World Series of Satellites

Among the many improvements at this year's WSOP will be the satellites. There will be more varieties of satellites and a much improved system for sign-up and play. It would seem that getting ten players to sit down and play a single-table satellite would be an easy task in a room full of poker players, but gaming requirements and documentation often slowed last year's process to a standstill. Once ten players had shown up at a table and the stakes were agreed upon, then someone had to walk a clipboard from the cage and each player had to print and sign their name; then another floor person had to come and collect the clipboard and the buy-in cash… well, it just took forever. Not to mention that I played several satellites with Elvis, George Bush and Johnny Moss.

But here comes WSOP 2007 and the satellite system is now automated. You need only walk up to the 'Satellite Only' window at the tournament cage and give them your Harrah's Total Rewards card. Tell them what satellite you want to play and pay your entry fee at the window. Take your entry slip about 25 feet to the satellite kiosk where you'll be directed to your table. Once ten players are seated, the cards are in the air. The winning process is also automated. Win or chop a satellite and its back to the kiosk and then to the cage for your cash and tournament chips. If this works -- and it sure looks like it will -- the entire satellite process will be greatly improved.

More good news: The variety of satellites has been expanded. All of the variations below will be offered whenever the satellite area is open, and that area will be open 24/7 except for when those tables are needed for the really big (in terms of number of players entered) events.

Want to play a satellite for a WSOP seat? Let's examine your choices.

First, how about a nice simple single-table satellite [STS] with 10 players? Pick your game: Hold'em (no-limit, limit and pot-limit) or Omaha (Hi and Hi/Lo; limit or pot-limit). Here are your options:

$65 buy-in winner gets $500 Buy-In Chip + $ 50
$125 $1000 Buy-In Chips + $120
$175 $1500 Buy-In Chips + $120
$225 $2000 Buy-In Chips + $120
$275 $2500 Buy-In Chips + $120
$325 $3000 Buy-In Chips + $120
$525 $5000 Buy-In Chips + $120
$1030 $10,000 Buy-in chips + $150

You can expect these to be the most popular of the satellites offered. But wait you say, you always managed to finish second in a STS. Well then, how about two-winner tables? Here's how those pay out:

$120 buy-in with two winners (2) $500 Buy-In Chip + $ 50
$235 (2) $1000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$335 (2) $1500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$435 (2) $2000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$535 (2) $2500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$635 (2) $3000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$1035 (2) $5000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$2050 (2) $10,000 Buy-in chips + $150

Are you, perhaps, a short-handed specialist? Well then, try your skills at a six-handed table playing any of the Hold'em or Omaha games as well as 2-7 Lowball:

$290 six-handed wins $1500 Buy-In Chips + $110
$460 $2500 Buy-In Chips + $130
$875 $5000 Buy-In Chips + $120

Any chance there might be some satellites with two tables and two winners? Glad you asked, with these payouts again holding for all forms of Hold'em and Omaha:

$120 buy-in two winners (2) $1000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$170 (2) $1500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$220 (2) $2000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$270 (2) $2500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$320 (2) $3000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$520 (2) $5000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$1030 (2) $10,000 Buy-in chips + $150

Well if you have two winners on one table and two winners on two tables, is there any chance of three winners on two tables? Yes, indeed, here's the breakdown for two tables and three winners:

$175 buy-in and three winners (3) $1000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$250 (3) $1500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$325 (3) $2000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$400 (3) $2500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$475 (3) $3000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$775 (3) $5000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$1545 (3) $10,000 Buy-in chips + $200

OK, you gotta ask: Three tables and three winners? Yes!

$120 buy-in and three winners (3) $1000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$170 (3) $1500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$220 (3) $2000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$270 (3) $2500 Buy-In Chips + $100
$320 (3) $3000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$520 (3) $5000 Buy-In Chips + $100
$1035 (3) $10,000 Buy-in chips + $200

What about those eight-handed games like 7-Card Stud, Stud H/L, Razz, HORSE and 2-7 Lowball?

$150 buy-in wins $1000 Buy-In Chips + $70
$215 $1500 Buy-In Chips + $90
$280 $2000 Buy-In Chips + $110
$345 $2500 Buy-In Chips + $130
$410 $3000 Buy-In Chips + $150
$660 $5000 Buy-In Chips + $150

And for the high rollers, any satellites for the $50,000 HORSE tournament?

$6320 buy-in for one eight-handed table wins 50,000 in Buy-in Chips + $160 in cash
$3170 buy-in for two eight-handed tables wins 50,000 in Buy-in Chips + $160 in cash
$2120 buy-in for three eight-handed tables wins 50,000 in Buy-in Chips + $160 in cash

There will also be the regular 'super' and 'mega' satellites for the Main Event as well as a number of mega events for the $50K HORSE. We will get to those another time.