Xmas beckons - 2005 review

I had one of those days again earlier in the week when everything was going wrong. At one point i was stuck for £16000, so much for taking it easy online in December. Fortunately, i then went red hot for about 5 hours, and managed to actually end up winning £6000. Think thats my biggest ever swing in a day. On two seperate occasions i turned $2000 into over $10000 in the PL Omaha. Most of my downswing occurred in the NL Holdem, when i had the nut straight on 4th street against a set, and a £10000 pot ensued. It paired up on the river.

I guess its that time of year to do my review of 2005. Especially as i am off skiing over Xmas and will be busy up till then. Back when i decided to give up the job at the start of the year i said here that my aim was to make £40000 profit for the year. Well unless i somehow manage to lose my mind between now and the end of the year, i can safely say that i achieved that.

My other aim as i stated at the end of 2004 was to finish in the top 20 in Europe. Well i am going to fall a bit short on that one. I'm around 30th at the moment but it doesn't really bother me. I guess priorities changed, I never travelled to Blackpool, Brighton, Birmingham, Walsall, Sheffield chasing ranking points or many of the other ranking events that took place in the UK. If i had, i am pretty sure i would be in the top 10. I really haven't played that many tournaments compared to some players. People always say that i should be more controversial on my blog. Well looking at the current European rankings i only rate 3 players in the top 10. Some of them just play nearly every tournament, so are bound to be there.

I'd absolutely love to do my worst 3 tournament players of the year. That would be fun.

Through the course of the year i managed to win £163000 in tournaments for an outlay of £40000 ish icluding sponsored money. Well beyond any expectations that i had. Am i good? Who knows.... Am i lucky? Who knows. Basically its too early to tell as far as tournaments are concerned. Ask me this time next year. I had 5 cashes over £10000 including two big ones around £50000. I do feel i have an edge, but next year i could do really badly in tournaments. I just need to keep concentrating and trying to improve. Only time will tell.

Other than tournaments my main focus has been playing cash online. Overall it has been a very good year. I had a run between August - end October that was just unbelievable. November was quite bad... i lost over £10000 on about four seperate days that month. I hate those days they are just sick. I have to learn to expect them when i am multitabling on £2000 buy in tables.

Not that much to report about live cash. I'm not even sure if i am up or down this year. Either way its marginal. I've hardly played. Too lazy when i can just walk 10 metres to play online cash whenever i like. I still really enjoy playing Dealers Choice when i get the chance.

Getting sponsored was great and if you fancy playing a tournament at 4pm this Sunday which is a £10 rebuy on Betfair, they are adding £3000 and you get a video ipod if you knock me out. Details are here

Now on to the poker aims of 2006. In no particular order, apart from the first one ;-)

- Not go broke.
- Enjoy what i do. I love playing poker but get overly stressed whenever i lose or get knocked out of a big tournament. I have the best job i could hope for.
- Make the money in a WSOP and WPT event.
- Win £150000+ online.
- Play at least five WSOP events at at least two WPT events.
- Stop reading poker forums. I like what i read 10% of the time. The rest irritates me.
- Win 3 tournaments with buy ins over £750.
- Reduce my tilt to a manageable level.
- Not play any Limit poker.

It may be my last post of the year depending how much i play... have a good Xmas all... and let the poker force be with you.