A long time ago, when I was writing for Card Player Magazine, I always wrote an annual column containing my New Year's poker resolutions. I thought of it as a "work-free" column for me, because I would comment on things I had written a year ago, and it was easy to grade myself each year against a list of resolutions made 12 months before.
I haven't set out any poker resolutions for about five years, and during that hiatus the poker landscape has changed so dramatically that poker in 2007 bears little relationship to the environment just after the turn of the century.
Nevertheless, here is my poker scorecard, updated to reflect the world of poker today. This is my annual report card, self-assessment, and list of goals I¡¦d like to achieve in the coming year.
Learn Another Game (Grade: B) -- I was having a hard time convincing myself to play other games until I locked myself in my house to write four books in slightly more than one year. Because of this rather brutal writing schedule I played precious little live poker, even though a casino is a mere six miles from my house. When I did play, it was online, and the wide variety of games tempted me to give some of them a try, especially when HORSE games appeared on Poker Stars around the time of the 2006 World Series of Poker.
I still grade myself out at a B. No better. I play Texas holdem more than any other game, and in any event, some of the games that comprise "variety" are seldom if ever spread at casinos, at least not in casinos near me. Try finding a Razz game in Palm Springs. There aren't any. And there aren't any in most land-based casinos. So my only prime outlet for games other than holdem is right here where I am now, online.
Even if every game imaginable were located within walking distance of my front door, I still can't bring myself to play seven-card stud; and I've played less Deuce-to-Seven Lowball and Omaha High-Only than I really should. But I'm vowing to do better this year, even if doing better relegates me to more online poker and a bit less of the live variety.
Never Go On Tilt; Never Play Less Than My Best (Grade: B+) -- I seem to grade myself B+ every year, and I'll do it again this year. I always set this bar pretty high, and I won't grade out at an A until I go an entire year without playing less than my best, even for a single hand. In other words, I probably won't ever earn an A grade. But I'll keep soldiering on and keep trying.
Playing my best all the time is a reachable goal for me, as it is for everyone. There's really no reason not to. But we don't. Not all the time, anyway. Playing one's best all the time is the easiest way I know to take some giant steps as a poker player; no new skills are necessary. All that's required is playing as well as you can. It's will power, and anyone can do it.
Narrow the Target (Grade: B+) -- This is closely related to "Never go on tilt; never play less than my best." I'll give myself a B+ this year. Narrowing the target is somehow tougher online than in brick and mortar play, but all that's required to improve is strength of will.
If we're lacking here, we've no one but ourselves to blame. Pogo, the now defunct-but-still-beloved comic strip character created by cartoonist Walt Kelly, was fond of saying, "We have met the enemy and he is us." And that's as true in poker as it is in life.
This year I resolve to limit the number of times I put myself in speculative situations where the risk outweighs the reward. One way I'll assess each playing session will be to answer this question: "Was there anything else I could have done to narrow the target?"
Play More Poker (Grade: C-)-- Let's face it; I'm being generous here. I wrote four poker books in the space of little over one year. That's a lot -- too much, probably -- but the book market was hot and as long as publishers keep beating down my door I was not going to turn them away. Having said that, this year I promise not to write more than one new book.
I want to limit my writing schedule to magazine articles, no more than one new book, and perhaps a second edition of Poker For Dummies, which was published in 2000 and needs a lot of updating to reflect all that's new in poker: internet play, no-limit cash game poker, poker on television, tournaments all day, every day, the effect of new laws, and all the other changes that poker has gone through in six years.
One new book, one second edition of an existing book, magazine articles, and my weekly broadcast of Keep Flopping Aces, the poker talk-radio show that Amy Calistri and I host on www.holdemradio.com every Thursday night at 9:00 EST will keep me busy enough while still providing enough time to play more poker.
Be An Ambassador for the Game (Grade: A)--
This is one of my ongoing resolutions -- and one that has never given me any trouble. I gave myself an A last year, and intend to grade out the same in 2007. I just won't settle for less. Because I am a columnist for this magazine, I have an image I choose to uphold.
While being a public figure might not prevent boorish behavior from other well-known poker players, it is very important to me.
Although there's no shortage of whiners, ingrates, and ill-tempered poker players, I've also found our community to be incredibly generous, bright, and among the most vibrant, interesting people I've met.
Many of my closest friendships were initially made at the poker table. The best way for me to give something back to this cherished poker community is to live my life to a high and honorable standard. To the extent that we all play up to the most ethical standards we can, the poker community will be a better place for it. I hope you join me in adopting this resolution as your own?
Keep in Touch (Grade: A)-- I continue to correspond with players the world over. I always try to respond to all my email; I may have to awaken earlier than most of you to keep up with it, but I'll respond to every email and letter I receive. Best wishes for 2007. I'll grade myself again next year.~~
Read more about 
Bookmark
