So 2005 is coming to an end.

The New Year doesn't really change anything except in our perceptions, once every 365 days we get a reset button and whatever dreams and aspirations we didn't achieve the year before we have another chance at, at least for the most part.

In early 2005 I started playing poker more than ever. Unfortunately I will have to be honest and say it was not a winning year. I have learned a lot of lessons while battling the losses. I have also educated myself in the game while away from the table.

I started playing online poker this year. Initially I played way beyond my bankroll, and busted out frequently. I had huge winning sessions and thought I owned the table. I moved up in limits and got owned.

I've expanded my play by playing Omaha, Omaha 8b, Stud, Stud 8/b, Razz, Triple draw, Limit, Pot Limit, No-Limit, STT, MTT, full cash games, and short-handed play. I've read numerous books and articles on poker strategy, joined forums and coaching sites. I've made friends with other players and participate in poker related discussions frequently. I've absorbed anything poker related that I can. I've also purchased poker tools to analyze my play and my opponents play, helping me to plug leaks in my game and exploit my opponents. I’ve joined rakeback programs and learned the values of bonuses.

Overall I have grown as a player and truly love the game we call poker. I love the strategy, the social aspects, learning from your mistakes, trying to draw conclusions based on incomplete information, and the thrill of making the correct decision.

Rather than abandon my poker aspirations and chalk up my losses to a hobby gone bad, I am going to face adversity, buckle down and pull myself into the black. This is an attainable goal but not my only goal. So without further ado…

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In 2006 my poker related goals are:

Goal #1
To recoup my 2005 losses, I will assign these losses a value of $4.5k. This is actually more than my actual losses but I am including all poker related expenses including books, beer and gas for home games, chips, magazines, software, and site subscriptions. I will take out at least this $4.5k and spend it on my family either by taking a vacation or providing some other luxury for us to enjoy. I will set forth my withdrawal plan in the next week or two.

Goal #2
Have a bankroll of $25k by December 31st 2006. In addition to being a winning player and repaying myself for my earlier losses I am going to set forth and maintain a plan to build a bankroll of $25k. I choose this target because I feel it is attainable. I will review my progress on a quarterly basis and make adjustments accordingly. Part of this goal will include setting up bankroll guidelines for moving up or down in limits, and game selection. I will set out my short term goals required to achieve this within the next week or two.

Goal #3
Play in a major poker tournament. I am going to attempt to satellite my way into a major tournament with a $10k buy in. At the very minimum I will direct buy in to a tournament using my poker bankroll. If I do a direct buy in I will the even will be at least a $1.5k buy in either such a WPT or WSOP circuit event or equivalent.

Goal#4
Participate in the Bluff Poker Tour. I learned about the BPT about half way through Season 1. I didn’t have the bankroll to play and figured my chances of finishing with the win were low since it was already more than halfway thru the season. For Season 2 they have reduced the buy in and expanded the prizes. I am looking forward to giving it my best shot. I think it is a tremendous opportunity to make it to a major event, and fulfill Goal #3. There are 26 events with $10+ $1 buy-in. I am going to setup and maintain a separate bankroll allotment to participate in these tournaments. Beginning with the first event I am going to reserve the next 4 buy -ins from my bankroll. When I finish in the $ above the remaining buyins ($286) for the season all proceeds will go to my main poker bankroll.

Goal#5
Maintain my blog. Beginning today I am going to make at least a small post outlining the results of any sessions I play. I am going to be diligent about completing these entries following my session, and will complete them no later than the next day.

I am also going to customize my blog and update the links, images and content. I would like to incorporate RSS feeds from some of the popular poker blogs, websites, and poker related news stories.

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So now that I have outlined my goals I will note where my current position is.

Until Christmas Eve I had a bankroll of ~$1k. I had been playing $2/$4 6max Limit Hold’em with the occasional $3/$6 session. I had the tables open Christmas Eve and noticed a very juicy $5/$10 6 max game with LAG's +70% VP$P. Although I was above my bankroll comfort level I couldn’t resist and sat in on it. I was doing fairly well and won some good pots. Unfortunately I started tp suffered some bad beats QQ flopped a set got rivered by a flush. I had AA, KK beat by 2 pair. I was rivered by gut shot straights. By the time I realized I had better let the game go I was down to ~$180. I stepped down and lost the rest at $2/4. It was agonizing after it was over I left myself with ~$8. I polished that off the next few days playing STT, & MTT's. The small winds I had just couldn’t cover my losses. Eventually I was back down to ~$5...

I reloaded $50 last night and played $.5/$1 limit (full). I know I am playing over my bankroll again, but have always done well at the micro limits just being a nut peddler. Its a tough grind but its where I will be for at least the next couple weeks.

I played ~140 hands and quit at $100. As it stands now my bankroll is exactly $100.15. I have $80 in rakeback coming between January 5th & 15th depending on when the payments are processed. I also have ~$500 in deposit bonuses left to clear between 2 sites. Unfortunately as far as the deposit bonuses go, the clear really slow at the micro levels, and until I am back playing $2/$4 they will be slow coming.

I learned a very valuable lesson about playing over your bankroll on Christmas Eve. I will not pay the price again. I am going to be very conservative, before stepping up to the $1/$2 Limit I will have at least 350 bb.

It is going to take allot of will power, but I am going to hold out and meet my goals for the year.