DFS 101: Play FanDuel, party at the Playboy Mansion

maddox2

DFS 101: Play FanDuel, party at the Playboy Mansion image

Qualifying for a live event is the most coveted prize in the DFS industry, and the major sites are offering more events than ever in 2015. While a seat at any live event will undoubtedly be the fantasy experience of a lifetime, I'd argue no event is more fun than the FanDuel Playboy Championships. (See video evidence below.) 

Three times per year FanDuel gathers its most talented players -- along with Hugh Hefner's top talent -- poolside at the Playboy mansion. This baseball season brings a $750,000 Playboy Baseball Championship on June 6th in sunny Los Angeles. The winner will walk away with $100,000 (last place will receive $5,000), and all will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience partying at one of the most iconic places in the nation.

RELATED: How to win on FanDuel | Get FantasyAlarm.com's DFS Playbook PRO

Make no mistake, all live events are wonderful, but what makes the Playboy Mansion different is you'll have an amazing time even if you aren't in contention for the big money. Given all players will aspire for a top quartile finish, 75 percent of the field will be disappointed with their performance. In the 2015 Playboy Basketball Championship, I found myself amongst the disappointed group -- with an Anthony Davis injury sealing my fate about an hour into the tournament. Instead of being forced to watch my team die a slow death in a hotel ballroom, I was able to mingle poolside with some of the most beautiful women Playboy has to offer. Of course, all live events are glorious, but if you can only chase a few this summer, I'd strongly recommend the Playboy Baseball Championship

What to expect for Playboy Qualifiers:

The first night will bring a welcome party (ours was poolside at the hotel) and a chance to socialize with other qualifiers before the big event. The FanDuel tent upon arrival at the Playboy Mansion is within just yards of the pool, so plan accordingly if you want to swim. The pool & grotto are heated, so don't let the outside temperature fool you -- and there are plenty of changing rooms and showers allowing you still look your best when posing for the winner's picture. Perhaps most important are the flocks of beautiful women that walk through the door throughout the evening. Whether it's a topless beauty in the grotto or one dressed in the signature bunny outfit, be sure to strike up a conversation with these girls, as they all have an equally interesting story of their journey to the mansion. 

Beginner tips for winning a Qualifier to the Playboy Mansion:

The hardest part about winning a live event is actually getting there in the first place. Depending on the buy-in of the qualifier, you'll need to beat hundreds or even thousands of entries, which requires some differentiation. However, with the depth at pitching and the power positions, baseball is not a sport where you have to go completely off the board to be contrarian. Given the high fail rate of hitters, it makes even more sense to take a chance that the less popular play will be most productive. Specific ways to be contrarian include: Avoid the Coors Field game, roster some hitters from the less-than-ideal 7-9 slots, target elite players without platoon advantage, or simply select hitters from a game with a lower projected run total. 

Stacking, or rostering the maximum hitters from one team (four on Fanduel), or utilizing mini-stacks is another way to increase your chances for a high score. Other than a home run, hitters are mostly dependent upon teammates to score a run. When your roster is spread out among many teams, more RBI events must occur for your players to score runs and maximize their total fantasy points. Conversely, stacking your lineup with three or four players from one team could result in positive points for all players with just one swing of the bat. You may not be increasing your chances of success by stacking, but when you "hit," it will likely be a big score. Highly correlating your points is an effective and recommended tournament strategy because of the boom-or-bust nature. 

When you don't succeed, be sure to analyze winning rosters and ask yourself the following questions: How many of these players were on my radar? What type strategy was utilized to build the roster? What degree of luck played into the winning lineup? How heavily owned were the players? Was the overall slate high/low scoring, and how did that affect the winning lineup? Gaining additional knowledge by reviewing winning lineups is always a good thing, but an added bonus will be the instilled future confidence to formulate a lineup that may seem outlandish before the contest begins. 

Finally, be sure not to overextend your bankroll chasing a live event seat. It's to the benefit of all involved for you to preserve your bankroll and play DFS for an extended period of time, so make sure your daily action includes other games with higher chances to cash. 

ENTER: FanDuel's $750,000 Playboy Baseball Championship

Sporting News contributor maddox2 has been playing Daily Fantasy Sports for two years and season-long fantasy since 1998. When not tending to his full-time job in Finance, he's grinding DFS all year long in the three major sports. 2015 Fanduel PBC Finalist; @maddox2DFS on Twitter.

maddox2