[Aaron W.]

Let's see...

Fall 2001 - I jump into the world of online poker after playing some $2/4 at Foxwoods (sneaking away overnight from a summer math camp with another counselor... it was a weekend... and I let one of the other counselors know in case anything happened). I start playing $.50/1 (the cheapest stakes at the time... maybe a year before the poker explosion). The poker playing is very irregular as I go through my Senior year of college.

Summer/Fall 2002 - As I prepare to move to grad school, I decide to pick up poker again as a "regular" hobby. But with all of the necessary adjustments, such as moving to a new city and figuring out the new academic thing, and a dial-up connection on a single phone line apartment, I don't get to play very often.

Spring/Summer 2003 - Time ticks on, I settle in, I move, I settle in again, get high speed internet, and finally start to get some playing time.

Fall 2004 - After 10k hands at $.50/1 (finally!), I move up to $1/2 full.

Summer 2005 - Another 10k hands and I've cleared $1/2 full with a confident game and slide into $1/2 shorthanded.

Fall 2005 - I'm about to add a Party Poker account and start playing some 7-stud H/L8 along with more Hold'em. I'll probably jump into $1/2 (stud) because of the betting structure ($.50/1 has $.25 antes!). I might also step out of SH to tackle the beginner tables. I think I've played some 4k hands at $1/2 SH in the last couple months, but I'm visiting family right now and can't check those records. I expect this will slow down my advancement in hold'em because I don't intend to play any more often than I am right now, but I'm interested in learning something new. (Oh yeah... I'm starting year 4 of graduate studies... and on starting a new academic year, see below...)

For those who have been around a while, you might be surprised at the stretch of 10k hands in about 9 months (even though I've alluded to it many times [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]). I'm in no hurry. I've got time on my side (and if I don't, then the little time I have remaining is much better spent doing things other than playing poker).

On starting a new academic year...
[A 25-year old's soapbox]My hope for the college-aged players is that you guys develop a well prioritized life that isn't poker-centric. Don't get me wrong; poker is great fun. But don't spend all of your free time 4-tabling to move up in levels faster. You're going to regret it.[/soapbox]