feel the same.

The luck factor is a part of it – much like you never know if you might win big after receiving free spins at a slot machine. But the biggest contributor to amateurs overestimating their own skills is how much information is hidden. When a pro dribbled around me fast as lightning and dunked (again), I could see his advantage. But when you get outplayed by a poker pro, you often have no idea what happened. You can’t see their cards and you don’t know what their thought process was. You don’t what they saw in your eyes, your body language, or your bet sizing. You may have no idea that they just owned you.

So, my goal with this piece is to give you a look into the world of a serious professional poker player. How they think, what they notice, and the way they make their decisions may be completely foreign to you. Learning these things can obviously help your game, but it can also help you gain an understanding of how the pros play and what their thought processes are. At the very least, hopefully reading this will help you avoid getting trapped by them so often if you play in tournaments with world-class players in the future.

Poker Pros Notice EVERYTHING

Let’s start with what they see. Every player has a little different skill set, but a good live pro is watching all the time, picking up information that they can use later. If you walk up to the table looking at all the players and their stacks, we notice. If you ask to see someone’s chips, we note that you understand at least something about stack sizes. If someone shows you the winning hand and it still takes you five seconds to throw your cards in the muck, or you feel the need to show them to the table before folding, we remember that you have trouble accepting that your hand is beat and may pay us off in a future hand.

Everything from your clothing to your facial expressions and body language tells us something about you. And it’s unavoidable. You can be less readable, but even that tells us that you have put some work into it and are thinking about covering those things up. If I run into a robot who constantly watches the table and doesn’t speak or move, I know that he is a killer, and I am very careful playing hands with him. But it’s better than being completely readable. I love playing hands with those guys.

Stack Sizes Matter

A great player doesn’t just glean information about their opponents. They also know how to use it. If I know that you are a thinking and aggressive player, and you three-bet me with 24 big blinds in your stack, I won’t ever go all-in on a four-bet bluff because a player with a serious poker education is almost never going to three-bet fold against me with a stack that short. With 35 big blinds, however, I know they could fold and they may be three-betting light. With a player who appears to be inexperienced or uneducated – a recreational player – I may shove all-in as a semi-bluff in that spot because they may be able to make a bad fold and may overestimate my four-bet shoving range.

Do you know what we are doing when we ask to see your stack? Most recreational players assume that we do that just so we know how much money we are risking or how much we could win if we have the best hand. But it’s much more than that. If you raise my big blind from middle position with a 24 BB stack, I am actually more likely to defend with a hand like 68s than I would if you had 34 big blinds. This is because I have some great moves for my hand against your stack size.

If we assume that you raised to 2.5 big blinds, there will be around 6.5 big blinds in the pot when we see the flop. If I flop a draw, I can check, and when you bet I can move all-in to win a pot of around 10 big blinds right there. If you missed, you fold and I win, which will happen often. But if you call it doesn’t hurt me too badly because you only have another 17 big blinds left in your stack and I have a draw to bust you… unless I see you miss the flop.

One of the most reliable tells in poker is when a recreational player stares through the flop for a few seconds after it falls. They are waiting for it to get better, unwilling to believe that the poker gods have forsaken them yet again. They are angry with this stupid flop. In that case. I can lead out and steal the pot right there if I think they missed and I haven’t flopped a draw myself.

READ MORE: Making a Living as a Tournament Poker Player

What if I flop a monster? With these stack sizes, I have a great weapon for that, too. If I check-call the flop, you will often bet again, and my check-raise all-in on the turn won’t be much more to call. You will have trouble folding with almost 40 big blinds in the pot and only 10 left in your stack if you have any piece of the board. And if you fold I have still won a nice-sized pot and crippled you. If you check behind on the turn, you will often have enough to call a reasonable sized bet on the river. I’m so aggressive that you will expect me to be bluffing the river after your sign of weakness on the turn. And, again, I’ll win a nice pot.

With 34 big blinds in your stack, my moves are different, and tougher to use. You can hurt me worse if I lose the pot, and being out of position could be a problem for me with the awkward stack size. If I have position, things are much easier. With the 24 big blind stack, my weapons are almost too many to list.

Cold, Calculated Poker Moves

Do you know what a resteal is? It’s one of my favorite things to teach to new students because it is so powerful, but most recreational players know nothing about resteals. With a few days work, you can play a 12-20 big blind stack almost perfectly using one of the most powerful tools in tournament poker. Here’s a quick look at the math of a resteal.

If an aggressive player raises from the cutoff seat with a big stack, we use our best guess to estimate their range. Let’s assume that this player is raising 30% of their hands in this spot. If you go all-in with 15 big blinds from the small blind, the big blind will only call around 3-4% of the time, and when they do you get to see all five cards; sometimes you will win. But that 3-4% isn’t too scary.

The original raiser will typically only call with about 7% of their hands even if they know about resteals. If they are a really great player, and they know that you play well enough to be capable of a resteal, then their original raising range might be much tighter, but we are assuming a typical player who won’t be worried about resteals and will just be raising lots of hands because that is what they think you should do with a big stack in late position.

This means that 23 out of 30 times they will fold and the big blind will call about 1 in 30 times. So,  22 out of 30 times your all-in move will be successful and will win a pot with about five big blinds in it. You increase your stack by 33% without seeing a flop most of the time.

And when they do call? Well, you should usually be restealing with a hand that has some equity all-in against the top of their range. A hand like the aforementioned six-eight suited is a good example. Getting all-in with eight high seems maniacal to many inexperienced players, but it’s a great hand in this spot and super profitable. If they call, you will have around 32% equity against their range. So out of every 30 times you make this play:

• You will win without a showdown 22 times and win five big blinds each time. This is a profit of 110 big blinds.
• You will be called eight times, but will win two or three of those and will win about 18 big blinds each time for a profit of 45 big blinds.
• You will be called and lose your 15 big blind stack five or six times for a loss of about 82 big blinds.

The actual equity of the play is thus 110+45-82 = 73 big blinds. You make almost 2.5 big blinds per attempt. This is an increase of almost 17% to your stack every time you make this play. In fact, this play is so good that you really can’t beat poker tournaments without it. So, knowing that the other strong players at the table know about this play and may resteal against you or set you up for a resteal can save your tournament life!

Did a resteal shove w/ Q8s from BB. Snap called by Q6o ??? Doubled up. 11/14. top 5 get $. Need to fin top 3 to break even today. #poker

— ₿-Yeezy (@2SlyBry) June 15, 2014

The resteal is just one example of a weapon that a professional poker player has probably used against you. We know what stacks we should resteal with, against what opening ranges, and with which hands. And with deeper stacks our weapons multiply.

Do Recs Stand a Chance Versus Pros?

My hope is that this article doesn’t intimidate you, but rather that it educates you and gives you a glimpse into how the pros think. I love recreational players. We need them in the game. I was one myself when I started playing and I hope to be one again someday when I retire from competitive poker. But giving recreational players a fighting chance is what I have done for most of my poker career. Even a few lessons makes a big difference, and a training site can make a huge difference for a very small investment. I recommend LearnWPT.com for tournament players and RedChipPoker.com for cash game players as excellent sites with lots of educational content for very little money.

I hope to see you at the tables. Just don’t use the information in this article against me, I’ve got bills to pay.

READ MORE: 7 Factors to Weigh When Looking for Soft Poker Tournament Fields