today i became a pro poker player.

I abandoned a super-secure role in a career that i am good at but am uncertain about dedicating myself to. Twelve months ago I started working part-time. In part, this was to allow time to improve at poker and prove that i could earn some $$ playing this crazy game of cards.

If you care about how that twelve months went then click here .

One week from now I head to europe, escaping a southern autumn for a northern spring and summer. I will climb, juggle, and occasionally play poker. Late '09 i will head back to New Zealand and take poker a little more seriously.

I know i can grind 0.5-1.5ptBB/100 playing a lot of tables up to 200nl. This plus rakeback/bonuses is an easy $3-$5k per month.

But...
I don't want to be a long-term small stakes grinder. What's the point in being only a journeyman? I want to try for more.

I need some goals.
I have some.

I want to be proficient in full ring, short handed, and SnG/MTT unlimited holdem play.
I will work on this.

I will play full tilt FR with a starting roll of $2k, probably kicking off at 100nl for a while longer.
I will play party short-handed with a starting roll of $1.2k, initially 25nl, but moving up aggressively.
I will play stars SnGs and MTTs when i feel like it (need to open a stars account first tho!)

goals:
An understanding of poker - i guess $ are the best measure of this, so....
100k in poker earnings by May 1st 2010 - wonder if the party WSOP promo will help here

cool. Tomorrow i play my first hands as a pro...
watch this space.

if you're interested in how I turned $200 into $1000
here, or $1000 into $4000 here