blonde poker forum

Hello all!

So after some thought, Vegas this summer has been booked, and am flying out for 10 days on the 27th June - 6th July.
Whilst there, will be playing some WSOP events, and some other events, which i am looking to sell some action for.

Why buy?

Have been poker seriously now for 2 and a half years, in that time going from small midweek comps, to larger deepstacks and circuit events. Have had some decent success, with a 10th in a DTD deepstack, a GPS final table, and recently 2nd in the UKPC main event. Throughout that time, I have been lucky enough to have good friends in the game, to discuss hands/ spots and review with, hence significant improvement in my game.

hendon mob link: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=298285

This trip is a poker trip, so will be totally focussed on the tournaments, and wont be turning up hungover or late registering, unless its unavoidable.


We are due to land on the morning of the Draft Kings, so assuming no delays will be there in time to register. However, as with all tournaments, I reserve the right to not play or register if Im unwell or not feeling like I will play my best etc.

Due to the overlap of these tournaments, there is a good chance of some refunds if we make day 2/ day 3. I shall of course refund these as soon as i return to the UK, along with the rest of the winnings!

Only the tournaments listed here are on the stake, any other smaller comps/ cash game winnings wont be included on stake.

I appreciate its a large package, with big sums of money, however have many people on this forum who would vouch for me, and say im honest with HHs and resending money quickly and without issue.

Looking to sell 35% of the following...

Schedule:

WSOP Events:

Sat 27th June- Event 55-  Draft Kings 50/50 (50% of the field pay) NLH. $1500

Tues 30th June- Event 61- Little one for one drop. $1111

Wed July 1st- Event 62- Bounty No Limit Holdem. $1500

Fri 3rd July- Event 66- Lucky 7's. $777

Other events:


Thurs July 2nd- WPT500 Aria ($2m gte) - $565


Total buy ins: $5,453 @1.1 so $6000.

Have discussed the markup with 3 different people, including 2 regular posters and investors, and we feel at 1.1 this provides excellent value for buyers.


Todays conversion rate is 1.52 according to xe.com meaning $6000 is £3950.

I assume this is ok to do, will lock that rate for this thread, and all returns afer Vegas, will be done using the same rate, so 1.52.

Looking to sell 35% of this schedule, bank xfer or $$$ in vegas being the best way to xfer the money. Stars available too, but prefer the other options if possible.

so...

1% = £39.50 / $60

2.5% = £98.75 / $150

5% = £197.50 / $300

10%= £395 / $600

SHall be doing daily updates on here, as well as running a vegas diary on my current blog. I appreciate its a big package, but i hope this offers good value, for a good chance of return as well as a vegas sweat.
Thanks for reading, look forward to winning blonde a bracelet i hope!!

20% to Mr Picken, so 15% left

5 pls

booked thanks Alex, and 10% off forum, so i think thats sold out.

reserve it all pls.

you know that some of these are reentries right?

also are you open to looking to change the schedule to better 1ks/1500s on at the same time in vegas or are you really looking for the wsop experience?

Yep, aware they are re entries. Have sold at the moment for one bullet in each. wasnt sure how to go about multi entries. Will only look to take a second bullet in the $1,111 one drop and the $777 possibly. If thats the case then I will speak to investors.
Really looking for the experience as much as everything, first WSOP trip so buzzing to play in the bracelet events. Certainly open to changing events if there are better options, Alex mentioned the Planet Hollywood on the 27th instead of the Draft kings?
The bounty comp i wasnt sure about, but sounds good fun. FIrst year, really keen to experience the WSOP really.

although the draft kings 50% is a good chance of a flag/ return surely?

If any Left.......if you want to factor in re buys etc

think you're struggling to physically get 1.52 today

advertised and actual are somewhat different  so you may want to check it out before " locking it in" Chris

pretty tough to get big roi in the 50/50 im most likely skipping it.  there is a 1k at golden nugget that is usually amazing on the same time as the one drop.

the thing is with the 1111 the rake is so big that edges really arent that big either, a lot of regs dont play it for that reason so with mu combined it becomes tough to be break-even, the nugget is on the same day and alot of older players play it etc.

just what google said, and xe.com had it as 1.519 or something similar. as i said on OP, not done this before, so any help regarding the rates please say! Was sold out, and Pads has reserved any drop outs.
sorrymate! whats the advice in regard to the rate then?

Im watching it closely waiting to buy mine hence my comments

the 1.52 advertised is more like 1.47 at best as we speak ( unless somebody has good source)

Election on Thursday =highly likely Tories will win so rate will be okay if not better...if Labour get in = probable worst rate

ok, happy to maybe skip the 50/50 then and go with the planet hollywood $1m or something. can look closer to the time.
to be honest, defo want to play the one drop. appreciate the rake is high, but as part of the wsop experience, very keen to play it. instead of rentering(hopefully not needed!), maybe play at the nugget instead.
thanks for advice, always needed!!

ok, thanks. what should i do on here then?

given the Tories will probably win Id say wait till Friday

Obv thats just my opinion

Surely the election is already factored in in the currency markets Frazer?

Sure....one rate for Tory and one rate for Labour   :)

As I said its just my opinion based on chats I've had with a couple of financial guys

Do as you are doing.  You are charging 1.1 anyway.  Using xe is pretty standard. 

What Doobs said, imo.

It's swings & roundabouts, as long as you use the same process when repaying investors.

As far as I am aware (or what I have done in the past) Is lock in a "fair" (usually xe.com) rate when i whack up a package. Then if there are magical returns use xe.com for them on small amounts or the best price you can get the $$$ back into £££.

Some people will transfer you $$$ on stars, some people will give you $$$ in vegas. So it tends to balance out.

I generally mark up "abroad" packages, not just because the fields are softer but to give me some leeway with exchange rates, and the work that goes into transferring $$$ into £££ etc. I dont think most people mind as long as you are clear with what you were doing.

As far as I can see best rates at the minute are 1.51 with top travel cards and 1.49 elsewhere.

Oh and good luck to you and investors, looking unlikley I will see you out there at the minute but if i decide to switch from buying a house to going to vegas then ill see you in spearmint ;)

House Schmouse!

The houses will all still be there after you get back. And this way you can spin up and buy a much bigger one!

Your completely right, despite it being factored in from an ev point atm that doesn't help someone buying dollars in a month's  time!

There's a great place in London that I got dollars from at 1.51 last week (it was 0.1% above xe on a decent amount). ThomasExchangeGlobal - thanks to ryan for that link.

I thought better to get them before the election because there'll definitely be some uncertainty. I'm not sure where Fraser gets his intel from, last I checked Ed was favourite to be our next PM!

Standard high street is usually around 4-5 cents less than xe when buying dollars. Selling back for sterling is like 20cents worse so avoid that. I would expect you to know enough players to swap/exchange with though.

As Alex has stated the London exchanges have the best rates, if economical for you to go and get them.


Apart from the very short, which may affect those going to Vegas this year, can't see either result making much difference. £-$ rate has been shit throughout the last five years

ill take all dollars you have in vegas at the end then send back to everybody on stars at xe?

If a small % opens up let me know! GL

Totally disagree with pads about the one drop btw.

I didn't play it last year but this year I believe that it is structured so that you can choose to BI for 1k and gets 5k starting and pay the donation and get 10k.  Obv its the same difference as everyones taking the 10k but American's love charity and it'll have a huge field plus the chips/structure is really good.

Obv the 1k at the Nugget will be soft but you'll also see a lower field.  I guess if you wanna try and lower variance then play the nugget.

Saw you hvae sold out.  Haven't finalised what I'm playing yet but if you are interested in a small 1 or 2pc swap then let me know.

i may be completely wrong here, but its a 900+211?

So we need a 23% egde to break even right? Then there is a 10% markup, so for it to be +ev he needs a 33% edge.

if we have an identical edge in both tournaments then

We've established PH likely softer than one drop, lets say his edge is 33% in one drop and 40% in PH it doesnt even matter that its "lower variance" we're simply making more $/game in nugget.

if we were playing a tournament to lower variance it would be more the other way round, we play a 300 runner field with 33% roi instead of the 6000 field with 40% roi because we want to reduce variance.

if we think his roi is higher in the nugget AND it is lower variance then obv its a slam dunk. so from an investment point of view its obviously way better to play the nugget if we do actually think rois there are higher than the one drop. but if we just want to go big or go home and care less about this as an investment and more of a LFG BINK ONE TIME then clearly it would be one drop all day.

its 4.15am here so may be wrong here but actually dont we only have a roi on the money put in the prizepool and not the rake.

so lets say we have an identical roi in both tournaments.

nugget - $1000 + 150   (given overly high mark up, usually tournaments are way less in vegas as they use them for promotions not money making)
one drop - $900 + 211

nugget 30% roi = 1000x0.3= $300 - $150 = $150 total profit from tournament - 115 (markup) = total profit of $35
one drop 30% roi = 900x0.3 = $270 - $211 = $49 total profit from tournament  - 111 (markup) = total loss of $62

So lets say nugget/ph we have a 30% roi, to make one drop playable we need to have

one drop 40% roi = 900x0.5= $360 - $211 = $149 total profit from tournament - 111 (markup) = $37 total profit from tournament

So essentially if we have a 30% roi in the nugget we need to have a 40% roi in the one drop to play it, before we even take into account variance.

Once you start having a 60% vs a 30% roi things change, but rois are usually vastly exaggerated in my opinion.

This isn't a dig at Chris btw, I reserved action etc, just in the "why buy" part of OP it was all things about his poker pedigree and thus trying to portray it as a chance for investment and thus charged a MARK UP that he gets to profit from the tournament no matter what in comparison to borntobubble who last year (fml if this is wrong) went to vegas and was more like LFGGGGGGGGGGG and really wanted to spin it up and people invested for different reasons (obviously was +ev package regardless)

Again not me having a go at all, wasn't my intention when posting etc, just wanted to debate on this a little bit, I could be totally off with my math too and if so then apologies :)

awesome, swap sounds good!!


like the debate, and defo want to be playing some better value comps, as a wsop virgin, not sure on the best ones etc. definitely want to play the one drop, understand that roi is possibly better in the nugget for example, but its the main comp to play while we are there and would be a real shame to miss it.
spoken to a couple of people, and consensus is to maybe drop the $1500 50/50 and play the planet hollywood, 1m gte $1150 and maybe another deepstack whilst there.

To avoid confusion, here are the buy-in arrangements for the "Little One for One Drop".

$1,000 BUY-IN 5,000 STARTING CHIPS

$111 DONATION TO ONE DROP GETS PLAYERS AN EXTRA 5,000 STARTING CHIPS

Players begin with 5,000 in Tournament Chips

Players who donate $111 (collected at time of registration) to One Drop will receive an additional 5,000 in Tournament chips.

7% of the total entry pool will be withheld for entry fees

3% of the total entry pool will be withheld for tournament staff.


From......

http://www.wsop.com/2015/structuresheets/14261-structure.pdf

Ok so 201 rake

It's pretty sad if every player treats charity as "juice".  It's quite cringy reading a page long explanation of why a charity tournament is not "value".

If someone is making a charity donation, then yes they don't need to break down the maths.  If someone is asking to be staked to make a charity donation.. I guess the maths is fair play?

Hahaha, yeah totally agree.

Also its clearly a wsop package. Not a value hunting escapade out in Vegas.
I wouldn't ever be persuaded to change what I wanted to play because of some miniscule roi difference in a long term perspective.

all good guys, saw it as constructive, as i said i didnt have access to all schedules as had no idea where to look, so missed the Planet Hollywood event etc. it is defo a WSOP trip though, and i will definitely be playing the one drop

ok ill admit i was wrong and clearly pleno proved it!

i think im nostalgic when it comes to WSOP events.  it's so easy to hate the Rio, the rake, the queues, the cold, being off strip BUT whenever I walk into that building for a big tournie I'm so full of hope and awe at the whole spectacle and the organisation and effort that goes into it. weirdly i HATE playing cash games at the Rio and will only put in a few hours here and there.

i dont get that same buzz if im playing a wynn or venetian just feels like another tournament.

Very much agree with all that, I get an absolute buzz just being there.

+1 I have no drive to play much poker anymore, but the thought of missing out this year is really hurting, i think about it everyday. Walking down them corridors, it may be sad but its true. In 20 years time you wont remember playing at the venetian (unless you win) but you will remember walking through the halls at the rio.

sure, thats what makes poker profitable i guess, people not caring about money. i was just trying to debate it because ryan said he completely disagreed regarding the value of the tournament generally and talking about lowering variance etc.

gl chris either way!

Not caring about money.... OK
You reserved % and tried to influence a schedule you're probably not a part of.
Pads a lot of people take your words for gospel and if you start telling people to go play other stuff on roi figures plucked out of the air because you lose £40 you can stop people going to do what they really want to do. Who really wants to fly Vegas at wsop to play £1ks at the nugget on their first venture.

calm down guys, have spoken a little with pads in pm about it, as i have with alex and picken and defo keen on having a good mix.
pads is just trying to help, and defo appreciate it! this is one way to get some hits on a thread, just wish my blog got this much attention!

I'll always post on your blog mate.

Never on your staking threads :)

PS, saw the talented vernon won a seat online tonight for something :)

haha well it is true you scots are tight with your money!! ;) hahahaha he did, he won a seat for the aria wpt500 on PP for $35. i know where ive inherited my run good from!

i'm trying to make the guy money, sorry! theres also a lot to be gained experience wise from grinding at places like the golden nugget, down town vegas is really fun and you meet way different people. if youre already going to be playing wsop events then the experience of the one drop wont really be anything different except you pay a tonne more rake and it takes longer to have a piss.

Golden Nugget & Binions are full of character, & part of the Vegas experience imo.

The dealers, by conventional standards, are not always top grade dealers, but they are mostly characters, & that's part of the attraction.

Note that Reg Fees at both can be quite high, 17% to 20% is the norm, more in some cases. The Nugget $100,0000 G'tee thing is their "best value", with 12% Reg Fee. ($500 + $60).

looking to sort $$$ this week, so PMed investors about sending by bank xfer this week. Will post here when received.

Just caught the tail end of this but anyone saying have the rio for all your poker play is clearly nuts. Whilst WSOP is an amazing experience, there are far more gratifying places to play poker in.
You get to meet so many more varied characters and partake in conversations that are far richer at other venues, and especially downtown.

Hi all,

All monies have been received and dollars arrived in the post yesterday!! Excited and cant wait to get out there and play. Had a couple of weeks off from the game, playing golf and enjoying the summer after finishing uni, and the HR at dtd. So going to be fresh and buzzing to get cracking!
Next week will look to play a couple of online sessions and do some reviews to prepare.
Thanks to all investors, lets see if we can go one better than Deadman in a couple of weeks time!

Good luck , the Brits starting to find there feet out there now by the look of it.

So in the car and all packed, so excited. Will skip the draft kings/ PH on the Saturday as we land at 1ish Saturday lunch. Will add in the WSOP 1k on the Sunday, which won't clash with the rest of the schedule unless we make day 3, so won't be too fussed! Assume this is fine with people who have bought
Letsssss go!

Glgl Vern.

Best of luck out there mate, enjoy

Did I pay for this?

1k WSOP might be abit meh for you. They are pretty shallow/quick.

I'd sold out just before you posted I think if my memory serves me right. Ok will make a call tomorrow, keen to get Ino a wsop event though! LFG!

First event today, $1k event 57 at the rio. Let's do it!
Will try do some updates during the breaks depending on the wifi

Pavilion white 128 seat 9 to start off. Let's hope it's a hot seat! Come say hello if you're in the rio!

All the best Chris.

Not good guys, just bust. Raise called out last 17bbs with Aq and ran Into AK, even got the queen in the window. Think it's fine. Had to check fold queens after 3 betting, geting two callers on K85cc after a bet and a jam.
5k starting stack is certainly a lot different to what I'm used too, had a couple of sigh spots early on where we had 2 pair v a flush.
Sorry guys. Onto the next!

More importantly, is your Dad still in?

Seems a lovely bloke.

Ha yes he's still going, was down to 3k or so. Am now drowning the sorrows on the cash tables!

Saying that he just bust with aces. Sigh

I went & saw Verndog AND his Dad (playing on separate tables) shortly after it started.

Both bust shortly thereafter.

Bokking skills confirmed intact.

Playing the 600 deepstack at te Venetian today. Didn't sell for this so won't be on stake as sai in OP. Jut posting for clarity. Hope this is fine

Playing the one drop today. Probably only one bullet, and was going to get in early for the 10am start. Will post seat here!!

Pavilion black, 160 seat 4. Defo the run good seat! Good luck fellow blondes!

Table move before start, Brasilia silver table 27. Seat 10 too, booooo

Had been a horrible first level, down to 6,700 but last hand of the break peeled As7s otb, bet flush draw, 1 call, turn nuts, bet and guy calls. River bricked, he leads 1.1k we jam he folds.
9.4k @ 50/100

Grinding away then gifted a double. Open QQ utg off 47bbs an a guy 3 bet called 9s. 43k going into 250/500/50

Yes...your father is a very nice chap , we were keeping a parental eye on you the other day whilst railing Simon.☺

Keep it going in the one drop 👍

Another 2 good levels, 63k last break of the day going back to 300/600/75

62,700 going into last level of the day 400/800/100

Bad last level, or so we thought, lost QQ v 88 for 16k and had 35k with one hand to go. Found the nuts preflop 10 8 after 3 limps and calle 2 streets 3 ways in 9776 and got a bet of 12k called on the river. Back tomorrow with 64k. Let's get the lot!

Good luck tomorrow

So after checking WSOP.com I reckon we are going to e about 140/1100 or so, on a good spot! Day 2 starts 2pm local

Cheers callum

GEEEELLLLL Buddy.

Bad level and half, had KK v AA where he flatted the big blind and got 2 streets so feel lucky to still be here! Then oped QJ and called a short stack (9bb) jam and lost to A10 on 10xxK so got 24k at 600/1200. So sill plenty to grind.
Firaldo just joined table too

33k going back to 8/1600. Couple of good 3 bet jams through with AQ and 99

And bust. Peel Qs Js from MP after early raise, BB peels. Flop K J 10 xxs. Bb leads 9k. Call, we jam 32k. Fold and guy calls with AJ, optimistic call for a lot of his stack.
Think our jam is fine with so much in the middle, almost 30k.
150 off the money. Sigh, missed the 1500 so refunds there.

Back on it today WPT 500 at the aria. Have about 2k in refunds etc, so will chat to investors, seeing how things go play the Venetian 1100 or possibly save some up for a main bullet. See how it goes over the next couple of days

Wpt 500 started well, was up to 50k very quickly, then lost a 80k pot with 76ss 3 way all in with a pair guyshot and flush draw, and bricked the live flush outs.
Lucky 7s today, was going to play the 10am, but slept in a a little late so going to chill out and play at 4pm

Brasilia 74 for the 777. Good start doubled start stack

Win a big flip, AK v JJ aipf xxx K x to go to 20k at 100/200/25

Bust Lucky 777, peeled button with 9 10 suited off 16bbs from a aggro cut off open and check back 10 Q 6. Turn x he checks we bet, he jams, think he jams flush draws and AK for guts hits etc, and has been v Aggro at the table. We call, and lose to aces. Looks like a bad call but had played with him for a while and he has been betting a lot when he had it, so after a long think thought he was just trying to make a move on me

So that's is done, will have to work out refunds a some point I. The next couple of days, but I think it'll be around the $1.5k mark worth.
Going to play a couple of mega sats for the main, but these won't be on stake.
Thanks for investing guys, shame we couldn't get a cash.

if refunds are around 1.5k, put the 1pm $1k megasat on the stake at least to give investors a chance to get out of it imo.

 ;gobsmacked;