The comments on a recent post about Daniel Negreanu’s new poker training site discussed just how expensive some of these poker courses can be. While sites like PokerVT and CardRunners have their benefits, like being able to hone your poker game while at work or at your leisure, some people prefer the live classes because of the one-on-one (sorta, if you count 100 students to 7 instructors as one-on-one) attention. Maybe it’s the thrill of being in the same room with Greg Raymer? Or having Phil Hellmuth berate you in person?

Whatever the reasons, poker academies are thriving. And a semi-official one has been announced for the days leading up to the WSOP main event. The World Series of Poker Academy will host a main event primer/advanced academy from June 29 to July 1 in Vegas. For $1999, players can get some intense lessons from the likes of Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Mark Seif, Phil Gordon, Joe Navarro, and Alex Outhred. There will also be several tournaments held for participants; the winner of the warm-up event will win $2500, and the winners of the other two tournaments will get seats into the WSOP main event. Not too shabby!

Details here:

WORLD SERIES OF POKER ACADEMY TO HOST MAIN EVENT PRIMER-ADVANCED ACADEMY, JUNE 29-JULY 1 IN LAS VEGAS

The World Series of Poker Academy, poker’s premier series of instructional camps where participants learn first-hand from the world’s greatest poker players, announced today that it will deal out its most advanced curriculum on No-Limit Hold’em tournament strategy at its upcoming Main Event Primer, a comprehensive, three-day poker camp and experience designed specifically to prepare poker players for the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Scheduled for June 29 – July 1, 2008, at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, the Main Event Primer-Advanced Academy will offer participants the highest level of instruction available with a dream team of instructors leading them through three days of advanced seminars, live hand demonstrations and three private tournaments, including a warm-up tournament and two main tournaments each awarding a $10,000 seat to the WSOP Main Event.

Among the poker pros who will serve as instructors at the Main Event Primer-Advanced Academy are past WSOP Main Event champions Phil Hellmuth and Greg Raymer, WSOP bracelet winners Annie Duke and Mark Seif, WPT title winner Phil Gordon, poker tells expert Joe Navarro, noted poker pro and instructor Alex Outhred and many, many more.

“Our Main Event Primer is the jewel of the WSOP Academy season, and we’re elevating the level of instruction this year by offering our most advanced curriculum ever, all taught by an unprecedented roster of champion poker players,” said Brandon Rosen of Post Oak Productions, the company that produces the WSOP Academy. “With our team of world-class instructors, our Main Event Primer-Advanced Academy will give players all the confidence and skills they need to take on the massive field at the Main Event.”

During the three days of the Main Event Primer-Advanced Academy, instructors will focus on advance concepts of No-Limit Texas Hold ’em tournament strategy, including the advanced math of poker, advanced tournament stage strategy, pre-flop and post-flop strategy and heads-up strategy. Additionally noted author and lecturer Joe Navarro will present an advanced poker tells seminar on decoding poker tells. After 25 years with the FBI working in the areas of counterintelligence and counterterrorism, Navarro has become one of the foremost authorities on reading the nonverbal communications that people exhibit when they are lying.

More than just delivering the best in poker instruction, the Main Event Primer-Advanced Academy also offers a total-immersion poker experience that gives participants the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hang out and play poker with many of the biggest names in the game as well as compete for two $10,000 buy-in seats to the No Limit Hold’em World Championship at the 2008 World Series of Poker. The two Main Event seats will be awarded to the winners of private tournaments held at the end of the day on Monday and Tuesday. Participants will also battle it out for $2,500 in prize money in a “warm-up” tournament held at the end of the first day of the academy.

“If you don’t already have a seat to the Main Event, our two tournaments will allow you to put into action what you’ve learned and perhaps extend your stay in Vegas a little longer as you compete in the most prestigious poker tournament in the world,”” said Rosen.

The cost of the WSOP Academy Main Event Primer is $1,999. Space is limited, and the event is expected sell out well in advance. Additional details for the Main Event Primer and all other Academy events are available at www.wsopacademy.com.