The Blog Contest Deadline was last night, and I have chosen a winner, although this time around was definitely the toughest decision, because each and every entry I read was comprehensive and insightful. So thank you to everyone who participated and for the hard work and honest sentiments you incorporated into your posts. I am sure your ideas and suggestions on improving one's poker game will help many readers, and your selfless offering of advice will go a long way. SO Be Proud of That :)

Since there can only be one winner this time around, I have chosen Justin "Ebert19". You can read his winning blog post here!!!  I thought your blog was very well thought out with meticulous attention to important details a lot of players overlook. SO COngratulations on winning a free membership to the training site of your choice: PokerXFactor, Leggo, or DragTheBar. I am certain the training site you choose will elevate your skillset to the next level and beyond..and everything you learn will be additive assets to what is already a solid poker arsenal. I look forward to reading more intuitive and resourceful blog posts from you in the future. =)

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As always, I like to copy and paste my favorite parts of other submitted entries, so here goes:

** Focus. For my happiness, "playing" poker seems somewhat inappropriate. I work at the game.Every successful, i.e., money-winning, player has worked at the game. And, if you don't keep working, you will soon fall behind. If I am not willing to do my best, I shouldn't sit down at the table.

But I do.

"Concentration is the secret of strength," Emerson explains. Personally, I need to eliminate distractions. The television is invariably playing noisily. Between hands, I am often e-mailing or surfing the internet. One of my changes must be to reduce distractions.

I am multi-tabling as I write this blog. The TV is blaring in the background.  -JackDogWelch

**DO NOT DO ANYTHING HASTILY, THINK ABOUT EACH MOVE, CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS AND TAKE YOUR TIME -Joe McGee

**Learning all the major poker games. Being solid in all poker forms is a huge advantage when playing HORSE or 7 game mainly because most people are weak in one area usually razz or or hi/lo portions, this will allow you to steal pots alot easier when you know what your doing most of the time.

Taking notes is a major part of my game. You will always run into this person again and most people stick to a gameplan, also if you run into them again and their game has changed you will have that much more information on them. -Gryphin9

**1. I should respect the game much more than I do now.

It's a very important thing, because if I could accept the difficulties, I would be so much calmer. It's extremelly important for me to concentrate...to focus till the end of each session, and to forget the things which has happened before, since usually I'm playing at least 15-20 tournaments simultaneously, and I HAVE TO play my A game all the time.

 It's extremelly hard to do, and if I have problems in my private life (and unfortunatelly I have nowadays), it becomes harder... So I have to close off my problems, and concentrate when I'm playing.

This is very difficult to do, because it's an emotional thing, so I cannot do it alone. I have to be in good relationship with my friends, and relatives, because if anything's wrong, I cannot give my best when playing. -DodiBasci

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I am sure the words of fellow Poker Curious members is advice any student of poker can benefit from. With the end of 2009 near, it is important to set healthy goals both on and off the felt, so hopefully these entries will give you some food for thought.

As for me, I have put in a few sessions online this past week, but no luck in the tournaments. However my Heads-up Mixed Game Sit-n-Gos  have been going very well. I am playing mostly $100 tables, with my primary focus on Razz and PLO/PLO8. 

Rex55

209

$18.46

$111

17%

$3,858

Hot

92

FullTilt

SNG Only

It is still a relatively small sample size but I feel I have a definite edge in these mixed games versus the opponents I have faced, and there have been only 2 opponents who I would choose to not sit down with again. (one from PLO8 and one from razz). I think as long as I continue to make smart game selection and only play when I am ready to deliver my A game, my stats will remain consistently profitable. 

I am headed to Baltimore, Maryland today to check out the poker scene down there. I have been invited by a good friend who is a sick live cash game player. He is going to take me to a few games down there and I am really excited to have some new poker experiences with new faces and new settings. So you can look forward to a Baltimore Trip Report and read about some juicy pots hopefully shipped my way =)

Gl with your personal grinds...and be Inspired. xxx