At the beginning of last year, I set some poker resolutions and goals for myself. It’s time now to see how I’ve fared during the course of 2008. Yesterday, I posted about my resolution to Focus on Short-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘Em Cash Games.
Resolution 2: Keep Getting Better at Other Games
I played a fair bit of PLO and watched some instructional videos, but I don’t feel I’m much better at it than I was this time last year. Actually, I’m sure I am better, but the opposition has improved more than I have. It’s quickly becoming a much more well-understood game, and I’m getting left behind. I’d like to get better at it, but I have only so much time to play, and the opportunity cost of playing break-even PLO at 2/4 rather than winning at 5/10 and 10/20 NLHE is pretty high.
As for other games, I played some HORSE occasionally and probably got a bit better at Stud/8, I final tabled a PLO8 tournament, but mostly I didn’t do anything of significance.
Goal 4: Play some WSOP preliminary events in other games (PLHE doesn’t count).
(Failed)
I think I would have been good enough to play some of the cheaper PLO and Stud/8 tournaments, but I wasn’t in Vegas for them, and I certainly don’t regret that. I did play some other games in FTOPS and WCOOP and did alright, including a final table in PLO8. Also, I was lucky enough to stake Tom Chambers (LearnedFromTV) on his way to two WSOP final tables in some non-NLHE games, so even though I suck at them I still found a way to profit!
Goal 5: Be a winner in 10/20 PLO by the end of the year. (Failed)
I fell so far short of this one it’s laughable. At the end of 2007, I was breaking even at 2/4 and 3/6 PLO. This year, I was a pretty substantial loser at 2/4, running at -6 BB/100 over 10K hands. I feel like I ran pretty bad, but I also think PLO always feels that way because it’s such a gambly game. Regardless, I’m clearly not very good at it right now.
Goal 6: Be a winner at 30/60 Stud/8 by the end of the year. (Failed)
I’m still pretty comfortable at 10/20 but I haven’t put in much time or attempted to play higher. Actually, I played exactly five hands at 30/60 and lost $600, for a win-rate of -200 BB/100. Sustainable?
Tomorrow, I’ll discuss my progress towards my third resolution for 2008: Diversify My Income Streams.