The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and mental fortitude. With massive fields, high-pressure situations, and a shot at poker immortality on the line, it’s the dream of every tournament player. But before you take your seat in Las Vegas, you need to ensure your game is sharp and free of costly errors. Fixing common leaks in your strategy can provide an immediate boost to your return on investment. Here are 10 critical mistakes you must fix before you play for a bracelet.
1. Playing Too Many Hands Too Early
When you start a tournament with a massive stack of 250 big blinds or more, it’s tempting to get in the mix and splash around. Players often feel they can play loose and try to hit a monster hand. However, playing speculative hands like king-jack offsuit or nine-six offsuit deep-stacked can cause you to bleed away your chips when you miss the flop.
The Fix: You must focus on a tight aggressive deep stacked poker strategy. Be selective with your starting hands, leverage your position and initiative, and play hands that have the potential to make “super duper premium hands” worthy of committing your entire stack.
2. Playing Too Passively Pre Flop
Many tournament players are not only too loose, but they also fail to three-bet (re-raise) nearly often enough. According to game theory optimal (GTO) strategy, you should be three-betting about 11.5% of the time, but most players only do so around 7%.
The Fix: Three-bet more frequently. This powerful move allows you to take the initiative, isolate weaker opponents, play bigger pots while in position, and represent an uncapped range. By applying this pressure, especially from the button or small blind, you can run over your opponents and consistently scoop up valuable five big blind pots.
3. Not Adjusting to Stack Sizes
A common mental game leak is panicking after losing a significant pot early. If a player loses half their stack, they might feel they are short-stacked and must double up or re-enter immediately. This “asinine” thought process of needing to get back to even leads to spewing off more chips.
The Fix: Stay present, control emotions, and play your stack size effectively. A 30 big blind stack plays differently than a 100 big blind stack. For example, a 25 big blind stack strategy might involve shoving all-in 14% of the time. You must adapt your strategy to the stack you have, not the stack you wish you had.
4. Not Adjusting to Table Dynamics
The WSOP draws a diverse range of player types, and using a one-size-fits-all strategy will cost you a ton of money.
The Fix: Profile your opponents and adapt your game plan.
- Against tight players, you should raise a wide range of hands pre-flop and use small, frequent bets. However, when they show significant aggression, you should be prepared to overfold, as their range is incredibly strong.
- Against loose, crazy players, you should play a disciplined game. Three-bet a wider range than normal, but primarily for value, and be ready to punish them with your premium hands.
5. Not Choosing Bluffing Hands Wisely
Success in bluffing isn’t just about picking the right hands; it’s about picking the right
bluffing spots. A good bluff should tell a credible story, lack showdown value, come from a range that contains many value hands, and use relevant blockers (like holding the ace of the flush suit).
The Fix: Identify high-leverage bluffing opportunities.
- Bluff more often when you cover your opponent. Putting a player’s tournament life at risk makes them less likely to make a big hero call, especially after they’ve traveled to the WSOP.
- Avoid bluffing when an opponent is pot-committed or when they have you covered.
6. Playing Poorly on the Bubble
Too many players focus on simply sneaking into the money for a min-cash (around 1.5x the buy-in) instead of accumulating chips to make a deep run and win the tournament. The period approaching the money bubble is one of the most profitable times to ramp up your aggression.
The Fix: Attack the bubble. Identify the “super nitty” players who are just trying to survive and crush them by raising and three-betting more often. For example, you might increase your button-raising frequency from 45% to 55% against these players. Winning these small, uncontested pots is crucial for building your stack.
7. Not Getting Paid Off With Your Big Hands
When you finally pick up a monster hand, you have to maximize your value. This means you need to
stop slow playing your premium holdings. This is especially important against weaker players who are unlikely to run big bluffs for you.
The Fix: Build the pot yourself. Don’t expect your opponents to do the betting for you. Bet an amount you believe they will call with their most likely hands, like top or middle pair. Continuous aggression builds a bigger pot and cuts off the drawing odds for your opponents.
8. Getting Fancy Instead of Playing Well
The WSOP is not the time to engage in ego battles or try to make a highlight-reel hero call that might get you on the news. If an opponent is running hot and seems to have it every time, just stay out of their way.
The Fix: Stay locked in, play with no ego, and execute your strategy well. Solid, fundamental poker wins tournaments, not unnecessary leveling wars.
9. Tilting After Bad Beats
Short-term variance in large-field tournaments is massive. You will take bad beats. The key is how you respond. Every time you suffer a bad beat, it’s an opportunity to gain a huge edge, because many of your opponents will go on tilt, get angry, and start making major mistakes.
The Fix: Learn to brush off the beat immediately. Focus only on what you can control and continue to play your A-game.
10. Not Enjoying the World Series of Poker Experience
For most players who can only attend a few events, the results will be determined mostly by luck. Letting short-term results dictate your mood is a recipe for a miserable trip.
The Fix: Have realistic expectations and enjoy the entire experience. Take time to enjoy playing poker, meeting people, and being in Las Vegas. If you bust a tournament, don’t let yourself become sad, angry, or bitter. A positive mindset is crucial for long-term success and for making the most of your WSOP journey.