Hello TPE community,

I have gone by “Columbo” since I started playing in 06 (I carried a notebook for session notes).  In those early years, just consuming the books and being a good level 1 player offered local success.  As I got more ambitious (where is the built in spell checker?) and consumed the available advanced books, I got pretty good at level 2 playing.  I specialized in tournaments, preferring the finite start-finish feel. 

After playing on FT a couple of years, I started seeing some real success, shipping a couple of $42ks in the year prior to black Friday.  Since then, I have only played about 2 times a month and only recently reopened playing online (via bitcoins).  As I reengaged poker, I felt the fire to get better but lack the circle of players to constantly talk about hands with.  It was through the TPE podcast (via thinking poker, via a Vanessa Selbst interview) that I started to realize my level 3 thinking was terribly immature. 

To put a finer point on it, my ability to STAY in level 3 mode has been quite a challenge and the difference between my good and bad sessions.  I am counting on immersion and repetition to get me more used to staying in the zone. 

By joining TPE, I am hoping that I can spend time each day thinking about poker in some way, shape or form.