Looking at January and towards February

Well, I have been playing some poker and hitting my goals, sort of. I haven't done a written review directly after every session as I have been playing a lot of shorter sessions, so I save them up and do a bulk review. Basically I started off at 5NL with ~$70, unfortunately lost a few buy-in's and decided, grudgingly to step down to NL2. I  will say I felt unlucky to lose at NL5, I did take a few beats, but I also thought I made a few incorrect decisions that walked be down the road to taking the sore one. After I stepped down I felt a little resentment towards the stakes, never really having played NL2 for any length of time before. However, after a few thousand hands I 100% believe I made the right (no matter how tough) choice.
Well, I guess I should post a graph of my hands in January 2011


Basically what you are seeing is me getting myself into tough spots, throwing away money, then I literally win almost every day at NL2. The trough is really when I stepped down, so looking at the graph, the correct decision was made. I have almost scraped back all my losses from the month, not looking to move back up yet, I'll see what happens. Anyway, wanted to post this up the now so I can get my Feb goals in, I may post a more in-depth look at my play using my notes etc. at some point... but don't hold your breath!

In February I will set a couple poker goals, but also I am going to add personal ones too:

1. Play 7k hands NL FR
2. Continue to review sessions, with written notes and summaries
3. Spend at least half an hour reading articles, posting hands, taking part in discussions to improve my game.

Now for the personal side, I want to fight off some flab, to be precise, I want to lose a stone in the month of February. This may seem extreme, but I do weigh *runs and jumps on scales, although not too hard* 19 st 8lb, at 6'1 I have a chunk to lose. I don't want to give the impression that I am a lump of marshmallow, I do have a strong base from previous sporting days, but, how shall I say this, added padding to my core. In the past, I have lost this amount of weight, in fact, it was pretty simple, it was keeping it off that I found difficult.
Right now I am at a stage where I want to improve my health for my life, but I also it will have a positive effect on my poker, I hope, so I shall include it here... Until I fail and become 99% fat. The plan will be as simple as eat less junk + more exercise= healthier me! Simple exercise like walking works a treat, but I hope to be playing footy again soon, as well as doing some weight training when I get the space cleared!

Money making

Poker is a game in which random Timmy Mallets can win thousands or even millions of dollars, it's a game for dreamers. If you have played any amount of poker and tell me that you haven't thought of winning that one poker tournament that changes your life by injecting millions of dollars into your life, I wouldn't believe you. Even though I play micro cash and small tournaments, I still honestly believe that I can win the WSOP main event and become Poker's next big thing. I think this is one of the things that keeps me playing poker, the chance of making it big. However if I am honest I don't give myself the chance, there must be something wrong with me. The WSOP main event is happening right now, and I never even gave myself a proper chance of qualifying. Why would some one dream of winning that big score, and then not follow through on my dream? It is one of my big flaws, I am sure I am not the only one. In my life I have slipped into being a thinker instead of a do-er. I would really suggest you don't do that. When you see that satellite, enter it, whether it be for an EPT, WPT or that online big Sunday poker tournament! You may just surprise yourself and win, that is of course part of the reason we play! I know I will be playing more satellites and trying to attain my dreams, really doing it!

Now you have taken the plunge, what do you do, you are reaching out of your comfort zone, well great! If you don't push yourself your Poker skills will stagnate and you will revert to being a poor player. It has happened to me on numerous occasions. "Clicketty, click, click" The same monotonous beat and bets. My advice to you would be just relax, play your game, but actually pay attention to everything going on, you may not win this time, but make sure you learn from your experience. Many poker players, better than you and I will have paid for their Poker education, and most likely a lot more money than a few satellite entry fees. This is one of the main reasons why the game is so accessible to people. Previous WSOP ME winners have qualified for $20 odd, and won millions! i think the way to look at it is "someone has to win it, that someone should be me!" There are THOUSANDS of online Poker satellites so get on and go for it! Next time you are watching the EPT, do not sit there and think "Oh, I could do that better than him!" Actually go and prove it!

Good luck guys!