Just Poker Talk

• Negreanu Recommends Changes for WSOP Main Event

Daniel Negreanu authored an article in Card Player Magazine and he made some recommendations for changes to the WSOP Main Event. He hopes to help to keep the Main Event as the Worlds most Prestigious Poker Event. He expresses two major concerns: 1. legislators point to the Main Event as proof that Poker is not a game of skill   2. will the Main Event hold people’s interest when each year complete unknowns win the title. Daniel makes good points in the story and makes three recommendations:

1. Raise the Buy-In

Daniel doesn’t like this suggestion but notes that the $10,000 buy-in for the Main Event makes it tied for the 4th largest buy-in for a WSOP event when you add in re-buy events. He also has a blurb about the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.

Also, $10,000 in 1970 represented a huge buy-in event, but by today’s standards, it’s just another tournament. In fact, the World Poker Tour boasts two well-attended events at Bellagio with bigger buy-ins than that (the $25,000 WPT Championship and the $15,000 buy-in December event). In fact, in both Europe and Australia, there are events with bigger buy-ins than $10,000 source

2. Slow it Down

Daniel talks about this years change to double the chips for the Main Event but also double the blinds and how that didn’t change the amount of play you get. He provides a structure he would like to see used to allow more Poker to be played.

I think the best way to crown the “world champion” is to add more play, especially in the early levels. In fact, the typical WPT event has more play than the WSOP main event. source

3. Change the Format 

Two ways to change the format were discussed by Daniel. 1. Separate heats, i.e. 60 tournaments each with 100 players and if you make it to the final 10 of a tournament you cash. The winner of the heat makes the Main Event Final Table. 2. Make the Main Event a Total Shootout. Daniel felt a major problem with Major Tournament Poker is:

is that they often reward those who “hide” or “squeak into the money” by avoiding confrontation. With a shootout, that becomes impossible, because in order to win, you have to do well in shorthanded situations. source

Your ‘Dead Money’ blogger isn’t sure about Daniel’s Change the Format idea but the other two ideas would be great. Take a look at the story and see what you think.

Feel free to add any Poker related comments, they are welcome always.

WSOP, WSOP Main Event, Daniel Negreanu,  Card Player Magazine,

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