Are Satellites at the 2011 WSOP a Good Option for Players

Events at the 2011 World Series of Poker range from $1,000 up to $50,000.  The average poker amateur cannot afford these large buy-ins or at best they can maybe scrape together the buy-in for one event.  A popular option for many players is to play Sit-N-Go satellites at the WSOP in order to win their entry.  However, are these really a good option for players.  The answer is that it depends.  Let’s talk about this topic further.

Satellites may not be the best option for all players.

Structure and Game Play

Most of the single table satellites that you will run across at the 2011 WSOP will start you off with 1,000 in chips with blinds of 25 and 25.  That sounds good, but there is a catch.  The rounds are 15 minutes long and the structure is setup to get these satellites over with in 1 to 2 hours tops. 

As such, you do not have a ton of time to sit back and pick up a hand.  By the 3rd or fourth level, you are looking at 100 – 200 blinds, giving you 5 big blinds should you be at the 1k starting stack.  In other words, you need to be active early and often in these games in order to have a solid chance in these games.

Caliber of Player

The strength of players in these events is going to range from the absolute fish to the satellite grinder.  Satellite grinders are those that play these with the sole purpose of making money in them.  They seldom play in the bracelet events, or if they do, it is after they have padded their roll. 

As you move up in the buy-ins for the satellites you will actually run across pros playing in them.  Many use these as cheap ways to get in, and now that many of the major sites serving the US have cut ties to their pros, they have to save money from their bankroll where they can.

Good Option?  It Depends.

Whether or not these satellites are a good option for you depends on your prowess in satellites and especially turbo satellites.  That is essentially what you are facing when you play these.  If you are strong in satellites and can play well against strong players, you may want to try these as an option.  If not, you may want to consider an alternative path to win your buy-ins for events, such as cash games.  There are tons of cash games at both the WSOP and around the strip in Vegas with more than enough fish to pad your roll if you are a good cash game player.

Not everyone is going to do well playing satellite tournaments to win their WSOP entry.  Just like any other type of poker, your relative skill to the other in the game determines whether you have positive or negative EV in these games.  Good luck at the tables.

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