One year ago today, I...

[tigerite]

One year ago I was just taking a break from the game, having played for about 4-5 months. I managed to somehow donk my way to $2k playing the $55s, one-tabling, lost the lot, redeposited for $100, lost that, did it again, got it back to $1.5k, all the time thinking 25 buyins or so was enough for the $22s, $33s and then $55s. In fact, I might have skipped the $33s, don't really remember. I thought I was a good player, but in reality I was pretty crap. Posted on 2+2 now and again, mostly was ignored though. Had no rakeback, was playing on Empire.

Now:

4-tabling the $109s, or sometimes 8-tabling the $55s. No longer think 25 buyins is even close to enough. Understand ICM and a fair bit more about tournament strategy. Still a donk at times, but always try to play to the best of my ability, and no longer afraid to be TAG rather than the weak-tightie I was before. Started back at the $10s when I came back in June and built up the $1.5k I had before, including rakeback, to where I am now. Always striving to learn more about the game though, and make sure to read as many hands as I can, including different opinions of how to play them. No longer think I'm amazing, just good enough to make at least a little money playing this crazy game we all love. (Well most of the time)

[ace_in_the_hole]

LOL, My buddy who was sweating me said "I know he is stealing so I said, give me $100 and I will push", and the rest is history, but I am still down the rake.

[zipppy]

One year ago today:

**I was playing without rakeback.

**Thought AJo was an amazing hand.

**Was just starting to use position more effectively

**thought 20 buyins was a sufficient bankroll

**was probably a break even player

**didn't focus enough on the sngs I played in

During this last year I've:

**Started and stopped playing with rakeback

**Started paying attention to my opponents, adjusting my play accordingly

**Experienced an 18 OOTM streak

**started tracking my own statistics

**started trying to ignore my own statistics, unsuccessfully

**moved up 3 buyin levels

**continued to not focus on SNGs I'm playing in

Next year I hope to:

**occasionally take shots at higher levels, even if I'm not at the skill level to beat them

**focus on managing the size of pots

**figure out and fix more of my (infinite) leaks

**actually focus on SNGs I'm playing in

>>>ZIPPPY

[raptor517]

One year ago today, I...

1. 8 tabled 55s on 2 19" crts at 1600x1200.
2. played with 20% rakeback.
3. dropped out of school.
4. limped in ep lvl 1 with 55.
5. had never met any 2+2ers in RL.
6. had never played a tournament with a buyin over 215.
7. never won a mtt with more than 200 ppl.
8. was a miser with my money.

Since then, I have...

1. purchased 4 dell 2001 fps, and as of my knowledge was the first person on the forum with a quad 2001 fp setup [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].
2. made more money in rakeback and affiliate work than i did playing poker in 2004.
3. lost over 50k in vegas.
4. met more than a handful lifelong friends through poker.
5. still limp with 55 in ep lvl 1, sometimes raise.
6. coached 2 players, and hated it so never again.
7. have played in 5 tournaments with over 5k buyin.
8. won 4 mtts with a field of 800+.
9. played 24 tables at a time. successfully.
10. went back to school.
11. spent money frivolously.
12. lived life a bit.

holla

[The Yugoslavian]

ace in the hole,

Well it's +EV if all you lose is the rake on the push.

So good job!

Yugoslav

[AA suited]

10 months ago:

- Turned down an offer from Irieguy to be my coach because i was doing 25% ROI over my 1st 700 games at 50+5 and thought I didn't need any more help [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

- Variance affected other people, but not me

- I'll call an all-in with 44 at Lvl4 because i'm on the good side of the coin flip

- 20% rakeback

Today
- EVERYDAY regretting not taking up Irieguy's offer [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

- ROI is at ~15% over 5000 50+5's and DROPPING [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

- Variance made me its bitch several times and didnt use KY

- I fold to an all with small/medium PP when i'm not shortstack

- Had 30% rakeback, then Party split, now hoping for Party's VIP to make me an offer

- EVERYDAY regretting not taking up Irieguy's offer [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[ace_in_the_hole]

[ QUOTE ]
3. lost over 50k in vegas.


[/ QUOTE ]

Will you elaborate?

[The Yugoslavian]

ace in the hole,

Raptor's gambling addiction has been well documented through STTF history.

Basically he loves BJ and Pai Gow and simply can't help himself. That's all the elaboration necessary.

Yugoslav

[raptor517]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
3. lost over 50k in vegas.


[/ QUOTE ]

Will you elaborate?

[/ QUOTE ]

sure. 15k in 4 hands of blackjack started me on my downward spiral. form there more blackjack, craps, roulette, strippers, you know, typical vegas stuff. made 4 trips total. on the final one i came home +400, lost only 700 on table games, and felt like i was worth a million bucks. damn near cured of my compulsions. also, the first time i ever met usher, we lost 9k at pai gow at commerce in LA. since then weve given casinos hundreds of thousands in action. thats how we roll. holla

[ilya]

...was two years further away from death.