Where Do I Go From Here?

With all the respect I can muster, I am asking the community for some advice on where I go from here.

Where I've been. I started playing on Party Poker in 2006 after buying a BS online guide and "learning" to play poker. It was all about making moneyin the beginning. I read aeverything I could get my hands on. I'd play -win. Play -lose. Tilt. Reload. Play-win. Play - lose. Tilt. Reload.

Quite frankly the UIGEA was the best thing that happened to me. I took about a year off from poker of any kind. I finally returned in early 2008 to PS. I don't "need' the money now - but I told myself that I was determined to become a student of the game. I deposited $200 into PS and calculated my proper level of play per my bankroll 05-.10 games. I immediately began the same roller coaster again - even though the money won and lost was pocket change. I tilted - moved up and lost the BI. I reloaded and started over. I tilted and moved up and raked an incredible $166.00 pot. Now I was way ahead.

Since that time, I have really determined to become a student of the game. over the past two months, my BR has grown from ($433+166) to $740.00. I am playing .10-.25 and not tilting at all. I finally convinced myself it is not about the money - it is about learning the game. I currently play .10-.25 6max cash games and $5 SNG. Although, I have not played many SNGs I have cashed in about 50% of those I played in. I am sorry that I do not have better stats, but I keep a Excel spreadsheet with wins/losses and notes. The early notes all included something about tilting, but I guess I have played long enough to realize that if I don't tilt, I can (and usually do) win most of it back in a couple of sessions.

Anyway, where I am at right now is that I want to become the best poker player I can be. It is not about the money, it is about learning. I keep track of my progress by virtue of whether or not my bankroll is growing or not. I have read all the books, but I am willing to read them again, whatever it takes. I have made a lot of mistakes, but I appear to be looking at the whole concept from the other side of a dep dark poker pit that I have been wandering in for the last few years. I now know what I want.

Criticize at will. I will accept any help. I really need to know what I need to do now to get/stay on the right track so that I can develop myself into the best poker player I can become. That is my measure of success now.
Any help would be respectfully appreciated.

To avoid tilt - listen to music and play poker. Try to ignore everything else that's going on in your life. It's just you, the music, and the game. Poker needs practice to become better at it. Discipline requires dedication, the most difficult aspect to this game in my opinion.

Other than avoiding tilt, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders.

Originally Posted by AviatorNo1

Since that time, I have really determined to become a student of the game. over the past two months, my BR has grown from ($433+166) to $740.00. I am playing .10-.25 and not tilting at all. .

Anyway, where I am at right now is that I want to become the best poker player I can be..

sounds good - and although it's not about the money, I'm sure you don't mind making money from your hobby...

*Don't open any more poker accounts until you know about rakeback. If you're currently playing without rakeback, ask here about what you should do. And give someone your referral, costs nothing.

*Purchase poker tracker

*Read all the stickied posts in the beginner forum - especially the bankroll management one. You'll find a familiar description of where you are now in there too.

*NEVER play outside your bankroll

* Read all the stickied posts in the 6-max/short handed forum.

*Keep grinding.

*When you get to $1k, withdraw $400 and grind back up. Buy some nice beer or something. Just to remind yourself that it's real money. When you get to $1k the second time, keep going. Move up to 50nl when you get to $1300. Move back down if you drop below $1k.

* Think about clearing some first deposit bonuses once you have $1300 and are comfortable at 50nl (normally I would suggest doing this sooner, but not if you have a historic problem with tilt)

* Post hands here, and comment on and read about the posted hands of others.

*Never deposit again, really. If you find that you have zero poker dollars left, then never play again - cos it means that you haven't stuck to the list above.

*profit.