World Series of Poker Academy

Filed in archive Poker Products on February 23, 2007

You just busted out on the money bubble after playing in a multi-table tourney for four hours and feel like throwing your Captain and Coke across the room.

I've been there. Many times.

Thinking back on the tourney, you spot some fancy plays that cost you the chips that were valueable come cashing time. There's many excellent books out there for the aspiring poker player to read up on the finer points of tournament and cash game strategy. But, for some people who are more visual learners, should check out the World Series of Poker Academy headed by three different WSOP main event champions!

Not bad company to learn how to pull off a successful bluff, and how to watch your opponent's mannerisms to see if he is really holding the flush that is being represented by his all-in bet.

Below is the introduction of the poker camp from Harrah's WSOP website:

Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), has launched the World Series of Poker Academy, a new instructional camp that offers participants an opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the poker world's greatest players.

WSOP Academy instructors include 10-time World Series of Poker® bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth Jr., 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem, 2004 World Champion Greg Raymer, former FBI agent Joe Navarro - an expert on nonverbal behavior - and WSOP bracelet winners Scott Fischman and Mark Seif, among others.

"School is in session at the World Series of Poker Academy," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the WSOP. "Our new academy is a tremendous value. Participants will learn from the best minds in poker and have a chance to win a seat in the 2007 WSOP Main Event.

"If you want to learn the basics or master the game, the WSOP Academy is for you," Pollack said.

The first season of the WSOP Academy will be capped by a three-day Main Event Primer at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The Main Event Primer begins July 3 and ends July 5 - the eve of the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'Em World Championship at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino®, home of the 2007 World Series of Poker.

Hellmuth, Hachem, Raymer, Navarro, Fischman, Seif, Alex Outhred and other top professional players are scheduled to help Main Event Primer participants prepare for the game's most prestigious competition, which last year awarded more than $82.5 million to the WSOP Main Event alone.

All sessions of the WSOP Academy provide participants with in-depth seminars, interactive workshops and customized handbooks. Each session will also include a tournament that awards a seat in the $10,000 buy-in 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event.

The first WSOP Academy was held at Grand Casino Tunica in January. The second is scheduled for Caesars Indiana April 7-8. The third - a Ladies Only WSOP Academy taught by poker pro Annie Duke, who won $2 million in the 2005 Tournament of Champions - is set for Caesars Palace on June 8-9, the eve of the World Championship Ladies No-Limit Hold'Em tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker. Details for all WSOP Academy sessions are available at www.wsopacademy.com.