World Series of Poker Proposal

Jack Effel, Director of the World Series of Poker, called me to ask my opinion about the number of chips and the structure for the "smaller" tournaments this year. It seems strange to call $1000 buy-in events, small. It isn't small to my pocketbook! However when we are talking about the Granddaddy of all poker competitions, the most sought after wins, the most prestigious, the biggest in the world, with buy-ins up to $50,000, I guess it's all in one's perception. The Seniors event (Monday, June 22), the Ladies championship, (Sunday, June 7) and there is one weekend of $1000 buy-in open field events (Sat. May 30 and Sunday, May 31). Jack calls the latter, "The Weekend Warriors." I like and appreciate that the officials at the WSOP realize that the majority of poker players in the world are not world class nor do they have world class bankrolls. However, to have affordable buy-ins which gives the regular Joe or Josephine a shot at the brass ring, or to tell it like it is, a WSOP gold bracelet, but not give them the opportunity to play, is one step forward, two steps back. By "not giving them a chance to play" I mean not enough chips or a structure that is too fast. I believe they have finally found the correct equation between number of chips and structure.

Ready? Here it is: $3000 in chips and the following structure which has had two levels added (the $25-$25 and the $75-$150.)

LEVEL
ANTE
BLINDS
1-
$25-$25

2-
$25-$50

3-
$50-$100

4-
$75-$150

5-
$100-$200

6
ante $25
$100-$200

7
ante $25
$150-$300

8
ante $50
$200-$400

9
ante $75
$300-$600

10
ante $100
$400-$800

Remove $25 Chips

11
ante $100
$500-$1,000

12
ante $100
$600-$1,200

13
ante $200
$800-$1,600

14
ante $300
$1,000-$2,000

15
ante $400
$1,500-$3,000

16
ante $500
$2,000-$4,000

Remove $100 Chips

17
ante $500
$3,000-$6,000

18
ante $1,000
$4,000-$8,000

Remove $500 Chips

19
ante $1,000
$5,000-$10,000

20
ante $1,000
$6,000-$12,000

21
ante $2,000
$8,000-$16,000

22
ante $3,000
$10,000-$20,000

23
ante $3,000
$12,000-$24,000

24
ante $4,000
$15,000-$30,000

Remove $1,000 Chips

25
ante $5,000
$20,000-$40,000

26
ante $5,000
$25,000-$50,000

27
ante $5,000
$30,000-$60,000

28
ante $10,000
$40,000-$80,000

29
ante $10,000
$50,000-$100,000

30
ante $15,000
$60,000-$120,000

Just as I was about to get excited and give him my thumbs up, he added, "This is what is on the table. What do you think? It has not yet been approved." He went on to say that a committee has to vote on it. If the committee he is talking about is the Player's Committee, I ask, why do they have a say? The majority of players on the committee are the "big boys", the guys and gals who play the $5000, $10,000, and higher events. They wouldn't waste their time or energy on such little competitions - so why would they care and why would they have a vote? They do not know what is good for the little guy because they might not remember. We all start out the little guy, the weekend warriors. So I say, let's ask the players who are interested in playing the $1000 events what they think. So here is your opportunity to have a say in this debate. Email me at susieismspoker@aol.com and I will forward to the powers that be at the WSOP. You do have a voice - so let's hear it! It's comparable to politics, if you don't vote, don't bitch about what happens later!