[pokertvstar]

Wow. What a great thread!

Been playing poker for about 10 years, but only seriously (as in a lot), since the Moneymaker win in 2003. When I played before that, it was 3-5 times a year, mostly playing dealers choice games. Nothing more than .25 limit "poverty" poker.

POST-Moneymaker, I turned to hold 'em. I watched everything I could on TV (still do truth be told). From WSOP coverage to WPT to PPA to Poker Superstars...PAD....all of it. Used my DVR to record old WSOP coverage (before the hole cams were introduced to the coverage)--and challenged myself to read the opponent before a showdown. Books, DVD's, magazine subscriptions, and of course the intarweb have also provided me information to dump into my cavernous skull.

All this studying away from the table led me to online play. I stuck money everywhere (Party, P*, Full Tilt, True Poker), before finally deciding on UB primarily, and playing primarily tournaments. I prefer tourneys to cash games. I prefer the feeling of "these are all you got--no reloads". I like that kind of competitive pressure. Highest online tourney finish-2nd a handful of times. Those cashes did my bankroll proud. The greed and lust of trying to turn it into more cost me all of it, playing low limit PL omaha will do that to you. Since the UIGEA, I haven't reloaded any of my accounts (still have UB and Full Tilt active), but miss the days of pre-UIGEA life on Party. While Party hlod em games suck, their 7-stud games were softer than a pillow. My accounts running low? $25 buy in at the .50/$1 stud table on Party would be sufficient to reload all the accounts I needed. Could roll up $100 bucks in an hour at stud there, without breaking a sweat. I hate our government sometimes.

Anyway, after playing online for some time, I was invited to a poker tourney (a Halloween tourney come to think of it, lol), and made the 30 minute drive to attend. I finished 4th (in a field of 27 or something), and cashed, albeit small). I was hooked on live tourneys after that. First Vegas tourney was a $40 buy-in with rebuys at the Orleans. Made it to the final 24 players with top 16 getting paid. Have played in 2 WSOP events ($1K buy ins), and hope to return to the WSOP next summer. Skipped it in favor of hanging out with friends, and had my best week of tourney poker, playing in 8 tournaments, making 5 final tables, and cashing in 3 (with 2 second place finishes). Back home, I play in a league (1 event per month at various locations), and picked up a win in league play this season.

Oh, and I have a poker blog (doesn't everyone?) also. My poker career is very young, and has a lifetime to grow. My goal is to earn at least one WSOP bracelet before I fold for the final time. A lot of work to do to get there, and I am willing to put the time in.

For those that are interested: ncrounder.blogspot.com