The next four months could be life-changing if you are a tournament poker player. I am going to discuss upcoming events before providing a few survival tips. As I am writing this, players are gathered in Tunica, Mississippi, getting ready for the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship. I will report on that event in the next issue, along with Commerce Casino's $1 million-guaranteed $1,500 buy-in limit hold'em event.
L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC), Jan. 30-Feb. 23, Commerce Casino – This event will be enormous. Like last year, it features two $1 million-guaranteed events. Last year's $1,500 limit hold'em event attracted 596 entrants, and there should be more this year. The championship event now features a $10,000 buy-in, and there will be a supersatellite points race that should add more players to the championship, which is a World Poker Tour event.
World Poker Challenge (WPC), March 13-April 2, Reno Hilton – This year's WPC should attract more players than it did in 2002, inasmuch as it is not competing for players with the Jack Binion World Poker Open, which was the case last year. The $5,000 buy-in championship will be another stop on the World Poker Tour's schedule.
Five-Star World Poker Classic, April 2-18, Bellagio – The Five-Diamond Poker Classic in December was so big Bellagio is adding more tables for the April tournament. The championship event will also be the World Poker Tour championship. On Sunday, April 17, there will be a $1,500 supersatellite for the championship. The buy-in for the championship will be the largest of any to date ($25,000). Players will start with $50,000 in chips with $50-$100 blinds.
World Series of Poker (WSOP), April 15-May 23, Binion's Horseshoe – The WSOP gets bigger every year. Of course, the winner of the championship event will be considered the world champion – and will become a millionaire.
Mike Sexton pointed out to me a few years ago how important it was to do well at the WSOP. He said, "The World Series will make or break your year." In the past, that was true. Now, there are so many big events in the next few months that all of them are important. Here are a few tips for tournament and live-action players for the next four months.
• Pace yourself – Playing for a month straight will make you tired. Take a few days off if you are running poorly and catch up on some sleep.
• Evaluate your play – If your results are not what you want, it may be time to evaluate what you have been doing. What has worked well, and what hasn't? This is important if you are winning, too.
• Drink a lot of water – Water will keep you hydrated and alert. Focus is the most important factor in tournament poker.
• Don't stay out all night – Most players will be staying in hotels, and some will fall into the trap of staying up until 4 a.m. day after day. Treat tournaments like a job, your livelihood depends on it.
Good luck!