Harrah's Adds $50,000 Buy-In Event to 2006 WSOP

Harrah’s Entertainment recently added a $50,000 buy-in HORSE event to the 2006 WSOP. This marks their first ever event with a buy-in of more than $10,000 at the WSOP.

HORSE tests a variety of poker skills, with players taking turns playing five different kinds of poker during the event: no-limit hold’em, Omaha, razz, stud, and stud 8-or-better.

Harrah’s also announced that six of the most recognizable tournament pros have joined a player advisory panel created by Harrah’s to help guide and improve players’ experiences at WSOP events.

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, Jennifer Harman, Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, and Robert Williamson III have committed to a one-year post on a player advisory council that will work with Harrah’s executives to help enhance player experience at WSOP events.

The panel, which will soon add one non-professional player, will meet regularly with Harrah’s executives to provide their opinions and suggestions about WSOP.

A $50,000 buy-in event is something that will attract most of the top name pros, but not scads of other players. I’m sure no one expects 6,000 players to ante up $50,000 apiece for this event, though 6,000 looks solid if you’re forecasting the number of entrants in the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament. In addition to the high buy-in, HORSE is also an event that answers the assertion by many top professional players that hold’em alone is not a true test of poker mastery, since the HORSE tests players’ skills in five distinct poker games.

Whether a $50,000 HORSE event or the traditional $10,000 no-limit hold’em tournament becomes the WSOP event that determines the world champion in the public’s mind is still an open question. You’ll see the resolution begin to evolve later this summer.