Andrew Feldman

  (1:59 PM)

Hey everyone. Welcome to Monday's WSOP. We saw a great final table last night in Event 3 and Dr. Pauly from the Tao of Poker is here to answer everything and anything. Keep sending in questions and we'll get to them in a minute

Paul McGuire

  (2:01 PM)

Hello all. Greetings from Las Vegas. Thanks to Feldman for having me on this morning...

Matt (California)

What's the general feeling at the start of the WSOP to how large the fields are going to be? The stimulus event was obviously a huge success, do you think that there will continue to be large fields?

Paul McGuire

  (2:04 PM)

The 201 players in the $40,000 Anniversary special was impressive. I set the over/under at 188. I expect to see the lower buy-in events post good numbers. I'm most concerned with the middle-buy-in events. That will be a real indication of the credit crunch

Al Timeter (Key West, FL)

Have the Wicked Chops Poker boys been lacking with girls on the rail or has really been a desert so far this year?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:05 PM)

They'll get back on track. That Freddy Deeb shot was not necessary.

Paul McGuire

  (2:06 PM)

I think they can do a little bit better. But, I know that they are pacing themselves. The WSOP is a seven week event. Too much of anything is bad, especially blurry photos of pros along with well, you know...

Jordan (NJ)

Hey Andrew. Only a quick easy question. When will the World Series start being shown on ESPN?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:07 PM)

July 28th with Event 2.

Tony G. (not that one) - Los Lunas, NM

Pauly, What is the deal with that tent city you showed us outisde of the Rio. Were there really that many people without a room there to play the $1,000 stimulus event?

Paul McGuire

  (2:07 PM)

Ah, that was a little joke about the event attracting players who could barely afford the event let alone a room in Las Vegas. That tent city is real and actually exists in Las Vegas but it's not in the parking lot.

Chuck (Chapel Hill, NC)

How have the bracelet presentations turned out? Fun or lame?

Paul McGuire

  (2:09 PM)

Go Heels! I've only seen one so far for the Employee's Event. For the most part, stuff like that is a dog and pony show, but the cool thing is that they play the national athem of the winner's country. I can't wait until today when they play the Russian anthem for Vitaly Lunkin.

Andrew Feldman

  (2:09 PM)

We might be hearing that anthem a lot this year...

Pat (Bement, IL)

Do you think you'll burn out on Jack Link's jerky and not eat any more 'til next year or will it become a must have staple in your cabinet.

Paul McGuire

  (2:12 PM)

Being anywhere in one place makes you go a little crazy. After the second week, I'm always homesick for my favorite foods in NYC and LA. I've never been a big beef jerky fan, but the Peppered stuff is very spicy. I'll be adding that to the list of food for my "earthquake/natural disaster" supplies list

Zain, Atlanta

Hey Pauly, the $40k event had more than 200 players, do you think WSOP will have more higher buy-in in further? Similarly do you they will have the $1k buy-in back for next year?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:17 PM)

I think I lost Pauly...we'll jump back to this question when he's back,,,

Andrew Feldman

  (2:17 PM)

Just kidding, he's back!

Paul McGuire

  (2:17 PM)

Both good questions that I'm sure Harrah's is considering. I have a feeling that there will be at least another $1K event next year possily more if the ecomomy does not improive. I'm all for a $50,000 high rollers NL event. The stakes and high caliber talent makes for good TV.

Bob (Seattle)

Is ESPN happy with the final table from the $40K event? It seems like there were fewer "name" pros than one might have expected.

Andrew Feldman

  (2:18 PM)

Nine great players played out that final table and even though it wasn't filled with household names, there are some great stories that will make for great TV.

Levi (Augusta, GA)

The early talk at the Rio today has to be about Thang Luu's accomplishment in winning the $1,500 O/8 this year after winning last year in the same event, and finishing runner-up the year before. In your opinion, do feats like this drum up interest and get people talking about the mixed games more and would it have any kind of noticeable effect on the turnouts for smaller buy-in mixed game events for the rest of the series?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:19 PM)

And don't forget he finished 2nd in 2007...

Paul McGuire

  (2:21 PM)

I don't think it drums up interest in mix games. What it does is that Luu's feats the last three summers solidifies the fact that he's one of the best Omaha 8 players in the world, at least, over the last few years. Now if a well known player won Omaha 8 two times in a row, then that might generate more interest.

Ben La Granoulle (Las Vegas, NV)

Big fan of Dr. Pauly. Long time reader, first time chatter. I'm wondering why there have been no tales of lime tossing at the series this year.

Paul McGuire

  (2:25 PM)

Well a few reasons. The commodities market for citrus fruits is through the roof. Prices are at an all time high and the demand for limes has significantly grown. That being said, there isn't as many limes being offered up with Coronas. In addition, my partner in crime for lime tossing prop bets is my good buddy Otis. He's not at the WSOP yet (he will be) because his wife gave birth to a son. As soon as he arrives, we'll do some lime tossing. We might even let the members of the French press play this year.

Greg (Greensboro, NC)

Hi guys, With the field locked in for day 2, who's your pick to win the Champion's Invitational?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:27 PM)

Great question. I'd love to see Doyle take it down, but I'm going to go with Harrington.

Paul McGuire

  (2:27 PM)

Carlos Mortensen or Peter Eastgate. It would be kinda cool if Varkonyi won since I alsways felt he got the shaft because he won pre-boom.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

Who is the most intelligent of the better known poker players?

Paul McGuire

  (2:28 PM)

Rafe Furst is the 12th smartest man on the planet. I'll also go with Bill Chen and Andy Bloch.

Andrew Feldman

  (2:29 PM)

Brandon Adams also fits the bill.

Pete (Rochester, NY)

900 players for an O8 event, holy crap! That's an better sign for me in regards to attendance than the 1k event. My question is-is the increased attendance in these events so far matched by an increased foreign presence?

Paul McGuire

  (2:31 PM)

Well, the Omaha 8 is skewed. Last year, there were Omaha 8 events at the $1,500 & $2,000 level. This year there was only one. That consolidation boosted the numbers. But the Euros are here for sure...

Bob (Severn, MD)

Over or under 1.5 final tables for Phil Hellmuth this year?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:32 PM)

Over

Paul McGuire

  (2:32 PM)

Take the under.... just one FT for Hellmuth.

J. Rivers (Atlantic City, NJ)

Isn't there a Dr. Pauly book coming out soon about Las Vegas? When can we get it?

Paul McGuire

  (2:34 PM)

Coming out in October....... Lost Vegas: The Redneck Riviera, Existentialist Conversations with Strippers, and the World Series of Poker

Andrew Feldman

  (2:35 PM)

NY Times Bestseller imo

John ( PHX,AZ)

Are the russians taking over the poker world?

Paul McGuire

  (2:37 PM)

Yes. They Russians are coming and cathcing up to the Scandis for domination of poker in Europe. Learn Russian immediately, so you can find out what they are saying about you at the tables.

Instant Tragedy (Lubbock Texas)

Pauly, What is your prediction for biggest surprise, biggest shame and most quoted stat of this years WSOP? Keep up the hard work.

Paul McGuire

  (2:39 PM)

Biggest stat repeated? 6844 - the number of entrants to last year's Main Event.... will that number be passed? Biggest surprise? Vinny Vinh beats Easkimo Clark heads up for 10K Mixed bracelet.

Paul McGuire

  (2:40 PM)

Biggest shame? The Rio runs out of Red Bull, limes, and beef jerky

Vinny - Tempe, Arizona

Pauly, thanks for the great reading over the last few days. Question: What kind of satellites are available at the Rio for guys like me who can't convince their wives of the value of putting up $1,500 to play one of the non-Main Event tourneys? Can you tell me the cheapest and mid-range priced satellites? Thanks, and keep up the good work!!

Paul McGuire

  (2:41 PM)

$65 is the cheapest sats but the structure is awful. The $125s is very popular. Better structure. Lots of donks.

Max, LA

Pauly, over under 7k in Main event?

Paul McGuire

  (2:42 PM)

I predicted 7,100 on Tao of Poker a couple of weeks ago. Ask me again in 2 weeks.

StB, Milwaukee, WI

How bad was the play in the $1000 NLH event? Any good horror stories to share?

Paul McGuire

  (2:44 PM)

Let's just say, I haven't seen blood shed that much since Custer's last stand. Seriously, They went from 3,000+ to under 400 in 10 levels on both days. 6,000 donks liquidated down to 650 or so players. The stat was something like 5 players busting every minute on Day 1. Unreal.

Tmoney (Chicago, IL)

Advertising seems to be a big deal at the WSOP. How much can a top pro make in sponsorship deals?

Paul McGuire

  (2:48 PM)

OK, I don't think pros make as much money as you think with sponsorships. The money has significantly decreased over the last few years. Players are no longer getting six fgures to wear hats and t-shirts. That only happens to Final Table players in televised events

Ricky(Chattanooga,Tn0

Andrew are they showing any of the events live on espn360.com?

Andrew Feldman

  (2:49 PM)

Tomorrow will be the first one on ESPN360 as Event 4's final table will be broadcast.

MattWaldron, San Francisco, CA

We hear a lot about the pros and their hours during the series...is this something they condition for or is it just a caffeine/other fueled run at as much action as possible? I'm looking to hear from an expert like Pauly here.

Paul McGuire

  (2:52 PM)

Some pros understand that although poker is not a physical and strenous activity --- the WSOP is. Seven weeks is a long time to spend in an unhealthy environment. The savvy pros know that they need to work out and get in top physical condition to improve their stamina. Then there are guys like Burt Boutin or Texas Dolly who love Red Bull. Not to mention the pros who were using doctor's prescribed perscription drugs that help keep them up.

Donkey (The Farm)

Everyone are always comparing my fellow donkeys to humans who play bad poker. Fun Fact: A donkey has never lost a final table at the WSOP. What gives? And why do people seem to be so angry at dead money?

Paul McGuire

  (2:54 PM)

I don't think it's anger, just jealousy. I'm all for dead money. The poker community embraces dead money in all forms. Sometimes, it gets a little frustrating playing against lesser skilled opponents, but that's the catch-22. Hee haw.

Rob - Altamonte Springs, FL

When do you see online poker being "re-opened" in the United States? And do you see a company like Harrah's creating a US based on-line poker site? If the Harrah's thing happens - do you think that the WSOP could become "out of control" with field sizes doubling. One other question - the "main event" has always remained at $10,000. But $10k 30 years ago is not $10k now. Do you think it's time to move it to $20k or $25k?

Paul McGuire

  (2:58 PM)

Poker will return to America on Dec 12, 2012 to coincide with the end of the Mayan Calendar. Harrah's is already in the works designing an online site with folks in Montreal.... and the Main Event will stay at $10,000 for a while. I can see the addition of higher buy-in events like a $25K NL or $50 K NL

NickyG (Los Angeles, CA)

So, what do you think of the talent roaming the hallways this year (i.e.- the Beast Light girls?)

Paul McGuire

  (3:00 PM)

I was a tad disappointed that the excess skin of the former Milwaukee's Best girls had been eradicated. However, those sultry vixens wearing knee socks and Alice in Wonderland dresses is sort of.... pleasant

Dan K. (amsterdam)

If you could play against any of the boys in Phish during the WSOP Heads Up Championship, who would you choose and why?

Paul McGuire

  (3:01 PM)

Although Trey seems like the obvious choice, he's sober these days and his game is pretty on. I'd go with Page since he's got plenty of hysterical stories from the road. Plus, his bald spot is much bigger than mine.

Paul McGuire

  (3:02 PM)

Thanks again to Feldman. Good luck at the tables.

Andrew Feldman

  (3:03 PM)

Thanks again to Pauly for stopping by! Tomorrow we'll have Barry Greenstein so get those questions and "The Bear" will answer them tomorrow!