A Look Back...

Well, it's New Year's Eve. Traditionally, it's a time when people take a look back at the year that was. So I will do the same.

By The Numbers
Certainly the easiest and most objective way to examine 2008 is to check the numbers, and it was definitely a good year.

CPMG $3394
Cash games: 3064
Tournaments: (+330) 2270 winnings, 1940 buy-in, 53 tournaments, 4 wins

Casino $1383
Poker Cash games: 3340
Table Games: 758
Slots: 120
Video Poker: -1330
Tournaments: (-1505) 800 winnings, 2305 buy-in, 17 tournaments, 1 win

Are You a Better Player?
Another way to measure the success of a year is to ask yourself, "Are you a better player than you were a year ago?"

For me, I would have to say the answer is No. I think my Cash game has made some small improvements. But I feel that my Tournament game has deteriorated a little. I think I've lost some of my patience. I did make money in CPMG tournaments. But just $330 in 53 tournament is not good. I'm definitely not saying that I'm the best tourney player around, but I am good enough to have a better ROI than that.

New Year's Resolutions
- Get better against better opponents.
I think that I am a better player against bad/novice players than I am against good/experienced players. My hand reading skills aren't as good as I want them to be, and bad/novice players are much easier to read. When they raise, it's usually with a big hand.

I also suck at tells and sensing strength or weakness. Bad/novice players give off so many more than good/experienced players.

When I'm at a table of good/experienced players, I feel that I have to wait for a hand. If I don't get any cards, then I have no chance of making money. I'm not very good at 'creating my own shot,' to use a basketball analogy.

I am planning on playing more 2/5 this year, especially in Detroit. Hopefully, this will help to advance my cash game skillz.

- Game Selection in the 'Pit'
The better resolution would be to just stay away from the gambling, and stick with Poker. But that just ain't gonna happen. I actually enjoy it. I do understand that I'm not doing it to make money. I would be content to just break even, and earn comps for rooms and food.

I need to stick with games that are good to sit there and grind it out. Blackjack, Pia Gow and Texas Hold'em Bonus are good for this. I used to play Let It Ride, but have finally learned my lesson. The game is just too high variance to play. It's what I would call a 'Lightning Strike' game. Hit a big hand, then run for door.

Video Poker should be a grinder game. I do know the 'Basic Strategy' for many of the variation of VP. I even carry a cheat sheet for pay tables, so I know which ones to play. But I'm still losing big money on it. I just can't hit anything. I'm not gonna quit playing it (yet), I will do what I just did in Detroit. Play only with Profit, and don't chase my losses by trying to hit Quads.