The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is one of the most recognized tournament series in the world, with even those unfamiliar with poker knowing the brand itself. Each year, tens of thousands of players come for events throughout the series, some attracting 20,000 or more participants.

For a poker player joining the WSOP for the first time, it can be exhilarating to play for potentially life-changing money on a daily basis. The challenge, however, can be knowing how to get the most out of your time and money spent in Las Vegas during the summer, both on and off the felt. What are the best approaches to studying prior to playing live? How do you know what events to play when there are so many to choose from? And finally, how do you get the most out of Sin City without breaking the bank?

The coaching team at the GTO Wizard HQ has put together a number of recommendations for those who are new to the WSOP or those who have attended a few times already but are looking for ways to get more value out of their stay in Las Vegas. In the sections below, our coaches cover:

  • Preparation: What study tips would they recommend specifically for live WSOP prep
  • Game selection: What are some of the recommended approaches for a new participant to know which events are right for them during the series?
  • Experience: How can first-timers get max value out of their time in Las Vegas?
  • Personal Notes: What are their best memories from previous WSOP series?

Preparation

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{{size: 12px}}I would recommend focusing mostly on getting the preflop ranges down for early stage and ICM spots. I would do a lot of ICM study to be prepared for potentially big spots coming up. If you feel very strongly about your preflop game, feeling you are already prepared enough but still have some extra time, I would recommend using the GTO Wizard trainer for 100bb cEV and simply train a lot of deep-stacked postflop gameplay to also get good intuition for building stacks early.{{/size}}

– Mathias Maasberg
Long-time Online MTT Regular, Coach for Run It Once and GTO Wizard

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For tournaments, go over some ICM and short-stack situations and brush up on preflop; there is a lot of edge there. For live cash, try to nodelock some basic player profiles you expect to face (i.e., people who don’t check-raise, people who underbluff, etc.) and see the adjustments, come up with some basic, ready-made exploits.

– Uri Peleg
Head Coach Guerrilla Poker & Course Creator at Upswing Poker

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I think it’s really valuable to get comfortable with nodelocking or building trainer drills for defending against fairly common betting lines (e.g., half pot flop, ⅔ pot turn). I would also recommend that people put some energy into studying ICM25 or bubble sims since WSOP pays 15% of the field, which means that the sims in our archive are pretty accurate in terms of the types of bubble spots you’ll get into.

– Matt Hunt
Coach at Poker Fluency and Solve For Why

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At this point, with the series coming up fast, I’m going to go against the grain and recommend not spending significant time cramming in last-minute studying in an attempt to learn new things. It’s hard to digest lots of new tactics at the last minute and be able to implement them without practice before a big series. The few times I tried this, I had the worst series results in my 25 years of playing, even though I went in thinking I was the most prepared I’d ever been! So, my advice is to do deep study work in the off-season, and as the series approaches, limit “study” prep to doing short drilling sessions on fundamentals you’ve already been working on with the GTO Wizard trainer. Think of it like a gymnast who does all the training months and years ahead of the Olympics. They don’t add a complicated new maneuver to their floor routine just weeks before the big games. At this point, plan to work with the strengths and prep you already have, and instead, focus most of your energy on planning your trip, with the goal of optimizing all the material conditions you need to be able to perform your best (i.e., a hotel room near the events, or a quiet space far away from the strip? What are your food needs?). Think about every detail you need to be comfortable and rested, and in particular, carefully plan your schedule.

– Dr. K
MTT Coach at the Poker Mix

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In preparation for this year’s WSOP, I will be learning mostly short-stack preflop play for different depths and maybe watch some videos on ICM fundamentals.

– Donk Orleone
Professional Poker Player

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Being well-prepared for specific events can make a huge difference. Since time is always limited, you want to focus on studying spots that:

- Occur frequently
- Have the highest potential impact on your win rate
- Make you feel uncomfortable or uncertain

For live games, this might include multiway pots, single-raised pots from out of position, or deep-stacked spots, especially if you’re planning to play cash games.

A powerful tool to prepare for live play is GTO Wizard AI, which allows you to nodelock your opponent’s strategy. This will massively help you to adjust to all the different player types you will encounter at the WSOP.

But preparation isn’t just about technical study. It also includes taking care of your body and mind. Establishing a healthy routine, prioritizing sleep, diet, and exercise, will help you maintain focus and stamina, especially if you’re playing longer sessions than usual.

– Vanja
Professional Poker Player

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In terms of strategy, I avoid consuming large amounts of new information just before the series starts as I believe that we as humans need time to digest, experiment, and polish all we have learned in order to turn it into a sharp weapon. The time to study for Vegas is now, not the week prior to flying there. Considering the fields in Vegas being full of recreationals and weaker players, I focus on playing with nodelocks to sharpen my exploits, mapping out different playing styles, and learning how to respond in each scenario.

What works well for me when preparing for live events is to write down and visualize my perfect day at the series. What time should I wake up? What should I do to be in the best condition possible emotionally, mentally, and physically? What should I do once the chips are in the bag to get well-rested for the next day? How should I plan rest and recovery throughout the whole series? Setting up my mind the right way helps me execute better in all aspects: game selection, play, and recovery.

– Stoyan Obreshkov
MTT Player and Coach for GTO Wizard, CnC and Run It Once

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There were three common themes across all the advice from our coaches on preparing for your time at the WSOP:

  1. Preflop Ranges and Nodelocking
    When studying for the WSOP, always consider the fields you’ll be playing in and the number of recreational players you will find in the average WSOP event. Nodelocking will help you prepare specifically for the player types you anticipate encountering. Learning how to play against opponents who are excessively passive or overly aggressive, in comparison to GTO, will set you up for success against any opponent.Additionally, mistakes made preflop compound over the course of a hand. So having solid starting ranges, both in chip EV and ICM, will make it much easier to play postflop.
  2. Physical and Mental Preparation
    The WSOP can be a period that requires a lot from players, both physically and mentally. Putting together a game plan before you arrive in Las Vegas is a wise move. Stoyan suggested visualizing your ideal daily routine, while Vanja highlighted some of the foundational pieces: sleep, exercise and diet.
  3. Start With Why
    Dr. Kamikaze finds that one of the elementary things to get clarity on during your preparation for big live poker series is the main purpose for participating. If you are attending the WSOP to experience the spectacle of Las Vegas and large field events with huge guarantees, then you may focus on the marquee events that draw large crowds. However, if your goal is strictly to make the most money possible, you should focus on smaller field events that have the highest return on investment. This will also relate to item two in this list, as many of the choices you make in Las Vegas, be it in what you eat, or what you do in your free evenings can have a negative impact on how you play and feel at the tables.

Game Selection

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I personally think satellites are a waste of time, if the game is too big for you to play, I don’t think it’s worth it to spend much energy and money trying to get into it, because most likely you will end up not playing optimally anyways (due to the emotional investment that will cloud your judgment). However, for very big games with great structures like the main event, it is worth spending some time to try to satellite in, but I would only reserve a limited amount of resources. Other than that, I think it is quite dependent on the individual what games to play. Generally, the bigger the field, the better. And obviously also, the better the structure, the better.

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The following quotes from Barry’s article The Art of Game Selection for MTTs: Finding Soft Fields & Extra Value provide a solid foundation for deciding what events to play while in Las Vegas:

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“…structuring when you play around recreational players is central to the most common approach to game selection.”

“Some tournaments don’t overlay in the actual event, but they do overlay in the satellites…if you are a value hunter, pay attention to the satellites too—often they are the best-kept secret in the whole festival.”

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If the game you’re playing isn’t amazing, you’re in the wrong game. And often, the highest-stake game at the casino is much worse than one stake lower.

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Don’t play dailies; the rake is insanely high, and the structures are terrible. Satellites can be decent value if you’re well-studied in the format, but rake is high in those too. I would say to ensure you research non-WSOP events available around Vegas, there’s a great selection.

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What is your goal for the trip? Is your priority to make money? Is it less about the financial aspect but more so about enjoying the experience of playing in the biggest series for the first time? If the goal is to have fun and take shots, and you budgeted and are fine with losing all of your entry fees, YOLO and play all the big events! But, if the goal is primarily to make money by playing MTTs, I recommend playing a schedule of mostly soft, smaller field events that many pros will skip and that will have anywhere from 250 or fewer runners up to 500, as you reduce variance considerably since you are more likely to run deep in smaller fields than in huge ones. You can often guess the number of runners based on the guarantee for the event, as operators usually set it at a number they are confident enough players will enter to surpass their guarantee. I would recommend side events under $1000 outside of the WSOP, particularly ones that run at the same time as events that will be very appealing to pros elsewhere. If you also want to take a few bracelet shots, mix those in with a larger number of small fields to have the best shot at reducing variance. For those who qualify to play them, seniors and women’s events present some of the best opportunities to play small to medium size fields with fewer pros. Mixed game events also present great opportunities for fun and variation with smaller field sizes where it’s possible to have significant edges if you know tournament theory well. But even if you are only interested in NLHE and don’t qualify for restricted events, there will be so many tournaments happening at the same time every day in Vegas that there will always be good options to consider.

Another important way to reduce live variance is selling pieces of the events you will play. My bankroll is mostly for online play, so the significantly larger buy-in size of live events can sometimes be too risky. As part of my (online) bankroll plan, I keep in mind a rough average buy-in size when I plan my sessions. Overall, the key metric I use currently is a session buy-in limit, which is the maximum amount of money I will risk per session. I never play a session above 2.5% of my bankroll, and often keep it to 2%. Since I have to use the same bankroll for live events, I take my own action on all entries below my session limit, and then I sell pieces to events that have an entry fee higher than my session limit to reduce my exposure to at or below my session limit. Selling pieces might be difficult for newer players, but as you make friends and connect with other players, tactics such as selling or swapping pieces can significantly help with reducing variance.

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As far as I know, bigger fields are universally softer than anything else. Cash games around events depend a lot on the specific casino as to whether they get softer or harder, but they usually get bigger during the WSOP.

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Before arriving in Vegas, take time to research the tournaments you want to play. Most casinos publish their full summer game schedules weeks in advance, allowing you to plan ahead of time.

The fields during the WSOP, especially in low- and mid-stakes events, tend to be very soft. This opens up great opportunities for taking shots. Playing satellites into bigger events, increasing your average buy-in, or taking a few bullets for higher-stakes cash games might be a good idea during the WSOP.

That said, it’s crucial to stay within your bankroll. Don’t take risks that could put you in recovery mode for months if things go wrong. Your personal risk tolerance matters here: If you’re comfortable with aggressive bankroll management (BRM) and can handle the emotional swings, this could be a good time to take aggressive shots. When you can’t stomach large swings as well as the aggressive BRM type player, sticking to your average live buy-ins or games with a slightly smaller field to reduce variance might be the better approach. A lot of casinos offer smaller field events running at the same time as large WSOP events. Selecting a poker room you feel comfortable in is also a factor you shouldn’t underestimate. Spend some time early in your trip exploring different rooms.

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In terms of scheduling, I believe people underestimate how important rest and recovery are. Most players go to Vegas and they get swallowed by the desire to win and change their lives, fuelled by the big prize pools, never-ending action, and soft fields. However, I believe that when you are going for a longer grind, you should approach it as a marathon rather than a sprint, planning well and keeping a constant pace throughout the series, optimizing sleep, movement, nutrition, and often checking with yourself for possible adjustments. It is easy to forget about rest when you are chasing losses or when you feel pumped by the dopamine of a deep run, but sticking to a routine has always worked for me to stay fresh, even in the last weeks of WSOP. The last weeks are when I thrive, while everyone is tired and tilted, I just feel my edge increasing with each day that passes and brings us closer to the Main Event.

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These are the four main points I took away from our coaches’ opinions on game selection:

  1. Manage Variance
    Our coaches identified a number of ways to make sure you don’t go overboard when deciding on your Vegas schedule.

These include:

  • Make sure to set aside a strict bankroll for poker during the series and resolve to stick to it as closely as possible. Dr. K recommends staying within 2–2.5% of your total bankroll per session/day.
  • Focus on smaller field events where you have the best chance of cashing.
  • Find backers to sell action to prior to the series, and line up as much action as possible for events you’re planning to play. This is particularly relevant in larger field games where the variance is highest.
  1. Play Games You Can Beat
    Donk Orleone, Mathias Maasberg, and Uri Peleg all point out that the best game is the one you can beat. This might mean avoiding satellites to games with a strong player pool or stepping down from your highest buy-ins to focus on events where you will have a higher return on investment (ROI).
  2. Find the Value
    Throughout the WSOP and related series, there will be chances to find overlay in events. Barry suggests looking at satellites in particular for this. Matt Hunt also pointed out that some events will have higher rake, such as the daily deepstacks, which significantly lowers your ROI in these events, so make sure you’re paying attention to how much of your buy-ins are going back to the house.
  3. Reserve Time To Rest
    One of the most important notes for first-timers is to make time for rest if you’re planning a longer stay. With the number of events happening around Las Vegas this summer, it will be easy to find a game at any buy-in every day of the week. Both Stoyan Obreshkov and Vanja point out that playing without breaks can seriously impact your physical and mental state over time. Make sure to focus on playing your best game in every event by giving your mind and body time to recover.

Experience

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For longer stays of one month or more, I would definitely recommend renting a house or apartment instead of staying in a hotel. Being on the strip for longer than a month gets really exhausting in my opinion. But for shorter stays than that, being in a hotel right at the strip is of course very convenient. For food, I personally love the Grand Lux at the Venetian or Palazzo the most. That is where I eat there most often whenever I can. It’s not too pricey by Las Vegas standards, plus the food and service are great.

Also for a longer stay, I’d recommend implementing days off to do something other than poker. Watching a show on the strip, just chilling, or anything else. Otherwise, it becomes too much of a grind, and it is easy to get burned out in Vegas.

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Don’t be intimidated by other people who look like pros; most of the players in Vegas aren’t very good! Assume people are bad until proven otherwise. Most casinos have a “poker player discount” if you play enough hours per day at their poker room, so check in advance and you can get a nice price. It’s definitely worth going for higher-end hotels if you can afford them, as they are very special.

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Just follow what’s enjoyable. Don’t focus too much on extracting every dollar of EV. If you’re enjoying the experience, you’ll play better. Reducing costs is tough; you definitely have to prepare for an expensive trip.

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Las Vegas can be overwhelming, especially on your first visit. You don’t need to see everything in one night, and you don’t have to grind 16 hours a day. Start by asking yourself: “What do I want to achieve during this trip?” If you’re here with a more professional mindset, there are four areas to focus on:

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Managing Costs
Vegas can be expensive, and turning a profit also means keeping your costs under control. That doesn’t mean cutting every corner; comfort matters. If you’re sacrificing your well-being to save a few hundred dollars, it’s probably not worth it.

Here are some practical tips:
- Compare hotels and Airbnbs to find a balance between comfort and cost.
- Don’t stay too far from the strip; transportation costs will add up. Ride-sharing with friends is a great way to save.
- Save on food when possible. Cooking your own meals or prepping food in advance can make a huge difference. If you’re eating in casinos, use comps or find cheaper spots nearby.

Sticking to a Healthy Routine
Sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition are essential if you want to keep playing your A-game. Start by building a daily routine that supports you, which includes taking breaks and allowing yourself days off to recharge.

Here’s a routine that works for me:

- Wake up at a consistent time
- Stretch, exercise, get some sunlight, eat a proper breakfast, and prep meals for later
- Keep mental space for breaks, reflection, and non-poker activities

This helps me stay sharp and energized throughout the day.

Mental Game & Endurance
The WSOP is a marathon. Tournaments often last 10–12 hours a day, and staying mentally strong late into day one or two is where edges start to grow exponentially.

Take breaks seriously by getting fresh air and resetting your mind between levels. You will face bad beats and cold decks, so accepting that variance is part of the game is key.

Tools like meditation, breathing exercises, or simply listening to music during downtime can help maintain mental clarity and prevent tilt. I’ve made the mistake of trying to “force” a good result, seeing the trip as a make-or-break situation. That mindset just adds pressure. Focus on what you can control, and let go of what you can’t.

Bankroll Management
There’s no shortage of action in Vegas, and after a deep run or a cash, the danger of overextending is especially high. You can avoid this trap by defining your bankroll before the trip and creating a plan for how you’ll spend it.

Mix in satellites and smaller daily events to stay in action while managing risk. A disciplined approach, both on and off the felt, will ensure you’re still playing at the end of the series, not just the beginning.

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When looking for a place to stay, I like to avoid hotels. Staying away from the big, noisy crowds and flashing lights helps me find peace of mind when I need it the most. I like sharing a house with friends who have the same vision, so we push each other to stay consistent during tough moments. Healthy habits are easier to sustain when you are in the right environment!

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Our coaches shared some great recommendations for making the most out of your WSOP experience. Here’s a quick summary:

Manage Costs
One of the biggest challenges while in Vegas is keeping your daily costs of living reasonable, particularly when you’re spending most days at a casino on the strip. Mathias, Vanja, and Stoyan all recommend booking somewhere close to the strip, if possible with Airbnb. At a minimum, Uri points out that some hotels will offer a discount to series players, so if you do stay on the strip, make sure to shop around. If you can book a suite or something similar where you have kitchen access, consider preparing meals yourself, as dining out every day will eat into your profits from the trip fast. Matt Hunt pointed out that in the end, Vegas is an expensive place to be, so don’t sacrifice your overall experience just to save a few dollars.

Don’t Feel Intimidated at the Tables
Uri made the point that many players attending the WSOP will be of a lower caliber than you’d expect at a given buy-in. This will change depending on the format of the game and buy-in level, but in general, trust your instincts and observations when determining the strength of players at your table.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
As we pointed out in the Game Selection section, leaving time for breaks is essential, but staying healthy during long stays in Vegas goes beyond just having time off. Vanja lays out the key daily habits that will keep you healthy, including:

  • Waking up at a consistent time every day, even after long sessions the previous night.
  • Stretching, exercising, and getting sunlight (within reason, considering the summer heat in the desert).
  • Eating properly can be ensured by meal prepping for example. Also keeping mental space during breaks for reflection and non-poker activities.

Personal Notes

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One of my first memories from Vegas was of the night my wife and I flew back. We had a 6 a.m. flight, so we decided to stay and play poker all night with our suitcases next to us rather than pay another night for the hotel. I ended up running amazing at a random 200NL table and won 1,200$, and the second I got up, three people asked for a seat change to get my “lucky” seat.

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WSOP is my favorite time of year as a poker player. I look forward to it every year. I’m always really grateful that living in Vegas gives me the chance to participate every summer.

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The first summer I played any WSOP events, I used the strategy described above and had a very successful summer: I mostly played mixed game side events at non-WSOP venues as well as some NLHE dailies, and I only played a few carefully selected larger field WSOP events. I wound up having an incredible week where I won an event at the Venetian, and then was back at the tables the next day for the WSOP women’s event, which I final tabled.15 years later, I still organize my schedule primarily around smaller fields online and live, with 5–10% of my entries in soft, larger fields. This continues to work out well to reduce variance and risk.

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My first few trips to Vegas were chaotic. I had no routine, played too many hours without resting, didn’t exercise, and tried to grind non-stop. I thought playing as much as possible was the key to success. The reality? I was constantly playing my B or C-game while feeling drained and wasn’t enjoying the trip at all.

Most players go through this phase, and it’s a valuable learning experience. But if you can skip that part and learn from others’ mistakes instead of your own, it’ll save you time, money, and frustration.

Las Vegas is a unique place. Taking a day off, seeing a show, or sharing a fun night out with friends can make your trip more memorable. Chasing results with tunnel vision can backfire. Plus, don’t forget that your overall experience matters just as much as your win rate.

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Now, I embrace the mistakes I made back then and see those as opportunities to learn and grow so that I can enjoy life fully on and off the tables!

I remember back in 2017, I got to the last day of the Monster stack 1/20 in chips, playing for 1.1 M$ on top, which at the time was about 10 times my bankroll. Some unfavorable card distribution got me to a middle stack with 11 left when I got it in AK vs AJ for a big pot and lost. I remember my knees feeling weak the moment I stood up from the table, but I wasted no time going straight to the cashier to register another tournament, chasing that dopamine high. As a result, I lost 20–30k in the next few days and became extremely exhausted in the last weeks. I don’t remember much from that summer, jumping from one tournament to another with no days off, and I think it could have gone better if I had a better plan.

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From my own experience, I’d add in the following advice that has helped me from the first time attending WSOP eight years ago to today:

  • Don’t Be Afraid To Be a Fan – The first time I attended a WSOP event, I kept thinking to myself, “act like you’ve been there” and “play it cool” instead of talking to the players I admired. The reality is no one really cares if you want to get an autograph from Phil Helmuth or a selfie with Daniel Negreanu (when it’s appropriate), so make sure to make the most of your time as a fan of the game.
  • Don’t Overexert Yourself – I remember from my first WSOP, I was staying at the Cosmopolitan and decided to walk to the Rio. Needless to say, walking 1.3 miles in 43-degree Celsius heat didn’t go well. It’s important to be reasonable about how much time you spend in the sun during the day, particularly on the off days when you might be tempted to spend more time outdoors.
  • Make Time for Friends – The best way to destress during and after an event is to find friends or acquaintances at the series and make it a point to spend time together. Talking through hands on breaks, spending time socializing when you’re not playing, and just having a sense of community off the table goes a long way to keeping your motivation up over the long WSOP grind.

Are you attending WSOP for the first time, or perhaps planning a longer trip for the series this year? Do you have any tips from your own experience to share? Feel free to share in the comments!