One year ago today, I...

[ QUOTE ]
had no friends

<u>Today</u>
still have no friends [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Errrrmmm....wait....yeah....nevermind I guess.

Yugoslav

[/ QUOTE ]

Well there's always Sarah.

One year ago today,
After seeing Phil Helmuth and other brash personalities play poker on TV my wife told me that I was much smarter and could learn to play better than the average player and one day make some extra money for us. In need of extra $$ like any young couple with an infant daughter, and trying to pay off school loans, mortgage, bills, etc. I decided to take her up on the offer.

A visit to the local bookstore resulted in my returning with Championship Hold'em by Cloutier and McEvoy (insert commment here....). Three months of Play Money Poker boosted confidence enough to put in $50.
Feb to June my original $50 went from $20 to $70 .. back and forth.
Early Summer, Read an article about Fossilman in Cigar Afficionado and stumbled onto 2 + 2. AHA!!! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]I might be on to something here !!!!.
Read everything I could since then bought several poker books and have cashed online and live for extra sideline income playing NLHE tournaments and cash games.
Just recently -- began contributing to 2+ 2 forum.

Thank you to all at 2 + 2, there are definitely some brilliant poker players that post here that I have been able to learn from. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
My first year has been lots of fun and profitable. Looking forward to more learning and more progress.
Just a thought
Carl

[SuitedSixes]

This is my Carpal/Tunnel post. I was going to make a life update, and I probably still will, but this seems like an appropriate thread to post some of my progress in, since Irieguy and 2+2 have been such an intregal part of it.

One year ago today, I...

1. Had played 89 $11s, with an ROI of 16.4% and an ITM of 36%

2. Worked from 9 PM to 7AM for $12/hr.

3. Had never met any 2+2ers.

4. Had less than $400 in my accounts on-line.

5. Thought that AJo was an awesome hand.

6. Played one tournament at a time.

7. Went to a job I hated.

8. Lived in a three-bedroom apartment in a bad part of town, where my daughter couldn't play outside.

9. Had not been laid in over a year.

10. Had 0 confidence in my abilities as a poker player.

Since then, I have...

1. Played over 10k SNGs, and over a million hands of ring games.

2. Made more money playing poker than I did working in 2004.

3. Travelled to Las Vegas for "Summer Camp for Degenerates." Saw the WSOP, witnessed bankroll rejuvenation at the craps table. Paid the blinds for the entire table. Met over 15 2+2ers and become close friends with many of them. Such good friends, in fact, that several have sent PMs or called on the phone to check on me and provide help in my times of need. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

4. Won more in a single tournament than was my starting bankroll. Lost more in a single hour than was my starting bankroll.

5. Acquired the courage to push 53o when the situation requires it.

6. Became comfortable 20-tabling.

7. Not worked for "the man" in over 8-months.

8. Moved into a new 4-bedroom house in the middle of a cotton field where my daughter can play in the backyard and has her own jumping castle.

9. Not been laid in over two years.

10. Had enough other people show confidence in my poker abilities that it has transferred to me.

Thanks to: SFB, Irieguy, Slacker, Ed Miller, OrcaDK, Yugo, Lacky, 'Zen, 'Beef, Dali, raptor, Corey, Roberto, Les, Greke, -EV, AM, and everyone else that I risked leaving out by starting this list in the first place.

[jeffraider]

Year ago:

1. 19" CRT, 4 tabling.
2. Played without rakeback.
3. Had never met a 2+2er.
4. Sux0red at poker.
5. Had less than $300 in my accounts on-line.
6. Limped or raised from early position in any level with KTo, Q9o, etc.
7. Only played one tournament with a buyin about $200.

Today

1. 2 shiny new 2001FPs.
2. Still kind of suck at rakeback. I made enough to buy a couple 2001s or so but not much more. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
3. Met 2+2er BigLimpin'
4. Still sux0r at poker but Irie coached me and I think I'm probably one of the better 800-chippers now.
5. Keep closer to $2000 online now.
6. I fold AQ with 7BB left to "suspicious action". lol.
7. Still only played one $200+ buyin tournament. MTTs are for faggorts!

[durron597]

One year ago today, I...

Thought 100 tournaments at $11 was enough to prove I was a winning player.

Was blowing through any SnG profits playing MTTs

Couldn't break past a $500 roll

Was one of those mostly ignored posters, and then stopped reading 2+2

Since then, I have...

Moved to the Stars $60 Turbos

Played about 800 SnGs 3 tabling since June

Have a roll over $3000

Still don't play MTTs [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Have greatly improved my LAG gear, largely thanks to experimenting at 2+2 forum games [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Became a 2+2 moderator



I still have a long way to go, I need to either pick up on my hours or tables or something, but I feel like I'm a 100x better poker player than I was last year, despite the small number of tournaments played.

One year ago today:

- Lived across the hall from Jason Strasser in a college dormitory and made fun of him endlessly for being such a dork... until I realized the obscene amount of money he was making.

Now:

- Graduated college, have 9-5 at non-profit for uber-low salary
- Read Sklansky, HOH, et al
- Started reading 2+2 STTF upon repeated recommendations and have learned a RIDICULOUS amount from you guys
- Multi-table the PS 11s for an ROI that finances my social life
- Truly enjoy playing poker

I love this game.

[playtitleist]

One year ago today I...
- had a 1 week old son who couldn't poop
- had lost about $150 lifetime on Party Poker playing 7-stud and $6 SNGs
- had never heard of HOH
- had never heard of 2+2
- had never made a post to an online forum
- had read half of a 7-stud book
- tilted
- thought that poker on TV was the nuts
- thought that when I lost I sucked
- thought that when I won I didn't suck
- knew everything I needed to know about poker

Today I...
- have a 1 year old son who poops too much
- have made my $150 back
- have read HOH and HOH2
- have heard of 2+2
- have never made a valuable post to an online forum
- have read half of a 7-stud book
- Zen instead of tilt
- only watch poker on TV when there are two women at the final table of a major tournament
- know that when I lose I suck
- know that when I win I suck
- don't know anything I need to know about poker, other than knowing I don't know it.

[microbet]

A year ago I had barely played online. I didn't get systematic about it until late December/Early January. I don't think I even knew multitabling was possible. So, yeah, I make about 5x in rakeback what I was making online back then.

That makes it seem like I've come a bit farther than I have though, since I was used to playing live games at like 1/3 the stakes I'm playing now.

A few years ago my wife and I traded living near almost all of our good friends for living near almost all of our family. About a year ago is when I started lurking here. Since then, you guys have been a close approximation of friends. I've met about 12 STTFers and about 6 other 2p2ers, and I IM with few that I haven't met.

January: Realized that I couldn't beat roullette, and poker was the only form of gambling that you could beat.

February: Made my first deposit on party...as well as many more deposits throughout the month.

March: Kept redepositing.

April: Went on a huge heater at the LHE tables, jumped to 3/6 and made all my money back ($800). Proceeded to lose it all again within the next two weeks. Realized how much I loved playing, but how much I hated losing and decided to do something about it.

May: Found 2+2. Made my another $50 deposit (my last) on Party. Broke even at $.50/1.

June: Got bored with cash games, decided to give SnG's a try.

July: Didn't like the variance and lack of info(on 2+2) about LHE SnG's. Played primarily NL Sngs $11s

August: Tried the $22s, prognosis-negative.

September:Went back and forth between the $11s and $22s. Still beating the $11s, still getting beat at the $22s. Won a $11 Multi (2K garaunteed)on Empire.

October: Played only the $11s, and alot of 'em.

November: Little brother breaks AC power adapter to my laptop + Seinfeld DVDs come out = &lt;100 Sngs played.

Today: I have alot of confidence in my game and feel I could play the $22s if money wasn't an issue...but it is. Hopefully I'll play some more in december. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[gisb0rne]

One year ago today:
1. I had taken a year and a half break from poker.
2. I was in the final year of college.
3. I planned on becoming an actuary.
4. I had no job.
5. I was exercising regularly and weighed about 190 lbs despite dining hall food 3x a day.
6. I socialized and hung out with people.


Today:
1. I 8-table $27 turbo's at PStars ~20 hours a week and plan on moving up soon.
2. I have graduated college with a Math degree.
3. I don't have a job and don't plan on getting one.
4. I play too much WoW.
5. I don't exercise.
6. I only have 1 friend I see a few times a week.