It’s that time of year again. The 2012 World Series of Poker is upon us and PocketFives members from around the world have been qualifying in earnest for it. With sites like WPT Poker, 888 Poker, and PokerStarssending users in droves to the largest tournament series on the face of the Earth, it’s no surprise that a thread popped up in our Live Poker forum discussing the optimal WSOP Main Event starting day.

This year, the Main Event will take on a new format. A press release announcing the 2012 WSOP scheduleexplained, “Due to the increased table capacity, just three starting days will be necessary for the WSOP Main Event. Participants will begin their journey to fame and fortune on Saturday, July 7; Sunday, July 8; or Monday, July 9. Day 2 of the structure will be contested on Tuesday, July 10 for all players who played on Days 1A (Saturday) or 1B (Sunday). Survivors who started playing on Day 1C (Monday) and still have chips will play their Day 2 on Wednesday, July 11.”

With just three starting days, WSOP officials have also axed the tournament’s scheduled day off after Day 2, meaning a person can reach the final table in 10 days if he started on Day 1A and eight days if he started on Day 1C. The adjustments are meant to lower the time commitment for the event, which could increase participation.

In the aforementioned PocketFives thread, posters presented an array of arguments for which starting day to pick. One member of our poker community wrote, “Probably won’t matter. There are just so many players. Just pick what ever day fits your schedule best.” Another echoed, “I would say Day 1A since it’s a Saturday, but I don’t think it’s going to make that big of a difference.”

The Main Event will stretch for five full levels each day, meaning it’ll be a marathon for all involved. To that end, one PocketFives member suggested, “I personally say Day 1A. Day 1 is going to be a long day. You can use Day 1B and 1C to rest and do a little sightseeing. Just make sure to rest so you will play some good poker.”

A poker player from Minnesota shared his history in the Main Event: “I played on the second starting day and liked that because I knew how many people made it to Day 2 and knew when the second day was going to end, so I just considered it extra information.”

A PocketFives member from South Dakota noted that he’s targeting Day 1B: “I won a seat and am playing Day 1B. You can spread it out nicely for the first three days.”

In 2009, about 500 players were shut out of Day 1D– and consequently the Main Event itself – after the tournament reached capacity. Tom Franklin, Patrik Antonius, Brandon Adams, and T.J. Cloutier were among those on the outside looking in, and despite intervention by spokesmen that included Mike Sexton, the group was unable to participate. Therefore, earlier registration may be wise.

Still, a person’s schedule and preferred travel times could ultimately be the deciding factors in whether to select Day 1A, Day 1B, or Day 1C of the Main Event. Moreover, when a participant arrives in Las Vegas, he could just be antsy to play cards. In that camp is PocketFives Traininginstructor Mike Gags30Gagliano (pictured), who shared his opinion: “I’ve always played Day 1A. I don’t like waiting around and always just want to play.”

In 2011, Day 1A of the Main Event featured 897 entrants, 560 of whom made it to Day 2. Day 1B saw a field of 978 players whittled down to 616, while Day 1C had 2,181 entrants, 1,471 of whom reached Day 2. The largest starting field belonged to Day 1D, which had 2,809 entrants, 66.7% of whom survived the day. Statistically, the highest percentage of players to move on from a Day 1 belonged to Day 1C at 67.4%. The lowest survival rate belonged to Day 1A, when 62.4% of entrants reached Day 2.

What day are you starting the 2012 WSOP Main Event? Visit the Live Poker thread or leave a comment here.