How Do You Prepare For WCOOP?
WCOOP and Powerfest are just around the corner, and with over $175mm in guarantees between them, it’s bound to be a wild few weeks for all those who participate.
It’s an exciting time for MTT players.
If things go well, then it can make your year, and there are multiple chances to hit one of those life-changing scores.
There is also the potential for the opposite…
I’ve seen plenty of players get caught up in the frenzy of chasing big scores and glory. It’s all too easy for a low or mid-stakes player to get in over their heads by massively increasing their ABI, only to wake up at the end of these series to see their profit for the year completely wiped out.
If you’re an online MTT player, this is your Olympics, your World Cup, your Super Bowl.
Are you prepared?
I sent out an email last week asking my readers what you do to prepare for a big online series.
The first thing I asked was:
In the weeks leading up to WCOOP, have you done, or will you do, anything special to prepare:
Here are the results:
The good news is that a majority of responders were doing something extra to prepare, although that number should be closer to 100% (especially considering those who took time to respond are probably likely to be more action orientated than those who did not).
The #1 Way You Prepare
Looking through all the responses, one thing stuck out above all the rest.
81.5% of those who took special actions listed an increase in study time as their only preparation method.
Here’s what they had to say about study:
“Hand reviewing, study icm/chip ev spots, and watching strategy content. Also playing some sessions.”
“I practice at lo stakes with my nearly acquired skills garnered from my online coaches’ articles/webinar series. Most notably Jonathan Little, Assassinato, SplitSuit, Doug Polk.”
“Review some deep runs. Run some Pio sims.”
“Try to take some coaching sessions, watch videos, looking up for some theory stuff, would like to think about the mental part as well.”
Get In Grind Mode or Take It Easy?
Responders were split down the middle when it came to ramping up into full grind mode vs. taking it easy before the series. Which approach do you think is best?
“I decompress from all the live poker I’ve been playing then get in some study sessions reviewing old hands and making sure my thought process is logical and efficient.”
“I study with my friends doing reviews we analyze some hands in Pio and watching any kind of poker material that I find time to watch. Also, I play a lot lately to get in the grind form for the series.”
“I study during the whole year so nothing too special, maybe playing less so I don’t get burned out but still studying on a daily basis.”
“Constantly (= daily) playing and studying.”
Plan To Perform
I was excited to see some players say that they create detailed schedules for the events, as I’ve found this has one of the most significant impacts on translating preparation into performance.
“I will make a graphic schedule when I will play, what tournaments I will play when I will sleep, what will be my exercise and physical activities during the series, when and what will I eat. For this series, this will be my first so detailed graphic schedule.”
“I check the schedule and try to organize my routine of grind, day/days off (what day is better). And I try to take a look at what tournaments I should put out of my schedule if I reach my limit of tables.”
“I’m trying to make a more WCOOP oriented schedule before the series. Also helpful for me – goals, gym and Primed Mind.”
While it’s great to see that scheduling made the list, only 6% of responders listed it as one of their preparation strategies.
For something that is the foundation of proper MTT series preparation, the number should be at 100%.
There are so many high-value tournaments during these big online MTT series’ that you could fill your tables with them 24/7, and the temptation is there to try to come close to that.
Without a plan, you can easily find yourself burnt out and playing over your head, and part of the Zombie Poker mob that appears a week into a series.
To take full advantage of the value these series’ offer, you need to be in top shape when you make a deep run, as all the money is won at the end of the tournament. There’s also the fact that the tournaments with life-changing potential are at the end of the series.
Will you be able to perform your best when you hit the final three tables?
What about the final table?
Will you be able to play your best poker all the way through the series?
If you’re not 100% confident your answer to those questions is “YES,” then I have something just for you.
It’s called the:
“Online MTT Series Survival Guide”
It walks you step-by-step through my full recommendations for preparing for an online MTT series, and shows you how to perform to the best of your abilities during a grueling 2-3 week grind.
Here’ what you’ll discover in this training:
- How to prepare to perform your best and take full advantage of the massive prize pools offered during a big online MTT series
- What to study in the weeks leading up to the event, and why studying in the wrong way can lead to disastrous results.
- What tasks to handle before the series starts that will allow you to tackle the grind without worrying about outside distractions.
- How to create a schedule that ensures you capitalize when things go well, and minimizes the damage when they don’t.
- Precisely what to do before you start each day so that you’re the freshest player in the tournament when you make a deep run.
- What NOT to do when you hit a big score early in an MTT series.
In addition to the training video you’ll also receive:
- Printable A-Game Planner – 2 and 3 Week Online MTT Series Edition
- Online MTT Final Table Focus MP3
- Downloadable Audio Version Of The Training
At just $47, this is a tiny investment when it comes to performing your best during the most critical events of the year.
Success during one of these series can propel your career to the next level, or take you down a few notches if it goes poorly.
In poker, we can never predict outcomes, but at the end of the series do you want to look back at poor performances and realize how unprepared you were, or do you want to be comfortable knowing that you did everything you could to bring your best game each day?
If you’re down to the final few tables of a tournament with a life-changing first prize, do you want to be the one burnt out and struggling to focus, or do you want to be the freshest player in the tournament playing with full focus and control?
If you want to be fully prepared to perform, click here to get The Online MTT Series Survival Guide.
Get The Online MTT Series Survival GuideAbout the Author Elliot Roe
Hi, I'm Elliot Roe... And I Help Poker Players Squeeze Every Ounce Of EV From Their Poker Skills and Abilities. Over 7500 poker players have downloaded my Mindset MP3s to boost their focus on the table and to relax and recover post-session. I have personally worked with hundreds more on mastering their emotions and the tabling and developing the “Pro-Athlete Mindset” needed to be successful into today’s games. Creating a strong poker mindset has been the “secret weapon” of the high stakes elite for years now, and I started this site to bring that edge to any player willing to work on that area of their game.