Yorky Pud

So you have been fortunate enough to win a seat at the upcoming World Series of Poker for next to nothing through one of Betfair Poker's many 2011 WSOP Qualifiers and are looking forward to jetting out to Las Vegas, Nevada to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business and hopefully win a life-changing sum of money.

For many of the players who have won a WSOP seat through a satellite flying abroad to play poker will be the very first time they have done just that so it is important to follow a few simple hints and tips to make the journey to “Sin City” a more enjoyable, comfortable and profitable one.

If you are flying from the United Kingdom then expect the flight to take between 10 and 12 hours, which seems like the perfect opportunity to sink a few beers and shots to get into the Las Vegas spirit, right? Wrong! Although you can and should celebrate being able to play on poker's biggest stage there is a time and a place for it and the plane to Vegas is not one such time. Drinking alcohol on the flight will massively increase the chances of you being dehydrated and it will not help your chances of beating the dreaded jet-lag. Try to stick to as normal routine as you can so if you have a night flight try and sleep and if it during the day have a walk around the plane, read a book chat to fellow passengers, just lay off the alcoholic drinks and try not to consume too many caffeine related products either for similar reasons.

Once you arrive in Las Vegas the temptation to go out an party will be greater than you have ever felt but you should try to be as disciplined as possible and have designated nights out and also “dry nights” where you do not drink or party and try to get an early night instead. These nights should be a couple of days before you are due to play and obviously at the end of days of play if you have survived through the day with chips intact. Working on the European Poker Tour has allowed me to see numerous players who have had piles of chips at the end of one day and they have then finished around midnight, gone out on the town only to have to return to the casino for another 12-14 hour day looking like death warmed up and either busting or playing terribly. Do not be one of the people the bloggers are talking about for all the wrong reasons!

On your tournament's starting day you should try to dress for the occasion and by this I mean do not turn up in shorts and a T-shirt otherwise you will be in for a shock. Whilst the outside temperature in Las Vegas may be enough to scorch the Earth, the air conditioning at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is notoriously effective, to the point where it is actually quite cold at times throughout the playing area. Have you ever noticed on television footage of the WSOP that there are dozens of players with hoodies sporting “I Love Las Vegas” or with “WSOP” logos on the front? The majority of these players will have turned up in summer clothes only to be constantly blasted with cold air and been almost forced to go an buy a hoodie from the souvenir shop.

Finally, although there are facilities for eating at the Rio you should take a selection of foods in with you for during the day because if you are feeling hungry then you will already be under-performing. Instead you should have some regular snacks of fruit, dried fruit and nuts to keep your energy levels and alertness at their peak throughout the day. This will also make it less likely you will want a large meal at the dinner break, as a large, heavy, stodgy meal could leave you feeling lethargic and unable to concentrate fully.