Goodbye 2007 , hello to 2008 - a whole new year for playing poker

The end of another year of poker playing, so time to see how I fared... particularly in relation to my intentions from last year !

Financially, 2007 was not a great year for me, being around $650 down for the year (Internet poker) I started well in January (despite playing a lot of HORSE tournaments) but a couple of larger than normal buy-ins (without cashing in) and trying to qualify for Ladbrokes Cruise and Late Night Poker tournaments substantially drained my bankroll.

October was the first month where I decided to follow a more professional approach to bankroll management so my losses were only $25 in the last 3 months of the year, which is much more like it and probably reflects where I feel I am at with my game.

My live casino games in 2007 were two £10 rebuy tournaments (only documented one of these trips) and one £200 freeze-out, but didn't cash in any of them.....

The monthly game was pretty successful in the end, being about £26 up on the year, so am pretty happy with that...... (despite missing out on 2nd place trophy)

So for 2008, my resolutions will be to :-
1. Continue with the stricter bankroll management
2. Apply the bankroll management to the live casino games as well as online !
3. Be more selective about the "special" tournaments I play in (although rule 1 will naturally limit the MTT games I can play in anyway)

I think applying these rules will allow 2008 to be my breakthrough year in terms of financial improvement and hopefully give me a solid basis on which to start pushing my game to a higher level.

Whatever happens, I am sure I will be enjoying it, and is still a cheap hobby :-)

Cars: which car to choose.... the final decision !

After a lot of umming and ahhhing.... I decided to go for the Lotus Elise R but without the sports pack and 4 point harnesses.

In a slight twist, after I placed the order it turned out that the 2008 specification has changed (compared to the 2007 spec) in that the Touring Pack is no longer standard on the Elise R, so then had to decide if I really wanted the leather and extra comfort. In the end I thought I better had, as it will be an everyday car. Being given the opportunity to change the order, I nearly decided to go for the Sports pack as well, but have to be a little bit sensible :-)

I am expecting the car in March, but even now am starting to get excited.... seems I made the right choice then :-)

Poker: Home Tournament : December 2007 and end of year thoughts

The game went ahead as normal, but unfortunately I got side tracked and only just got around to doing the write up !!

Naturaly I have no recollection of the details now..... so apologies to anyone who avidly reads the write ups, you will have to miss one

Steve made the final table, so got the years consistancy prize.... there was a small worry a little later as there was a possibility he would make the top two and have to give the prize back ! but when he got knocked out in 5th it was no longer possible.... he did take 3rd place in the championship though (bumping me into 4th place in the process and just by 1 point ... dammmittt.... )

Bill got taken out in 6th, and as Jon was still in the match, Jon became undisputed 2007 Champion with Bill in 2nd place. Well done to both, well deserved in both cases and also shows that two opposite styles of play can both do well in the longer term (some may say Bill is just a lucky sod, but you wont hear me saying that ;-) )

Looking back over the year, everyone seems to enjoy the games and so decided to leave the structures as they are for 2008 (why fix something that ain't broke !) The points system is a huge success and although everyone still wants to get into the top three... most are more concerned by getting the points rather than the cash (a good sign I guess) Interestingly the finishing order by cash winnings was Bill, Derek, me then Jon (rather than Jon, Bill, Steve then me by points)

For myself, the year got off to a shakey start, but my run of results in the second half of the year put me into contention for the last game. It all starts again next year of course, so I have high expectations of myself and expect to do well again :-)

Can't wait.....