W.S.O.P. Academy Lessons

**hitman247x** · 04-16-2008 12:02 PM

I wanted to make sure everyone posted their thoughts and comments before I posted again. And Chris, as always thank your input.....you internet donk

As some of you know, I play a very aggro style whether it's cash or tourney. I enjoy racing and making others sweat their decisions. Realizing that I will NEVER go any farther than I have in poker without making some serious changes, I attended the WSOP Academy with Dana a couple of weeks ago.

Seeing my old pal Mark Seif, and trading stories about strippers and Vegas brought a tear to my eye (that was for you SLN). I sat down with Mark and Paul and for those of you who do not know them, they are both 100% class acts. Unlike most of the pro's I know on a personal level, ie Layne, Ted, Jimmy M, Theo Tran, etc, these guys are smart, educated, and enjoy teaching others about poker. They are all very approachable and very helpful.

Now, I had no idea that Paul Wasicka was a highly successful cash game player with a $300k bankroll when he started playing tourney poker. Ithought he was just a guy who got lucky. All of the interviews I have read or seen on tv would have you to believe this.

Now while I know the text book answers to most situations, it was Paul's thought process I was more interested in. So he told me, to approach each and every tourney with these things in mind:

1. Chip conservation is the #1 thing on my mind.
2. I would rather minimize chip loss on a hand than maximize on another hand.
3. Losing 3000 chips on one hand is WORSE than gaining 3000 on another hand.
4. Think about the reactions to my actions and see if you are comfortable with that.
5. Err on the side of caution until you have validation.

Now, steps 1-3 are the reason I am against playing weak cards from a weak position against multiple people. Those extra few bets can cost you dearly in the later rounds when you need them the most. Pot odds, implied odds etc cannot justify the call according to Mr. Wasicka (yes, I emailed him about this).

Now, if you ask Dana, I sat in the front of the class, took more notes and asked more questions than I ever did in college, and if some of you want them, I will be more than happy to share them with you. And that goes for everyone....except Charlton.

Let me know.

**hitman247x** · 04-16-2008 12:10 PM

I just put everything in a .pdf file and send it to everyone who asks for it?

**SparX** · 04-16-2008 12:29 PM

Don do you mind sending to me if you put that together?
[email protected]

Rdsknman · 04-16-2008 03:02 PM

Same here. [email protected]

**charlton49** · 04-17-2008 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by hitman247x

I will be more than happy to share them with you. And that goes for everyone....except Charlton.

Let me know.

That's cold, Don. You cut me deep, like a knife. I'll take em though

**LimaPoker** · 04-17-2008 07:29 AM

If you don't mind, I wouldn't mind reading your [email protected]

**ohpokergal** · 04-17-2008 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by hitman247x

Now, if you ask Dana, I sat in the front of the class, took more notes and asked more questions than I ever did in college, and if some of you want them, I will be more than happy to share them with you.

I'm telling you, Don put everybody to shame that weekend. He WAS the student that all teachers hope to have someday. Totally engrossed by the discussions and scribbling notes as fast as he could....

If you ever have a chance to go to a WSOP Academy class, I highly recommend it. The level of the pros and their interest is worth the price of admission alone. With folks like Mark Seif, Paul Wasicka, Annie Duke, Alex Outhred, Greg Raymer, et al., how can you miss!

Mention my name to Brandon Rosen, the WSOP Academy coordinator, and he just might give you a discount!

Lord knows, he continues to help out this remedial learner!!