Research, Reading and early results

Armed with a very limited knowledge of poker and the entire catalogue of amazon available to me, I bought my first poker book. This is a couple of years ago now, and whilst there were certainly plenty of books to choose from, there were considerably fewer than now. I deliberately avoided the Sklanky-esque theoretical tomes on the grounds that they were probably targetting a more knowledgeable readership than me, and the prohibitively expensive Super/System, instead plumping for "The Complete Book of Hold 'em Poker: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing and Winning" by Gary Carson

Here At Amazon

This isn't the worst poker book in the world, but it is far from the best; nevertheless a clear explanation of pot odds, implied odds and a much better idea of starting hand requirements moved me a long way up the learning curve.

Additionally I stumbled across the twoplustwo forums, and read a great deal there about SnG strategy, so soon I started playing again.

I deposited $50 and started playing the $5+1 games, again on the crypto sites, the high rake being offset somewhat by the weakness of the opposition. I was not aware of the opposition being terrible at the time, but they must have been because I wasn't very good, yet I didn't go broke, and gradually started to make a little money. At $5 tables it takes quite a while, but time I had, and I am a patient guy, so slowly but surely my bankroll and abilities were growing.

Brief forays into the *gasp* $10+1 tables didn't noticeably throw me to the sharks and my path continued upwards.