Blue Man Group gets ready for WSOP

Let's see if anyone can read me
if I wear this at the World Series of Poker!

Friday Tourney at Bay 101

It is about six weeks until I hit Vegas for the WSOP. So, I started my training with the Friday Bay 101 tourney. A field of 94 signed up today.

Early on I hit a couple of nice hands and had 5x the starting chips at the first break. With the add on I was in good shape and decided to cruise for a while. Perhaps I should have pushed it hard with my stack because I went card dead and until there were about 45 people left. I got a little frisky with 56 suited on the button and raised it 3x the big blind. The guy who had called under the gun instantly called me and I knew I was in trouble. That was until the flop came outt 5-5-Q. The guy under the gun then bet with his shirt shaking indicating he had a queen with a big kicker. He went all in because he had only a moderate amount left. Too bad he didn't have more. My trip 5s held up and I was back in the hunt.

The blinds go up every 20 minutes in this gig so my 18,000 that looked so good after the trip fives, was a little thin when the blinds went up to 1500/3000. We were now down to 22 players and I thought I needed to start moving with almost anything decent. In the BB after 6 more players were eliminated with A-7 offsuit I was ready to push when a guy in the middle pushed all in for 20k. I thought about for a while and then folded. The next hand, I again I looked down at A-3 again offsuit. Getting ready to push in, I heard ALL-in from another middle player. I hate not having first mover pressure power so again I folded. Was I being too tight?? Should I have gone in with one or perhaps both of these hands???

The next hand I felt pretty good about my choice to fold when I was on the button and woke up with K6 suited. Everyone folded around to me and pushed in. I was feeling smart until the BB called and had me dominated with A3 suited. No diamonds came for me and an Ace popped up on the turn to send me to the showers. I finished 15/94 out of the money.

Any thoughts on end game short stack management?? I need to improve to get ready for the World Series of Poker

Surgical Poker

Hole Number 12 at Augusta National

This is the famous hole #12 at the Masters. Part of Amen Corner. Rae's creek is seen in the front. It is a very short hole but played as one of the toughest during the 2007 tourney.

Masters Scoreboard

Here is a look at the famed Masters Scoreboard. In the days ahead, I'll post more pics of the par three course, some of the holes and some North Augusta talent.

Masters Ticket

This is what a Masters ticket looks like.

Augusta National Hole Number 18

AM at Augusta's famed 18th hole during the Masters last week.

Surgical Poker Hits the Masters

Thanks to Surgical Poker correspondent JR, AM landed at the Master Golf Tourney this year. To say it was amazing is an understatement.

Ultimate Bet Tourney

I am very new to the online poker world. Tried my luck at a UB Friday night tourney. A total of 270 players. Played super tight for 2 hours and built my stack with a nice river straight just before the break. Flopped trip sevens to triple up a little later and then put it on cruise control for another hour. I stole several small pots with my new found stack and clawed my way to second place with 50 players left and the top 40 getting paid.

That's when the big cards starting coming. AQ unsuited early. I make it 3x to go and everyone folds except the biggest stack who is seated at my table. The flop comes all low cards. I put in 1/2 pot size bet and the big stack goes over the top. I stall for a while and then fold. There goes 25% of my stack. I stall a little more and decide to again wait for only good cards. The button passes around and again I get AQ unsuited. Again, I make it 3x to go and this time the big stack goes ALL in. There are 44 players left and I am not interested in going broke. So, I fold. The blinds are now rocketing up with the antes. I am not quite desperate but getting close with now 42 players left and me in the small blind. That's when I get 44. Everyone folds except the button who makes it 3x to go. I think for a long while. Do I limp in? Do I reraise? I am not going to fold. Not getting any real world clues, I decide that it isn't enough just to make the money. I want to be in the top 5 or better. My stack is half his so I chose to put him to the test and went all in. The big blind folded and he called in light speed flipping up KK.

I am out before I can spell Bubble....

Any thoughts?

Surgical Poker

Ted Forrest wins Shooting Star

Ted Forrest outlasted the talented field in one of the longest WPT events ever. He took home over a million. In his CardPlayer interview he said he doesn't have any plans for the money. I suggest we start a list of ideas and send it to him. Hey Ted, I am looking for a sponsor to the WSOP main event. Can you spare $10,000?

SurgicalPoker.com

Final Table of Shooting Star $2000 Event

This is the final table of the $2000 Bay 101 event. There are mostly pros at this table but can you spot the Bay 101 regular who is mixing it up with the best??

SurgicalPoker.com

Clonie Gowen at the Bay 101 Main Event

Clonie Gowen, one of Surgical Poker's favorite players at the Shooting Star. She was at the same table as David Williams. Later, on Day 1 she was out. Hopefully, she'll be back.