That’s life. I’ve lost it all, all $12.15 in one night. This post is going to be short because I’m demoralized and don’t particularly feel thrilled with letting everyone know my folly. There are definitely things to be learned, though.

I let my pride get to me. I bought in to a cash game for $2 and quickly went up to $6. I should have quit there. That’s lesson #1. I need to decide when I am going to stand up from a table before I sit down. In the early stages of this journey, if I ever get a few bucks again, I will stand up from a table if I triple my buy-in before having a bankroll of $30. If you think this is too much or too little, comment and let me know.

I ended up getting knocked out… my first time getting knocked out in a cash game on Full Tilt Poker. I think that bruised my pride a bit so I bought in again, and then again… and you know the story. That’s lesson #2. Until I have $30 in my bankroll, I will only buy in to one $2 cash game per day. At least that will draw out my chances and keep me patient.

Lastly, I made a lot of stupid calls, really stupid calls. Lesson #3. Play smart and relatively tight, especially on a Friday night when it seems more people play loose. I tried to push people out when I shouldn’t have and I stayed in on hands that were obviously not good enough. Why? Probably because I thought that $12.15 was a big enough buffer to recover even if I made a few risky moves. The problem is I was so careless that, before I knew it, I was down to my last few dollars and then it was nerve racking all over again. Sure, I went up and down and probably should have stood up from the table once I recovered some of my money, but there it is again, lesson #1.

I’m pissed… at myself.