2009 Year in Review

Bankroll Starts Jun 27 2009: $50.00
Bankroll End on Dec 31 2009: $233.35

Expenses: HEM Small Stakes $55
Books =~ $150

Here is the 2009 graph. It includes the first few days of January 2010 as well.


It has only been half a year of playing for me, as I only started at Pokerstars in late June. In that time, I've played part time in the evenings - for generally a couple of hours a night.

I did my best to accumulate a bankroll starting with a $50 deposit. No additional deposits were made, except those required by reload bonuses, which I withdrew once the terms and conditions of the bonus were met.

During this time, I've learned a tremendous amount, and I realize I still have an even greater amount still to learn! I look back at some of the comments and questions I asked, either to friends, or on twoplustwo.com, and some of them look ridiculously elementary now. At the end of July, I'd played my first 5 $5.2 Double or Nothing tournaments (10 players, top 5 get double the buy-in). I was so impressed with myself for having won all 5!

My goals for 2010 include:
1) moving up in stakes
a) SnG's: I should be moving to $6.5 turbos soon. I'll make the move when I feel I have enough buy-ins at $3.4 to assure myself that I'm consistently beating the buy-in. Here's the graph of all my SnG's and Tounies for 2009 and the start of 2010 - this is since the end of September when I bought HEM:


b) Cash Games: I had a great deal of trouble with cash when I first started. It essentially eroded the money I'd made playing the DoN's, and almost caused me to lose my entire first deposit. Since then, I think I know how to beat NL2, but so far I've only posted a 2.5 BI profit. Very inadequate. Ironically, my NL10 shots have a greater profit posted than entire NL2 history. Once I've played to 20K hands in NL2, if I'm still ahead and bankroll allows, I'll move to either NL5 or NL10 (both have a $10 Buy In). Here is the graph of my NL2 history for 2009 and the start of 2010 (same caveat - this only covers hands since my purchase of HEM at the end of Sept):



2) build my bankroll enough to withdraw my initial capital of $50, as well as the expenses I've incurred (the HEM and the books). Poker should pay for Poker!! I may do this should my bankroll hit around $600.00


If you're reading this, have a great New Year! Best wishes for 2010.