Andy Bloch:  Last year I got ready for the WSOP by playing Top Spin tennis on the Xbox 360.  There's a career feature which I think helped me regain my competitiveness, focus and passion for playing.  More importantly, I worked with Michael Craig on a couple of chapters of The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition, including the preflop chapter, forcing me to fine-tune my game.  Plus, I played a lot on Full Tilt.

This year I haven't played much live since the last WSOP, but I don't think that will hurt me much since I've been keeping in practice playing online.  I'll spend a couple of hours reviewing my notes from the book, and I'll also pick some non-poker activity to help my focus and competitiveness, like I did last year.

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Linda Johnson:  I will be playing in some of the WSOP events this year after we return from our Card Player Cruises Alaskan poker cruise.  Unfortunately, I will miss many of the events due to my travel schedule.  On the cruise, I will be giving a lecture on the basics of poker and sound poker concepts and strategies, which will be a good review and a good way to prepare for the Series events.

In addition, I’m constantly reading poker books and columns and watching poker on television and playing online.   Other than that, I will try to get a good night’s sleep the night before and perhaps a massage so that I am in a good frame of mind.

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Todd Brunson:  The only way I really prepare for the Series is to try and get everything out of the way for the six-week duration.  I try and pay bills, have meetings, do interviews. . . . Anything and everything I can get out of the way, I do.  The less outside stress on me during the Series, the better.  This will let me focus on poker and the matters at hand.

Vanessa Rousso:

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Jan Fisher:  I just pretty much set the alarm clock.  I don’t do anything special, but am sure to have my iPod charged, and I bring my back cushion and protein bars and such.  Also, I am sure to have change for the cocktail/water servers.  I don’t really “prepare” other than to play poker and be rested.  I don’t plan ahead for a poker event.  It is just another session of poker, and hopefully I will feel good and well-rested and want to play.  Otherwise, I pass.

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“Miami John” Cernuto:  Last year I took a poker sabbatical the week before the WSOP, and I felt it was so beneficial to my game that I am doing it again this year. I will be traveling to Sedona, Arizona, for a spiritual retreat, relaxation and great fun. 

When I returned to Vegas last year, I had gained more insight into my game and had a new self-awareness, which seemed to increase my self-confidence to an all-time high.  It was one of my best performances, resulting in six cashes with three final tables.  I will be trying to have an even better WSOP than last year.

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Susie Isaacs:  This year I am reading Read 'Em and Reap by Joe Navarro.  I wish I had read it last year, as it would have been responsible for a big pot coming my way, rather−after much thought on one particular hand in the BIG event−I folded like a scared little boy. I managed to make it to the top 5% for a nice payday, but with that pot, I may have climbed a little higher. 

 As far as preparing, I have recently been preparing my bankroll.  I often will spend my scores for the finer things in life (poker has always been the icing on my cake of life).  A few months prior to WSOP time, I save it in a special WSOP bankroll. I always manage to play the events I want to with sponsors, but the more I can have of myself, the better. 

As for preparing my body−the older I get, the more important this becomes! There is a lot to consider in order to score or win any of these events, and endurance is high on the list. I always walk, but the closer we get to the WSOP, the more religious I become. I stop drinking at least a week prior, and I eat better than usual. Like an athlete, I try to have my mind and body as prepared as I can. 

I never "cram" through my books but I take a "cheat sheet." Any mistakes I have been making, I write it down. I'll have 10 or 12 points and I will read that every 30 or 45 minutes during play.

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Gavin Smith:  I am planning on playing many events this year.  As far as preparation goes, I really don't do anything particularly special.  May is an extremely busy month on the tournament trail, and I intend on playing the full schedule.  My intention during the WSOP is to try and really cut back on my partying and try and get a little more sleep than normal.  It's such a long, grueling six weeks; and when the Main Event kicks in, you want to be as fresh as possible.  That’s pretty much it in terms of preparation, which has never been my strong suit.

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Vince Burgio:  The way that I prepare for the WSofP is I sit down with my wife, who is my number one counselor, and circle the events that we think I should play.  We have a budget that we try to stick to as far as a total outlay for the entire tournament.   After talking it out, we eventually agree on the tournaments I will be playing.  It may be more or less, depending on the kind of year I am having up until that point of the year. 

My next step is to try to resolve all the issues that are likely to come up while I am away at the Series.  By that, I mean making all the repairs around the house and any other unresolved things that I do not want to come back to face.   The last thing I want to come home to face is something that I should have resolved before I left.   I have learned that coming home after the Series can be ecstasy, certifiable depression or anywhere in between.  

I do not play any poker for at least a few days before I leave for the Series; I want my mind clear of any possible lingering thoughts of the last few days of poker−especially a big loss, plus I want my wife to be to the point that she may even be a little tired of seeing me and relieved that I will not be "underfoot," as she calls it, for a while.    

During the last few nights before the Series, I try to do as little as possible and get as much rest as I can.  I also-and this comes without even trying-visualize how nice it will be to win a tournament or make a big cash. 

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Mary Jones:  I am preparing for this year’s WSOP in two ways.  First, I am focused on playing tournaments (vs. cash games).  There are a few different strategies between cash and tournaments and usually I bounce between them without any issue.  However, with the WSOP close at hand, I want my complete focus on tournaments. 

Second, I am concentrating on my opponent.  I know the game and can see my cards; what I can't control are the other players.  So, I am concentrating on various playing strategies and hand scenarios, plus watching others for tells so that I can manage my opponents as much as possible to get my desired results. 

I am not preparing any differently for the Ladies event this year than for the other events I will be playing.  What is exciting is that I'm the "returning champion."  With that comes a little extra pressure and a whole lot of fun.  I am so honored to be a part of the Go Red Team this year.  As I'm sure people know, the Go Red for Women Initiative is designed to educate and empower women with the knowledge and tools to understand why heart disease in women is so important.  Being a part of this team allows me to tie poker, women and community service together.  It just doesn't get any better!

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Kelli Griggs:  The WSOP events are pure marathons one right after the other.  I honestly feel that the only reason I went out 59^th last year was because of pure physical exhaustion. As it was my first trip to the WSOP, I was not prepared to play through the night (kudos to you ladies who did), nor did I realize just how little sleep I would be getting and how hard I would be pushing myself.

I have learned that even though these trips are fun, I will be there for one purpose only:  to win. The night before I play, I’ll make sure I get plenty of rest and stick with a solid routine of working out, hitting the spa and then playing the game. I’ll also be packing a backpack full of everything from high protein snacks to acupuncture needles! The only thing I’ll be leaving up to chance this year is the cards.