As we do every year, poker writers like to make predictions about the upcoming WSOP tournament. I’ve got a couple of my own on how things will play out this year, so here goes.

Daniel Negreanu will win a bracelet this year. He’s motivated to win because he’s taking all bets under $100,000 at 5-1 that he’ll win. When he’s focused he always does well, so I predict that he wins event #18 or #22. I’ll also say that his buddy Mike Matusow will not win one this year, but he will get close.

If anyone of the big three (Brunson, Hellmuth, or Chan) are able to add to their WSOP bracelet total of ten, I predict it will be Doyle. With more bracelets up for grabs that aren’t no-limit hold’em, Doyle stands the best chance to win one because he is highly skilled in all variations of the game. Hellmuth is a one-horse hold’em specialist, and if Chan does get close to a bracelet it will most likely be in a Seven-stud or Pot-limit Omaha event, but he won’t win it.

No women will win bracelets other than the women’s event, although Annie Duke will get close on a couple of occasions. Also, there will not be a woman in the last 20 players left in the main event either. Sorry ladies, but that’s how I see it.

I’m going way out on a limb and I’m going to say that John Juanda is going to win two WSOP bracelets this year and will be 2007 WSOP player of the year. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling it will be John’s year.

David “Chip” Reese will amaze this year as he repeats as the H.O.R.S.E champion. He will also compete with Juanda in the overall WSOP player of the year race. The problem with Chip is that he makes more in cash games than he wins playing tournaments, and a day at the WSOP is usually a pay cut for him.

Put your money on an unknown for the Main Event. All I know is that it won’t be an American this year, perhaps Scandinavian or German, but not from the States.

So go place your WSOP prop bets, and you’re welcome – for all the cash you’re going to win.

If you’re a pretty good poker player, the money gets better this year at the World Series of Poker. If you’re the best poker player in the world, you’ll be wishing for a return to the days of old.

The folks in charge of the WSOP have changed payouts this year to increase the payouts for most players that sit at the tables for hours upon hours and finally crack the money. Apparently some players weren’t too happy last year after logging a number of hours at the tables and barely making any profit.

The payouts this year will still be determined by the number of players in the tournament, but we can explain the change in payout by basing some of last year’s results on the new system. In last year’s main event, 846 players that made the money would have received more cash in this year’s system but the Top 27 finishers would take a pay cut.

Anyone who finished from 873rd to 775th place banked $14,605 or $15,512 last year. This year they would pocket $22,266. Anyone finishing 82nd to 73rd would have walked away with $66,010 last year. Under the new system they would have made a lot more – $126,173. So, if you’re good enough to make the money but not good enough to make the final table, you’ve got to love the new rules.

However, if you end up taking home a bracelet this year you may be wondering where all the money went. Here’s why. In last year’s main event Jamie Gold took home a record $12 million after outlasting the rest of the 8667-player field. If Gold faced the exact same number of players this year and came out on top he would only end up with $10,028,715. That’s quite a drop!

Like we said before the Top 27 players in the main event would have received less under the new rules. The second-place finisher under the new rules would bank $5,442,769 instead of last year’s $6,105,900. As long as you’re not final table material, the new rules shouldn’t bother you but if you win the main event your wallet may end up feeling a few million dollars lighter than expected.

Play some online poker at Bodog Poker!

It’s not much of a stretch to say that most poker players aren’t very healthy. In fact most gamblers aren’t that healthy. If you don’t believe me, think about the last time you were in your casino. How many of the people hunched over the tables and the slots couldn’t get close enough to the game or the machine because their giant gut was in the way?

Most people don’t realize that the food that has made their body the size of a blimp is also slowing down their mind. If you really want to win the World Series of Poker main event, a diet that helps out your mind as much as it does your body can’t hurt. In fact, last year’s WSOP champ Jamie Gold credits his diet of blueberries as “brain food” that helped him win the main event.

So before sitting down in a WSOP tourney don’t stop by the donut shop and eat a breakfast of donuts and pastries. Eat a healthy, balanced meal with plenty of protein, carbs, energy and vitamins. If you were going to play sports you wouldn’t fuel your system with junk, so why would you do it when you’re playing poker?

You also want to be thinking of your mind and body when you’re sitting at the tables. This means keeping yourself hydrated as well as properly nourished. This will keep your brain from shutting down and hopefully keep you from making any money-losing mistakes. Keep a bottle of water handy, or maybe even a bottle of diet cola. Many poker players drink diet cola because it doesn’t pack too much sugar that can overexcite them, but it does have some caffeine to give them that added jolt they need later on in the day.

If you’re going to quench your thirst at the table, one thing you don’t want to do is reach for some alcohol. Not only will this dehydrate instead of hydrate you, but it will slow your mind down and leave you wide open for a big fall.

Playing poker online will also keep you on your toes!