The acclaimed WSOP Academy is once again offering its once-a-year Main Event primer for players who want to improve their chances at poker’s most famous tournament. The instructors include two Main Event champions – Phil Hellmuth and Greg Raymer, – bracelet holders Annie Duke and Mark Seif, pro Phil Gordon, tell expert Joe Navarro and other noted instructors. Annette Obrestad has also been mentioned as a possible instructor for the Main Event Primer, an excellent option considering she won the first WSOP Europe Main Event in 2007.
Brandon Rosen from Post Oak Productions (the company that manages the WSOP Academy) describes the event in these words: “Like the WSOP Main Event itself, our Main Event Primer only comes around once a year and is unrivaled in its level of instruction as well as the interaction participants have with the biggest names in poker. It truly is a unique opportunity to learn optimal strategy from the pros who have won it all.”
The 3-day course will take place on June 29 – July 1 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, and a roster of the industry’s top players and instructors will arm participants with an arsenal of strategies and mechanisms for navigating the huge Main Event fields and holding their own against the game’s best.
The Primer will focus mainly on four styles of instruction: advanced poker seminars (with Q&A sessions,) expert analysis of WSOP video footage, live hand demonstrations by top pros and private multi-table tournaments. Participants will also have the chance to win a seat into the $10,000 WSOP Main Event.
Attending the Primer will set you back $2500 (or $5000 for the deluxe package which includes an exclusive VIP dinner with the teachers,) but it could be worth it based on past results – some of last year’s graduates cashed big at the last year’s Main Event after learning from the Academy pros. These are some of the players who recouped their investment and then some after attending the WSOP Academy Main Event Primer: Aaron Keay made it to 49th Place and cashed for $135,100, while Allen Kennedy was just one below in 50th Place and also ashed for $135,100, and Gary Hamilton made it to the relatively low 560th Place and still took home $23,160.
The WSOP Academy Main Event Primer has an extensive and detailed curriculum, which covers all of the aspects a player needs to face the massive Main Event fields. These are just a few of the topics that will be studied at the Primer:
- Table image and the exploitation thereof
- Intimidation and control of your opponents
- Isolation of weak players
- Advanced pot odds + implied odds
- Pre and post-flop mathematics
- Four post-flop scenarios
- Limpers vs. non-limpers
- Situational raising
- “Suit”-itis
- The Gap Principle
- Making the money bubble
- Making the final table
- Mentally preparing
- Planning your day and play
- Taking care of yourself
- Conceal don’t reveal
- 13 advanced tells to look for
Space is limited and the Primer is expected to sell out, so if you are interested visit the WSOP Academy website to reserve your spot.
