Happy Chrimbo

Merry Christmas, I hope you and your family had the very best of times

I had a great time with family and friends and then I played a bit of poker too. The poker has been interesting this last week, I treated myself to a buyin to the $500 entry $100,000 added tourney on Christmas night and lasted 3 hours, got all my money in with the best of it on a ragged flop only to be turned over by an Ace and crippled. I also had KK fall to 77 on Boxing Day whilst at Hook's place which cost me $200 at a $1/$2 table. I play bad when other people can see my cards. Last night I had a guy allin with two pair (AJ) on an AJK10 board when I held QQ and he rivered a full house - another $100. So good poker is still being played in this corner of the world but "variance" combined with negative expectation treats like that $500 buyin have contributed to what has been a $1,000 downswing over the christmas period, despite making 3 FT's in $20 180's and 3 more ITM's. Oh and I was talked into playing yosoyveneno heads up, in which I lost the first match of a three match series, I have no chance, heads up is my weakest spot and her strongest. Not that it's going to break the bank, but a bit of prudence wouldn't go amiss.

This time of year always makes you think about what your big plans are, what you've accomplished etc and I had an interesting conversation on boxing day about challenges and goal setting. Its amazing how people can relate to a goal like "I want to go on Safari" but they can't fathom "I want to play better poker". Most people will never understand that statement, hell even some online poker players won't understand it. So as of now, I'm officially giving up on those who do not understand. I shall no longer have conversations about luck vs math. Understanding takes time, and I do not have the time to teach you how to understand my life and the fact that poker is part of it. If you do not like it, the door is over there.

Goal for 2006 ? How about to be in the top 50 for tournament leader board points in any one month on Stars. I like that for a starter, it's better than just "make good decisions", but it should follow that making good decisions will help reach that goal. Another goal for me could be to make $60k in the year. I don't think it's reasonable to set a money amount as a goal like that, but for the sake of having a target, I'll put it out there as its the marker which would green light getting out of corporate hell and living as a poker player for a year.

Well I think I'll leave it at that for now, if I don't see you before, Happy New Year and I hope 2006 brings you luck and joy.