Goals for 2009

Well with one full year as a poker player in the books, and a fairly successful one at that, time to focus on what I want to accomplish here in the new year.

1) Make 100k

First goal is monetary. I'm somewhat hesitant to make monetary goals, since some of that is out of my hands, in terms of how I run in spots where I can hit big cashes. On the other hand, a year is really a long enough time span that some of those breaks are going to even out. Plus after making 86k last year, 100k seems doable. Especially if I meet the other goals on this list. I'm a long way from my thinking at the beginning of last year, when I was sure I could make 50k but wasn't sure what would really happen beyond that.

2) Focus on improving as a player

Well, there's a lot to cover here. I've gotten exceeding lazy in terms of my own development as a player. In some ways that's not that surprising, since, well, I don't like to work that hard. Unfortunately that's bad for my aspirations as a poker player. So let's list the things I should be doing more:
a) Go over more hand histories, analyze where I think I'm making mistakes
I can't remember the last time I looked at one of my own hand histories. That's sad.
b) Get PT running again
My PT2 stopped working on Stars, I'm getting some sort of error message. Never got it fixed. Also got PT3, haven't even got it set up. Good work Brian. You are lazy. It doesn't help that I don't know anything about computers, so I tend to just throw up my hands (figuratively) and give up.
c) Training sites?
Have never had a subscription to any of the training sites, would probably be worth my time to figure out how other good players are thinking.
d) Better fundamental understand of the math involved
Involves putting opponents on ranges and being able to more precisely figure shove/fold situations when high blinds. Also need to improve at playing unexploitably.
e) Maintain better focus while playing
Less TV, more background music, since that's less distracting. Also the nights I'm having, say, glass of wine number four/five/six, maybe I shouldn't be doing that. Just a thought.
Wow I look at this list and it's a wonder I win at all. Anyway.

3) Volume, volume, volume

Improved on this toward the end of the year. Obviously need work/life balance, and I don't play much on the weekends (although I'd like to play some more Sundays actually in order to play majors). So the time I'm taking off is fine. Just want to be running at full speed if I am planning. Been much better recently that if I'm playing, I'm getting 4 or 5 tables going. Still not prepared to be one of those people that plays 13 at a time, I can't think that fast.

4) Play more live

Every time I got play live, I enjoy myself, and think I need to be doing that more. Yet I rarely go. It makes no sense.

Also my live game sucks. I mean, I usually just donk around at 1/2 NL, so I'm obviously fine there. But I'm terrible at reading people. And for some reason I still get nervous playing around people I don't know. Which is ridiculous. But whatever. I've got room for life growth.

Also on the live front, I'd really like to play some more live tournaments, as opposed to when I just go donk around for fun. Need to check out see if Gary/Hammond have any good size tournaments, or if there are some other casinos in driving distance doing the same. Speaking of live tourneys...

5) Play more qualifiers for big live events

I have a couple weddings to go to this summer, so depending on when the WSOP Main Event is, I may be out regardless. But whether it's circuit events, WPT events or just other big buyin events, I'd like to play some more qualifiers and play one. It's about time.

So there we go. Let's see how many of those things I actually accomplish.

Played all yesterday. Won qualifier for UBOC main event on the 18th. Otherwise nothing much good, two outed for 9th in FT $55 1r1a. That was about it. Not a useful day.