Year in Review

It's that time of the year again when every poker blogger looks back at his achievements for the past year and tries to give an honest summary of how he did.

As for me, I think I did OK. I didn't really cash in any major MTT like in 2006. But I honestly think that my game has improved as evidenced by my growing bankroll and the fact that my average ROI in SNGs has jumped up quite a bit especially during the 2nd half of 2007. I'm beginning to understand better the ins and outs of SNG play and added a lot of stuff to my knowledge. Probe bets, continuation bets, implied odds, inflection points are all concepts that I am only beginning to absorb fully this past year.

There were also some small MTT cashes here and there. I think the largest was a $900 win. And I also got a hater as manila grind put it. Heheh...

I achieved shark status as per Sharkscope in the Merge network. But I don't really think this reflects anything other than I got lucky a few times in this particular site. My stats in the other sites are probably a much more accurate representation of my skill hovering in the 10++% range in the low limit tables.

No live tourneys for me at all due to a hectic work schedule which included trips everywhere. 2007 saw me fly to Hongkong, Malaysia, Palawan, Cebu, and countless trips to China.

For 2008, the only big change would be a slight increase in my playing limits. Otherwise my time really just allows me the same as what I have been doing so far. A couple of SNGs a night, some low buy in MTTs here and there with the occasional stab at a big Tourney.

I think 2007 also showed that poker, NLHE in particular, is now a worldwide phenomenon and that it is here to stay. Even with the restrictions imposed by the UIGEA, US players still abound in most sites and I've seen a big increase in the number of different nationalities at the online tables especially from Asia. The poker sites notably Pokerstars has been much more aggressive in marketing to countries outside the USA and this is certainly a good thing for everyone in this side of the world.

I am excitedly looking forward to 2008 and what it will bring, not only to myself but to the
game of poker in general. Wishing everyone a prosperous 2008!!