Jeff Haney explains why Texas hold ‘em players might want to attend an instructional camp that’s not about their game only

By Jeff Haney (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007 | 7:26 a.m.

The next World Series of Poker Academy instructional camp, an intensive seminar designed to improve the poker skills of its participants, will focus on "mixed game" tournaments.

Campers will study the finer points of the forms of poker that make up "HORSE" - limit Texas hold 'em (the H in the acronym), Omaha high-low split 8 or better (the O), razz (R), 7-card stud (S) and stud 8 or better (E as in eight).

That should not deter players who are hooked on no-limit Texas hold 'em, the undisputed champion of the modern-day tournament scene and the game featured in most big-money televised tournaments.

Academy instructor Howard Lederer maintains that skills learned in those "other" poker games transfer smoothly to no-limit hold 'em.

In 7-card stud, for example, the concept of "buying a free card," or making a bet that encourages your opponent to check on the next round, is "massively important," Lederer said.

In a game such as pot-limit Omaha, "position," where you bet in relation to your opponents on each round of the hand, is "enormously important," Lederer said.

Even if free cards and position aren't quite as significant in no-limit hold 'em, thinking about such poker concepts serves to boost any player's no-limit game.

"These other forms of poker are great games, and games that emphasize different skills," Lederer said. "I think these other games emphasize poker skill more prominently. When you develop these skills it can make you a better no-limit hold 'em player."

Lederer, of Las Vegas, will serve as a lead instructor along with his sister, Annie Duke, at the World Series Academy , Nov. 2 through Nov. 4 at Caesars Palace.

Two "mixed game" tournaments are scheduled for campers, with four seats in next year's $2,500 HORSE tournament at the World Series of Poker at stake. One day of the camp will focus primarily on no-limit hold 'em.

Greg Raymer, Andy Bloch and Alex Outhred will join Lederer and Duke as instructors .

The World Series camps routinely sell out, even though the price represents a sizable investment for most players. The November camp at Caesars costs $2,199 to attend (online at wsopacademy.com ). A similar two-day camp in December in Atlantic City runs $1,699.

"The closest thing to negative comments (from previous participants) that we receive is people saying, 'Well , I wish there were more restaurant choices at this particular casino," said Raymer, who handles the instruction for stud 8 or better . "I'm like, well, you know, there's not a lot I can do about that."

The World Series camps draw a diverse group of participants, Lederer said. Some are wealthy, casual poker players who treat the experience as they would a baseball fantasy camp or a rock-guitar camp. They value the experience of rubbing elbows with poker stars such as Lederer, who has two World Series bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles.

Others are intent on bringing their poker game to the next level.

"These are players who could be making a very wise investment," Lederer said. "They are serious players looking for the kind of one-on-one training you won't really find at a fantasy sports camp."

Instructional camps can complement preparations such as reading the classic poker texts - David Sklansky's "The Theory of Poker" is one - and putting in tons of hours at the tables.

Lederer compared them to golf instruction camps .

"You pay $2,000 for three days instead of $100 for a private lesson, but it's a unique experience," Lederer said.

"It's three days of total immersion. That really gives you the incentive to make a commitment."

Caesars tourney

The main event of the inaugural Caesars Palace Classic, a $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas hold 'em tournament, began Monday with a field of 287 players. The final table is scheduled for today. The top prize is $1 million.

In recent preliminary events leading to the featured tournament:

Winners of preliminary tournaments also received a $10,000 seat in the main event.