[wiggs73]

I haven't read all the other responses, though I look forward to doing so when I have the time to. Here is my story though...

One year ago I...

- was down about $80 overall after several $50 deposits into party poker and several small cashouts to compensate.

- played any ace and any king from any position because they often flopped top pair.

- thought the correct strategy for SNGs was loose early and tight late. I thought this because early, blinds were small and you could see a lot of flops. Late, they get big so you should tighten up.

- was a frequent winner in the .05/.10 $5 buy-in NL game I played with my buddies.

- had never been in a casino.

- lurked some on 2+2 but questioned these odd tendencies of posters. Fold K9 during the first level of blinds? AJ is a 'trouble hand'? Give me a break.

- had no significant MTT cashes (and only had attempted a few).

Today I...

- am up somewhere around $4,000. I would guess that roughly half of this has came from SNGs.

- play tight. Sometimes I wonder if I play too tight and should make an effort to open up my game. Such efforts usually do not turn out so great....

- am a frequent loser in the .05/.10 $5 buy-in NL game I play with my buddies because I play almost every hand because I can't make myself take a $5 buy-in game seriously.

- have been in several casinos in Vegas and Atlantic City. No tournament cashes yet but have cleaned up in 2-4 HE and 1-2 NLHE.

- have 800+ posts on 2+2 and realize what a great place to learn this is.

- have final tables in NLHE, Omaha8, and Stud. Won a NLHE on Empire for $1,350.

- have made a bet in a cash game larger than my first deposit into party poker.