This is part of our regular WSOP Diaries — raw, honest accounts from players in the heart of the Las Vegas poker storm.
There are a couple of WSOP events every year that I'm very excited about – the 2-7 NL Single Draw and the $1,500 Shootout.
The first event I played this was the 2-7, which is a sick mixed game. It should be the gateway drug for every NLH player. Phil Hellmuth got his 16th bracelet at that event in 2021. It's just so sick. It's super fun.
When you play some of these $1,500 mixed games, you get to play with cool legends like Huck Seed. Last year was exciting for me because Jennifer Harmon was at my table.
I played in this event for the first time three years ago, and I’ve cashed every single year since. This year was the fourth year in a row, and that should have been the headline on every single poker news site in existence. But it wasn’t in a single one. Oh, well.
Then, I punted off multiple NLH bullets in the $1,500 shootout. I should have just max late-regged it. I irresponsibly registered with about half an hour left, which is really stupid.
I'm dying to win a table in that. I'm glad they added two flights at least this year. But I punted once and then bluffed it all off on the second bullet.
Play mixed games at the WSOP and mix with poker legends like Huck Seed.Prop bet vs. Rampage - and my wife's not happy
I was sat next to Rampage and did a $20,000 prop bet with him — that’s the biggest prop that I’ve ever done. The max win or loss either way is $20,000.
Here’s the deal. I am anti-sweating Rampage. The easiest way to explain it is if Rampage wins $1,000,000 this summer, I owe him 2% — that’s $20,000. And if he loses $1,000,000, he owes me the same. It’s capped at $20,000 in both directions.
It's one of the best bets I’ve ever made. I’m so sure I’ll win, which is good because I really can’t afford to lose $20,000. My wife said, ‘What are you doing? We're having a daughter soon. That's way too much money.’
Hopefully, I'm right. I think Rampage will have another losing summer. He plays way too big in stuff that he's not a winner in.
If Ethan 'Rampage' Yau has a big winning summer, Depaulo will have a big bet to pay off.
Slow play
I really haven’t experienced much slow play at my tables. Then again, I'm very comfortable at the poker table, and if someone is playing slowly, I’ll call the clock before they've even looked at their hand. I'll make a joke about it and sarcastically say, ‘Okay, clock.’ People laugh.
What happens after that is everybody speeds up, or when a new dealer comes in, everyone plays faster. It changes the meta at the table.
My schedule is a mess
My wife is seven months pregnant, so it’s a battle with her to let me play poker at the WSOP (laughs). No, to tell you the truth, she’s super cool. She wants me to go.
She understands how important the time at the WSOP is for me, but at the same time, she's been struggling a bit the last few months. It’s been a high-risk pregnancy, and she wants me around. And, of course, I want to be here.
One funny factor is I am a victim of my own success with the Degen Debrief news show I’ve been creating for my YouTube channel. She tells me the videos I make at home do better than my vlogs from the road. So, I’m like, f**k, I guess she’s right.
I’m home now — my schedule is a mess. I have my high school 20-year reunion soon. Then, I have my niece's bat mitzvah. My wife needs me. My niece needs me. Can’t everyone let me be a degenerate in peace?
I'm kidding. I’ll be back for the tag team through the Main Event. I’m looking forward to it.
