# 2012 World Series of Poker **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 25, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047 "2012-05-25T04:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/1 "2012-05-25T04:55:48Z")
So yeah, the [WSOP starts on Monday](http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2012-world-series-of-poker/). Anyone care? Anyone playing? Seems like each year, the SD thread on the Series gets less and less attention. I’ll be keeping decent tabs on a long distance friend of mine who finished in the money in a lot of events last year. He says he’s been playing too long not to have a bracelet and will be fixing that this year. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/2 "2012-05-25T05:03:35Z")
At this point, the only thing they air that I care about is the ME. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/3 "2012-05-25T05:07:12Z")
Also, what the hell is “triple draw lowball”? And an interesting event should be #52, six-handed _10-game_(!) mix. How many people even know how to play that many variants of poker? And then there is #55, $1,000,000 Big One For One Drop, whatever the hell that means. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/4 "2012-05-25T05:15:18Z")
The last one is a $1M buy-in for charity. (One Drop deals with clean water in the 3rd World) ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/5 "2012-05-25T11:36:17Z")
Triple Draw Low-Ball is a really fun game, actually. It’s five card draw, except you get three draws rather than one, and you’re playing to get the worst possible hand instead of the best. I’ve played it online and even a little in home games. Daniel Negreanu wrote a chapter on it in for Doyle Brunson’s Super System II. I’ll be watching a lot of the final tables online, where unfortunately they won’t be broadcast with hole cards. I really wish they’d showcase more than just the Main Event. A few years back (2009?), they broadcast a whole lot of other games and it was fantastic to see something other than Hold Em. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/6 "2012-05-25T17:19:07Z")
**drill** -Triple Lowball sounds like draw Razz. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/7 "2012-05-25T18:49:27Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **drill** -Triple Lowball sounds like draw Razz. There are a few differences. Unlike in Razz, flushes and straights count against you in 2-7 Lowball. Also unlike Razz, aces are high. The best hand therefore is 7-5-4-3-2, unlike the ‘wheel’ 5-4-3-2-A that you want in Razz. Looks like they have 2 variants of 2-7 lowball at the WSOP this year: a triple draw limit version and no-limit with presumably only 1 draw. Interestingly, I can’t seem to find a triple draw 10K event, but there is one for the NL version. The 10-event game looks interesting too. It’s a 6-max, with badugi included. First time I’ve seen badugi on a WSOP schedule. Edit: there’s an ante-only Hold 'Em event. The structure sheet says that, “Players will act in turn having the option to check, or bet the minimum bring in up to and including all-in.” What’s the bring-in? (The sheet doesn’t say.) Is it the ante? Just seems strange playing Hold 'Em with no blinds. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/8 "2012-05-25T19:32:25Z")
Where do you watch the final tables? I’ve been stuck reading my updates at Poker News. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/9 "2012-05-25T21:20:53Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > At this point, the only thing they air that I care about is the ME. Correction: At this point, all ESPN cares about is Texas Holdem. > [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Where do you watch the final tables? I’ve been stuck reading my updates at Poker News. ☹ They broadcast the the Final Table on a 30 minute delay last year. You were able to watch a little more on [ESPN3.com](http://ESPN3.com). Commentary on ESPN3 was actually very good. Card were concealed until the hand was over and they had guest commentary from people like Antonio Esfandiari who was able to give some pretty deep insight. It worked extremely well considering the only people tuning into a live streaming of 'Fold, fold, fold, fold, raise, fold fold" poker are going to be serious poker nerds anyway. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/10 "2012-05-25T21:21:57Z")
At the SDMB Poker game last night we were discussing the [WSoP fantasy draft](http://espn.go.com/fantasy/blog/_/name/poker/id/7967069/wsop-2012-espn-seventh-annual-fantasy-poker-draft). 10 ‘experts’ (Daniel Negreanu, Chad Holloway, Eric Baldwin, WickChops, Dwite Pilgrim, Josh Brikis, Gary Wise, Bernard Lee) picked 8 players apiece. Here is summary of the draft: Pick Format is _ **Round.Pick.Overall** _—(5.7.47 = Round 5 7th pick in Round 5 and 47th overall pick) ```auto Pick Team Player 1.1.1 … LB … Daniel Negreanu 1.2.2 … JB … Phil Ivey 1.3.3 … CH … Jason Mercier 1.4.4 … EB … Steve Billirakis 1.5.5 … GW … Barry Greenstein 1.6.6 … DN … Eugene Katchalov 1.7.7 … DP … Michael Mizrachi 1.8.8 … WC … Shawn Buchanan 1.9.9 … DF … Erik Seidel 1.10.10 … BL … John Juanda 2.1.11 … BL … Marvin Rettenmaier 2.2.12 … DF … Phil Hellmuth 2.3.13 … WC … Justin Bonomo 2.4.14 … DP … Bertrand Grospellier 2.5.15 … DN … Scott Seiver 2.6.16 … GW … Tom Dwan 2.7.17 … EB … Victor Ramdin 2.8.18 … CH … Daniel Alaei 2.9.19 … JB … Scott Clements 2.10.20 … LB … Dan Kelly 3.1.21 … LB … Justin Smith 3.2.22 … JB … John Racener 3.3.23 … CH … Matt Glantz 3.4.24 … EB … Robert Mizrachi 3.5.25 … GW … Vivek Rajkumar 3.6.26 … DN … Alexander Kostritsyn 3.7.27 … DP … Shaun Deeb 3.8.28 … WC … Isaac Haxton 3.9.29 … DF … Ben Lamb 3.10.30 … BL … Jake Cody 4.1.31 … BL … Phil Galfond 4.2.32 … DF … Nick Schulman 4.3.33 … WC … David Sands 4.4.34 … DP … Sam Trickett 4.5.35 … DN … Sorel Mizzi 4.6.36 … GW … Chris Moorman 4.7.37 … EB … David Chiu 4.8.38 … CH … Jeffrey Lisandro 4.9.39 … JB … Jason Somerville 4.10.40 … LB … David "Bakes" Baker Pick Team Player 5.1.41 … LB … Steve O'Dwyer 5.2.42 … JB … Matt Hawrilenko 5.3.43 … CH … Steve Gross 5.4.44 … EB … John Monnette 5.5.45 … GW … Jonathan Duhamel 5.6.46 … DN … Michael Binger 5.7.47 … DP … George Lind 5.8.48 … WC … Brian Rast 5.9.49 … DF … David "The Original" Baker 5.10.50 … BL … Sam Stein 6.1.51 … BL … Tom Marchese 6.2.52 … DF … Viktor Blom 6.3.53 … WC … J.P. Kelly 6.4.54 … DP … Fabrice Soulier 6.5.55 … DN … Marco Johnson 6.6.56 … GW … Vitaly Lunkin 6.7.57 … EB … Alexander Kravchenko 6.8.58 … CH … Yevgeniy Timoshenko 6.9.59 … JB … Allen Bari 6.10.60 … LB … Christian Harder 7.1.61 … LB … David Williams 7.2.62 … JB … Jon Turner 7.3.63 … CH … David Bach 7.4.64 … EB … Frank Kassela 7.5.65 … GW … Vanessa Selbst 7.6.66 … DN … Bryn Kenney 7.7.67 … DP … Allen Kessler 7.8.68 … WC … Erick Lindgren 7.9.69 … DF … Chris Bjorin 7.10.70 … BL … Eric Baldwin 8.1.71 … BL … Allen Cunningham 8.2.72 … DF … Carlos Mortensen 8.3.73 … WC … James Dempsey 8.4.74 … DP … Dwyte Pilgrim 8.5.75 … DN … Brian Hastings 8.6.76 … GW … Eric Froehlich 8.7.77 … EB … Justin Young 8.8.78 … CH … Josh Arieh 8.9.79 … JB … Josh Brikis 8.10.80 … LB … Dan Smith ``` Hope it pastes ok. Scoring > [@](#): > > Here’s the scoring system: > > 1 point for making the money > 2 points for making the top 50 > 5 points for making the top 20 > 10 points for making the final table (up to a tournament with a field size of 100 players), then one additional point for each 100 players after that > then: > 1 additional point for ninth > 2 additional points for eighth > 4 additional points for seventh > 6 additional points for sixth > 10 additional points for fifth > 15 additional points for fourth > 20 additional points for third > 30 additional points for second > 40 additional points for first > Double points will be awarded for all events with buy-ins of $10,000 or more. For every event that a player makes the money, additional points will be awarded based on the field size. One point will be awarded for every 100 players in the field. For example, if there are 300 players and a player makes the money, three additional points will be assigned. > > Points are only awarded for in the money finishes. The final table is defined as top nine in hold 'em, eight in mixed, seven in lowball, six during shorthanded events (with the exception being the four-handed event), eight in heads-up (5-8th will be awarded fifth, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/11 "2012-05-25T21:27:55Z")
DF should have been AF (Andrew Feldman) the guy who wrote the article for ESPN. I am surprised that Barry Greenstein went so high. I wouldn’t expect him to play many events. And surprised that Phil Hellmuth didn’t go in the first round, since he eats, lives and breathes for the WSoP. And I am glad that Phil Ivey is playing this year. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/12 "2012-05-26T22:31:49Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Correction: At this point, all ESPN cares about is Texas Holdem. > > They broadcast the the Final Table on a 30 minute delay last year. You were able to watch a little more on [ESPN3.com](http://ESPN3.com). Commentary on ESPN3 was actually very good. Card were concealed until the hand was over and they had guest commentary from people like Antonio Esfandiari who was able to give some pretty deep insight. It worked extremely well considering the only people tuning into a live streaming of 'Fold, fold, fold, fold, raise, fold fold" poker are going to be serious poker nerds anyway. Just the main event final table? There are 50+ others too. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/13 "2012-05-26T23:16:13Z")
I’ll be visiting Vegas for about half of the time the WSOP is on, so I’ll hang out at the Rio some afternoons. 🆒 (My poker skills are only suited to low-level games at the Luxor!) ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/14 "2012-05-28T14:37:44Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Where do you watch the final tables? I’ve been stuck reading my updates at Poker News. ☹ All final tables will be available online at the WSOP website [here](http://www.wsop.com/2012/live-video/live-video.asp). No hole cards and I’m not even sure who will be commentating, so it’s really for the hardcore poker fans. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/15 "2012-05-29T02:34:36Z")
Saw a tweet from Doyle Brunson and he said he is only playing about 5 events this year. Age is catching to him. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/16 "2012-05-29T03:02:13Z")
OK, reading some of the live updates. Event 1 is down to final 10. (Casino employees) Event two has started. $1500 No Limit Hold’m Kid Poker and Kathy Liebert were at the same table, dealer dealt one hand, apparently screwed it up and was pulled from the table. Not sure what the specifics were. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/17 "2012-05-29T03:08:03Z")
Now that our (US) government has made it practically impossible to play online poker, I am sure the interest in TV poker broadcasts will drop to the miniscule levels that it was at in the 80s-90s. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/18 "2012-05-29T14:12:56Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Now that our (US) government has made it practically impossible to play online poker, I am sure the interest in TV poker broadcasts will drop to the miniscule levels that it was at in the 80s-90s. Poker got a lot more view-able after the introduction of hole-cameras. Viewership may regress a little bit, but it won’t go to 1980 levels. I think ESPN is doing as much coverage this year as it did last year. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/19 "2012-05-29T18:30:43Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > They broadcast the the Final Table on a 30 minute delay last year. You were able to watch a little more on [ESPN3.com](http://ESPN3.com). Commentary on ESPN3 was actually very good. Card were concealed until the hand was over and they had guest commentary from people like Antonio Esfandiari who was able to give some pretty deep insight. It worked extremely well considering the only people tuning into a live streaming of 'Fold, fold, fold, fold, raise, fold fold" poker are going to be serious poker nerds anyway. That was the best coverage and commentary I had ever seen last year. It gave you a realistic (obviously) view of high-end poker playing, and I learned _ALOT_ from the play and commentary of each hand…even on the folds. Will look forward to that this year as well. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047/20 "2012-05-29T18:40:19Z")
Part of my wants Antonio to make a deep run, because I like him. But OTOH, I want him to bust early, so we can enjoy his commentary. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-world-series-of-poker/623047.md?page=2)