So I'm playing poker.

Like viscant, I'm playing some online poker.

But let me tell you my story. One day in January 2004, when the Super Bowl came to Houston, I was letting a friend use the computer while we wait to hit downtown where the party was. He asked to install PartyPoker, so I let him do so. As we are waiting, I noticed that he was playing Texas Hold'em - for real money. So I observed for a bit since I didn't know how to exactly play. Being the quick learner that I am, I picked up the basic premise pretty quickly.

So I decided to not uninstall the program, and actually create an account to mess around with in play money. So I play for a bit, sometimes I'd go to a get-together, and they would have a home game going on. So I would play in those, and although I didn't win, I'd do pretty well.

In addition, I had a roommate for a while who played a lot of online poker, so I'd sit down for a bit and casually observe the games, and noticed that he played 2-6 tables at any given time.

So November 2006, I would go to Las Vegas for a week on vacation. Prior to my trip, I told myself that I would partake in a couple low buy-in tournaments when I was gambling. So I did the appropriate research, and decided to play in just two tournaments - a 9PM $45 a Fitzgeralds, and a 10AM tournament at the Hooter Casino for $25 w/rebuy.

I first went to Fitzgeralds. Went out with 18 players remaining, 30 max. Basically I just got blinded out, by playing too tightly. Strangely, to me, it felt a lot like a Street Fighter tournament, with some of the nervousness around. The next day, I decided to go to the Hooter's tournament. Around 30 people from what I gather. After taking in the rebuy as I ran low on chips, I wound up chopping a pot heads-up. $330 was my payday. I was very ecstatic.

When I got home, I installed Pokerstars, and made my first deposit of $25 and started playing 2NL. A month later, I went back to Vegas for a couple of days, and decided to play in some ring games as well. I played at the Venetian, where I was up about $30 playing 200NL, and down $9 at Caesar's Palace playing the same. This was also the first time at Vegas where my slot play was very minimal.

In addition, I found a place where I can play for free to help me deal with live play and live situations (since gambling in Texas is illegal), and ease the nervousness that once affected me. The same place had a Royal Flush jackpot, which I hit, and bought drinks for everyone at the table. I still play on occasion here to enjoy a beer and have a few laughs.

So my goal this year is such (small goals first, for me): Try to move up to 25NL with the proper bankroll, play live poker when I can when I go to a casino, and of course fix my leaks in my game.

So here I am today, an aspiring poker player. I've moved up in limits at Pokerstars, I'm an overall winning player (live and online), and enjoying it as my new hobby to replace SF tournaments. I do not get to play as much as I'd like, but I am getting better, and realizing at the same time how similar the game can be to playing Street Fighter.