David Kaye: Inside My Chase For A 2021 World Series Of Poker Bracelet

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Every poker player dreams of winning a World Series of Poker bracelet. Whether they are professionals or amateurs, Las Vegas attracts thousands of poker enthusiasts annually who come with hopes of achieving international fame and earning the highly sought-after WSOP gold bracelet.

As someone who has been fortunate enough to attend the WSOP three times, my journey began back in high school when I first discovered the captivating WSOP Main Event coverage on ESPN. I was immediately captivated and began dreaming of the day I would have the opportunity to participate in this prestigious event.

While I have never participated in the televised $10,000 buy-in World Series of Poker main event, I have engaged in a few smaller WSOP bracelet events. It is worth mentioning that the WSOP encompasses more than just the annual tournament broadcasted on TV, a fact that often goes unnoticed by many.

The WSOP is an event that consists of over 80 tournaments, where the victorious participant of each receives a prestigious WSOP gold bracelet. Whether it’s No-Limit Hold’Em, Pot-Limit Omaha, or other poker variations, bracelets are presented for all types of games. Throughout the years, buy-ins have spanned from $400 to as high as $1,000,000.

Although I have a strong desire to participate in a buy-in of $10,000 or higher, it would not be prudent to gamble such a significant sum on a single tournament, considering my current bankroll. Hence, during my time in Las Vegas for the WSOP, I typically opt for lower buy-ins, usually ranging from $400 to $1,500.

During the series in 2021, I had scheduled a 10-day stay in Vegas. My intention was to participate in six WSOP bracelet events, with buy-ins ranging up to $1,000. Besides these tournaments, I also planned to engage in various other competitions and cash games held in different casinos across town. This is one of the incredible aspects of the WSOP; simultaneous tournaments and cash games are organized by other casinos, ensuring an abundance of options, depending on your skill level and available funds.

Returning back to live poker action

This WSOP held a significant meaning for me. It marked my return to live poker in a casino after March 2020, making it an exceptional event. Throughout the 19-month gap, I resorted to playing online poker on the newly regulated platforms in Michigan, while also producing content on YouTube and Twitch to chronicle my gameplay. (However, I will delve deeper into this topic in the upcoming blog.)

As I boarded the plane to Vegas, a mix of excitement and anxiety coursed through me. Before COVID-19 forced the closure of all the casinos in Michigan, I had spent most of my time playing in them. However, it had been such a long time since then that I couldn’t help but worry if I would feel out of place.

After arriving in Vegas, my first order of business was to check into my room. Once settled, I wasted no time and headed straight to the renowned Bellagio for my inaugural cash game session.

I spent a total of five hours playing and ended up with a satisfying $219 win. It was an excellent way to kick off my trip, as not only did I begin on a winning note, but I also felt at ease being back at the table. It was as effortless as riding a bike.

On the second day, I eagerly participated in my inaugural tournament at the Aria, with an entry fee of $400. Despite it not being the prestigious WSOP, I harbored immense enthusiasm as live tournaments always enthrall me, and my aspiration was to achieve a remarkable performance. Perhaps reaching the final table, or even claiming victory!

Regrettably, my journey ended at approximately 47th place, falling short of the tournament’s top 35 players who received a payout. Nevertheless, it was a commendable performance considering the competition consisted of over 300 participants. I had high hopes that this would be the stepping stone towards a remarkable run in the WSOP.

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The WSOP bracelet chase begins

On Day 3, I participated in my inaugural WSOP bracelet event of the trip, known as the “Colossus,” which required a buy-in of $400. Prior to this journey, I had competed in 11 WSOP events without achieving any monetary success. Typically, tournaments only reward the top 10-15% of participants, making my 0-for-11 record quite disheartening.

In tournament poker, even the most skilled tournament professionals can experience phases where they participate in 30-40 events without achieving any cash winnings. As a cash game player myself, I am aware that this could also happen to me. However, I had high hopes that the year 2021 would mark a significant breakthrough for me at the WSOP.

Day 3, unfortunately, did not turn out to be my day. Shortly after the dinner break, I found myself in a tough spot when I went all-in before the flop with pocket-8s while my opponent held A-K. To my dismay, they managed to hit a pair and I was ultimately eliminated from the game.

Despite Jeff being a Michigan fan (Go Green!), meeting fellow poker content creators Jeff Boski, BetonDrew, and TSB253 on dinner break during Day 3 was still a memorable experience for me. Before I began streaming my online poker sessions on Twitch and creating YouTube videos, Jeff and Drew were content creators whom I admired and followed. It was really cool to finally meet them in person and have a chat, as they were the inspirations behind my own channels. Thankfully, despite our different sports allegiances, Jeff and the others turned out to be great guys.

Despite enjoying my time in Vegas, I faced limited success initially. On Days 4 and 5, I was eliminated before reaching the money in tournaments. Then, on Day 6, I took a risk by check-raising all-in at Level 3 with pocket jacks against my opponent. The board showed 9-9-6-4 with two hearts. Unfortunately, my opponent called with A-K high. To secure a double-up, I only needed to avoid an ace or king on the river. Disappointingly, luck was not on my side as my opponent hit a king, ultimately eliminating me from the game.

What’s a poker blog without sharing at least one bad-beat story, huh?

On the seventh day, I faced a familiar outcome as I was eliminated from the tournament before the money. The following day marked my final opportunity to claim a WSOP bracelet during this trip. It was my last shot at achieving WSOP glory as I prepared to compete in the “Mini Main Event” with a $1,000 buy-in.

One last chance at a 2021 WSOP bracelet

The beginning of the tournament was quite sluggish, with my initial stack of 60,000 chips gradually decreasing to around 30,000. However, during the last 15 minutes prior to the dinner break, I managed to win two all-in pots and my chip count skyrocketed to 195,000. This thrilling turn of events left me feeling ecstatic as I headed into the dinner break, proud of the considerable stack I had built at this stage of the competition.

After returning from a dinner break, my chip count would rise to 210,000 before encountering a series of losses in several small to medium-sized pots. One particular hand stood out, where I called an all-in bet from a player with a shorter stack on the river. Despite having two pair, my opponent revealed a flush, which ultimately defeated my hand. In retrospect, analyzing the situation, I believe I should have chosen to fold in response to their final all-in bet.

Once again, my stack was dwindling and I desperately needed to make a significant gain. With only ten big blinds remaining, I decided to go all-in before the flop with A-10, unaware that my opponent had pocket aces. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side, shattering my hopes of achieving the coveted WSOP bracelet in 2021.

However, instead of sulking, I reminded myself that I still had two additional days in Las Vegas. On the 9th day of my trip, I decided to indulge in a $2/$5 cash game at the Aria. Opting for the maximum buy-in, I invested $1,000 into the game. As the session progressed, I decided to add an extra $400 to my chips. Fortunately, when it was time to cash out, I left the table as a victor, walking away with a satisfying $83 profit.

Late cash-game comebacks help cut losses

On the final day of my Vegas trip, I had one shot left to end on a winning note. I decided to participate in a $400 tournament at the Aria, entering with two chances to secure victory. Unfortunately, similar to my previous experiences in WSOP tournaments, luck was not on my side. My promising K-10 of hearts was defeated by pocket-8s during an all-in, leaving me empty-handed once again. However, it was still early in the day, giving me an opportunity to join a cash game. Looking back, I am grateful that I made that decision.

Within just three hours, my initial $1,000 buy-in skyrocketed to over $2,600! Although it didn’t secure a victorious outcome for my overall trip, it served as a fantastic conclusion to an incredibly enjoyable journey packed with poker.

During the trip, I participated in a total of nine tournaments, with six of them being WSOP bracelet events. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to win any cash prizes in these tournaments, resulting in a loss of $4,600. However, I did have a stroke of luck in cash games and ended up making a profit of $2,069. Despite this, my overall results for the trip left me with a net loss of $2,531.

0-for-17 still lingers looking to 2022

Despite hurting my bankroll, I still had an enjoyable time. However, as I prepared to board my flight back home, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Out of the nine tournaments I participated in, I failed to cash in any of them, extending my streak of not earning any cash in WSOP bracelet events to 17.

In the event that I fail to cash in any of the 9 or 17 tournaments I participate in on a Sunday while playing on regulated online poker sites in Michigan, I would simply consider it as an unfortunate day and resume my efforts the following day. It’s worth noting that even the most skilled tournament players can go through 30-40 tournaments without winning, so it’s completely feasible for someone like me, who is not as experienced, to encounter the same situation.

However, my record in the most esteemed poker tournaments I’ve participated in is now a disappointing 0-for-17, intensifying the pain.

Although I am aware of the irrationality in attaching excessive importance to 17 tournaments, I cannot help but do so. Being a lifelong sports fan, I draw a comparison to how athletes are not primarily remembered for their performance in regular season games, but rather for their achievements in the post-season when the stakes are high. While this may seem extreme when applied to poker players due to the influence of luck in individual tournaments, the analogy still holds true.

Up until now, achieving success in WSOP bracelet events, rather than any other games I participate in, has been my ultimate aspiration. However, regrettably, I have not yet been able to fulfill this desire.

Fortunately, both myself and those who strive for WSOP glory can rejoice as the WSOP is set to make its return in May. Traditionally held in May, the series was rescheduled to October this year due to the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the wait for the 2022 WSOP will be significantly shorter.

Next summer, I am eagerly anticipating my return to Vegas, where I will joyously indulge in my favorite game. However, this time, I am hoping for a bit more triumph at the tables!

David’s poker journey can be tracked through his social media profiles, all of which can be found under the handle “DavidKayePoker”. These platforms include YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Instagram.

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