The Top Ten WSOP Bracelet Winners – Part II

Posted by James on September 10, 2008

Yesterday we started reviewing the top 10 bracelet winners in WSOP history. Today we continue our countdown to #1.

Coming in at #5 is Erik Seidel. Erik Seidel is probably best known from his appearance in the movie Rounders when he was shown finishing second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker. Since then, Seidel has put together a bracelet run that has him on pace to make a serious challenge at the all time lead. He holds two No Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Lowball bracelets, 1 Omaha Hi-Lo bracelet, and a Pot Limit Omaha bracelet. His last bracelet win was in 2007 for the No Limit 2-7 Lowball event. Erik is well known for his solid play and quiet demeanor at the table. I have actually had opportunity to play with Erik and he is the consummate professional.

The “Grand Old Man of Poker” comes in at #4. Johnny Moss was the first ever Main Event winner of the World Series of Poker in 1970. That year he was voted in as champion by his pears. Moss also won the 1971 and 1974 Main event. Besides Stu Ungar, Johnny Moss is the only person to ever win the Main Event three times. Overall, Moss held 9 bracelets. He held 3 in No Limit Holdem (all Main Event wins), 3 in Seven Card Stud, 2 in Ace to Five Lowball, and 1 in Stud 8 or better. Moss’s legend was made long before the World Series ever existed. 1949 he played a 5 month marathon session with Nick the Greek. At the end of the marathon, Nick the Greek simply told Moss, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.” Moss played professionally all the way up to his death. Johnny Moss passed away in 1995 at the age of 88.

Third and Second place are held by two men that really need no introduction to many in the poker world. Both men hold 10 bracelets at present.

Johnny Chan is the last man to win back to back Main Events, winning both the 1987 and 1988 Main Event. He almost made it three in a row but lost in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth. Chan can always be seen with his signature orange at the table. He started carrying it back in the days were smoking were allowed in poker rooms. He would use it to try and freshen the air a bit. Chan bracelets include 3 in No Limit Holdem, 2 in Pot Limit Omaha, 1 in Limit Holdem, 1 in 2 to 7 Lowball, 1 in Pot Limit Holdem, 1 in 7 card Stud, and 1 in Heads-up Match Play.

Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson is considered both the Godfather of Poker and the greatest poker player alive today. He is legendary for winning both the 1976 and 1977 World Series of Poker holding 10-2 for the final hand. Doyle Brunson’s book Super System and follow up book Super System II have taught millions of player around the world how to play poker of all types. Doyle holds four bracelets in No Limit Holdem, 1 in Seven Card Stud, 1 in Stud 8 or Better, 1 in Razz, 1 in 2-7 Lowball, 1 in H.O.R.S.E., and 1 in Mixed Doubles. His last bracelet was in 2005 for the $5,000 No Limit Holdem event. He won the event with 10-3 offsuit. At 75 Brunson is still a forced to be reckoned with. At this year’s WSOP he finished twice in the money, including the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.
#1 on the list of all-time bracelet holders at the World Series of Poker is none other than Phil Hellmuth. Phil is commonly known as the “poker brat” for his antics and attitude at the poker table. He won the 1989 Main Event against Johnny Chan and for nearly the last 20 years has been referred to by many, including himself, to be the best Holdem player ever. All of Hellmuth’s eleven bracelets are in Holdem. Seven are in No Limit Holdem, three are in Limit Holdem, and one is in Pot Limit Holdem. To quote Norman Chad, “He is referred to as a one trick pony. But what a trick it is.” Phil will be first to tell you that it is very possible that his 11 bracelets could have very well been at least 14. In 2006, besides winning his 10th bracelet, he finished 2nd and 3rd in two other events. At this year’s WSOP, Hellmuth finished third in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event and made the final table of another event.

With the size of the massive fields in the Main Event and other No Limit Holdem events, many pros are fining it tougher to win a bracelet. Many are turning to mixed events and higher buy-in No Limit events to give themselves a better chance at another bracelet. Also, the number of tournaments held at the World Series of Poker makes for many long days and a long six weeks. Doyle Brunson has admitted that it is a very tough task on him physically to compete for so long. Brunson and I spoke about this in 2006 when he told me that he has to pick his spots now and plays events he feels he has the best shot of doing well.

One thing that you will notice with all the players on this list is that they play multiple games well. While Hellmuth does have 11 Holdem bracelets, you will notice that he has cashes and deep runs in most poker variants. One thing to remember with any of these pros is that no matter how old they are, they still have the experience that years of play has given them. This type of experience is the type you cannot learn by playing online poker only.

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What Event Should You Play at the World Series of Poker?

Posted by James on September 8, 2008

I’ve been asked by many friends and poker players about which events that they should play at the WSOP and about how much money that they should spend. A lot of what you want to play and how much you will want to spend will depend on several factors. Let’s take a look at a few of those.

First, what is your best game? Many players that are only Holdem Poker players just looked at this article in utter confusion. The World Series of Poker is a set of over 50 tournaments. While No-Limit Holdem Poker is the most popular game in the world, you have many other games to contend with. Omaha Poker, Omaha Hi-Lo Split, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud 8 or Better, Razz Poker, 2-7 Lowball, and H.O.R.S.E. are all events that are played annually at the World Series of Poker.

If you are a holdem player, are you better at Limit or No-Limit. If you are a mediocre No-Limit player and a regular winner at limit, then you will want to play limit holdem. If Stud is your best game, you will want to play stud. Another consideration is where you have the most success in regards to tournaments. Personally, my best game is Stud 8 or Better. However, at the time that I played my first World Series of Poker in 2006, I was showing better overall results in Limit Holdem events. As a result, I played in Event #4, which was Limit Holdem. I made the money of the event.

After you decide what you want to play, you want to decide how much you want to spend. Do you want to buy-in directly to the event or satellite your way in? If you want to satellite your way in, how much does the event cost you want to play. If you want to enter a $1,500 event, you will need to play $175 satellites. If you want to play a $2,000 event, you will need to play the $225. The satellites go up according to the buy-in of the event. I would recommend spending no more than 3 to 4 satellite entries to try and win your way in. If you cannot win your way in, try again for a different event or buy-in directly.

If you want to take off the pressure of having to win a satellite, then put back the money for a buy-in and then play satellites to try and save money. Personally, the later is the approach I take. As a result, I put back around $2,200 for each event. For the 2007 WSOP, I didn’t even play satellites for the first event which was again a Limit Holdem event. Fortunately, I finished very well in the money and was able to pay most of my other entries for the series with the money won.

So to review, play the game that gives you the best chance to do well. Then decide the plan of attack to enter the event. Beyond that, make a budget for the money you want to spend for cash games and souvenirs and stick to that plan. Have fun at the World Series of Poker!

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