Two Differing Playing Schedules Highlight Choices in Playing the 2007 WSOP

Tim Lavalli

May 23, 2007 4 min read

Two Differing Playing Schedules Highlight Choices in Playing the 2007 WSOP 0001

Let's assume you are a poker player and your goal is to win your first World Series of Poker? bracelet. Looking at the 2007 WSOP 55-event schedule, just where are you likely to find the best potential for your first bracelet win?

The first question you to will need to address is whether a big field in a lower buy-in event is going to present you with a better opportunity for a win or whether the smaller fields in the higher buy-in tournaments is a better risk-reward opportunity. Where do the better odds lie, in a 2,000-player field freshly stocked with plenty of first-time WSOP players, or in a 300- or 200-player field full of seasoned pros? Remember, too, that lower odds in terms of the number of players you'll face means a corresponding jump in the entry fees you'll have to pay.

You could just 'play 'em all', of course, but with 51 'open'-field preliminary events in only 34 days, that would seem an unlikely, exhausting and practically impossible task. So what would a 'Big Field' schedule look like and, for comparison, what would the 'Big Buy-In' schedule be? Fortunately, the designers of the 2007 WSOP event schedule actually took these matters into consideration by separating certain key 'big' events on the schedule, and in doing so, they've created different ways to 'play' the WSOP.

If you are a big-time pro or simply have a bundle of money and a yearning to play with the big boys, this is a WSOP playing schedule you might consider:

The Big Event/Big Buy-in WSOP 2007 Event Schedule

There are 19 events here, all tailored for the elite and wealthy pros. In this schedule, you'll get to play all three HORSE events but you'll miss the Razz and the SHOE tournaments. You are not playing either of the $1,000 NLHE re-buy events �� but I know how much you love those, so I put them in parentheses and italics just in case. With this schedule, you will never be required to start two events on the same day; however, since most of these events are three-day tournaments, you may have to wear your jogging clothes or pass on some events when you make a Day Two and, of course, when you make that Final Table. Finally, you will be playing at least ten different varieties of poker, not even taking into consideration that HORSE itself is five poker varieties rolled into one.

Week 1:

Fri. 6/1/2007 12:00PM #1 World Championship Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit) $5,000

Sun. 6/3/2007 5:00PM #5 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better $2,500

Mon. 6/4/2007 5:00PM #7 Pot Limit Omaha W/Rebuys $5,000

(Tue. 6/5/2007 12:00PM #8 No-Limit Hold'em w/Re-Buys $1,000)

Wed. 6/6/2007 5:00PM #11 World Championship Seven Card Stud $5,000

Week 2:

Fri. 6/8/2007 12:00PM #13 World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em $5,000

Sat. 6/9/2007 5:00PM #16 H.O.R.S.E. $2,500

Sun. 6/10/2007 5:00PM #18 World Championship Limit Hold'em $5,000

Wed. 6/13/2007 12:00PM #22 No-Limit Hold'em $5,000

Thu. 6/14/2007 5:00PM #24 Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better $3,000

Week 3:

Fri. 6/15/2007 5:00PM #26 H.O.R.S.E. $5,000

Sun. 6/17/2007 12:00PM #28 No-Limit Hold'em $3,000

Tue. 6/19/2007 12:00PM #31 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em $5,000

Wed. 6/20/2007 5:00PM #34 Limit Hold'em $3,000

Thu. 6/21/2007 5:00PM #36 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better $5,000

Week 4:

Sun. 6/24/2007 12:00PM #39 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. $50,000

Thu. 6/28/2007 12:00PM #45 No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed $5,000

Week 5:

Sun. 7/1/2007 12:00PM #50 World Championship Pot-Limit Omaha $10,000

(Mon. 7/2/2007 12:00PM #52 No-Limit Hold'em w/Re-Buys $1,000)

Wed. 7/4/2007 12:00PM #54 World Championship No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/Re-Buys $5,000

Week 6:

Fri. 7/6/2007 12:00PM #55 World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em $10,000

Total Bankroll Required: $139,000

How about that 'other' schedule, one that's easier on the wallet but requires a greater trust in luck and fate in the search for that bracelet? Here it is:

WSOP 2007 Big Field/Low Buy-in Fish & Shark Schedule

This schedule also features 19 events, with nothing over $1500 and no re-buys included. Trust me, re-buy events at the WSOP are not low buy-in events, not the way the Big Boys and Girls play them. You get to play Hold'em in three varieties, Razz and three mixed-game formats in your quest for that bracelet.

Week 1:

Sat. 6/2/2007 12:00PM #3 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500

Sun. 6/3/2007 12:00PM #4 Pot Limit Hold'em $1,500

Mon. 6/4/2007 12:00PM #6 Limit Hold'em $1,500

Tue. 6/5/2007 5:00PM #9 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better $1,500

Thu. 6/7/2007 12:00PM #12 No-Limit Hold'em /Six Handed $1,500

Week 2:

Fri. 6/8/2007 5:00PM #14 Seven Card Stud $1,500

Sat. 6/9/2007 12:00PM #15 No-Limit Hold'em $1,500

Tue. 6/12/2007 12:00PM #21 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout $1,500

Thu. 6/14/2007 12:00PM #23 Pot Limit Omaha $1,500

Week 3: