11/14/07posted by Poker Star @ 9:53 AM

I just got back from the WSOP Academy in Las Vegas. It was a H.O.R.S.E. Academy, so it covered many games that I know but haven't played that much. First, let me say that I had a great time and met a lot of interesting people.

We started on Friday, November 2. We all met in a meeting room at Caeser's Palace. Day #1 was a short day with a quick 4 hour presentation on Advanced No Limit Hold-em strategy. Howard Lederer taught the first 2 hours on good starting hand requirements and pre-flop play.

After a short break, Annie Duke went over post flop play for 2 hours. They went over things like playing too many hands, ignoring position, and limping into pots too much, among others. We had an hour dinner break and then headed to the poker room for a tournament.

The tourney was in Caesar's poker room (my favorite poker room in Vegas). All the Academy attendees got to play, and each table had a pro to help and discuss hands. They also had to show their hand if asked (after the action was over for that hand).

It was a fairly fast paced tourney (because they didn't want it to last all night!) and we had to be back at 9a.m. Unfortunately, I had terrible cards and only played five hands. For three of those, I was in the blind.

Once I raised with pocket eights and got a big re-raise and so I folded. I never saw an ace. The few times I had a Q or K, I had a 2, 3, or 4 to go with it! I got real low in chips when I hit two pair in the small blind holding 3,6.

The big blind hit a straight though. So a few hands later, Howard (he was our table pro) raised from early position and I went all in with K,Q. (it was the first time I?d had two paint cards and I only had four times the big blind).

Howard had pocket aces and knocked me out. I can't remember the name of the guy who won, but he got a seat into the 2008 $10,000 WSOP main event. Wow, nice prize!!

Day #2 ,we all met again and Howard went over limit hold-em. The nature of this game forces players to play many hands all the way to the river. With practice, this aspect alone will help even no limit players with their post flop play.

Howard is one of the best limit players alive. Next, Andy Bloch taught us the nuances of 7 stud. I've played this game in some small home games, but never realized or thought of some of the things he taught. After lunch, Joe Navarro (the ex- FBI guy) came out to talk about poker tells. Some of these were too good to share with you. I'm hoping they make me a little extra money.
Then, we had live hand demonstrations with us in groups and a pro at each table. We would play a hand out with everyone keeping their cards in front of them, even if they folded. We talked about what the players still in the hand, at the end, might hold. Did they bet it right? Did the folders make good plays? Etc.

Then it was back to the poker room for another tourney. We switched between stud and limit hold-em. I had real crappy cards again and didn't make it very far. But, I did have Shannon Elizabeth at my table so it wasn't all depressing and boring. She went on to take second place. The top 2 won a seat to the 2008 WSOP $2,500 HORSE event.

Day #3 was another info-packed day. We started out with Mark Seif teaching Razz followed by Annie Duke teaching Omaha Eight or better. Then, she talked about Stud eight or better with more live hand demonstrations.

That part was the most fun for me. You could really the strategies they explained to use. Finally, we would talk about the hands when they were over to see who had played them well. Then it was off for our final tourney. This time, we played all the games. It was a lot to remember, but really exciting. This time I did pretty good. We were down to 2 tables (out of 7 or 8), and I lost a big pot in Omaha hi-low. I held on a little longer but got railed in 12th place.

The whole experience is one that I won't forget. The world class instructors were awesome. Annie can get so analytical when talking poker, but it really makes you think.

I learned one very important thing: I have a lot more to learn about poker, if I want to get better and better.

I wish it would have been four days instead of three. But, they gave us books and some of Annie's DVDs. We also have charts and our worksheets and plenty of additional tools for me to work with to keep improving my game.

I'm sure I'll attend another in the future. Hopefully, a full two or three days on just no-limit. But like the pros said: these other games can be extremely profitable because most of the other players are just that bad and don't play them correctly. If you get a chance try one out, it certainly won't hurt your game.

Scott (thebombbaby)

Labels: Online Poker, Poker Tourneys, WSOP

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