For anyone who does not know me (um, everyone) I am a fish. New and raw. On the plus side I haven't been caught yet. And I have this vague idea that there is a thing called a 'fishing rod' and that someday, I might learn how to use it.

I have been reading through the fora on this great site and noticed how there are some folks who have 'campaigns' with published ambitions and such.

My ambition is far too high to be realistic. Basically we are talking about becoming fantastically rich, for little to no effort and in a short space of time. I prolly need to reel that one in a little bit...

So what are my (realistic) ambitions, specifically in respect of poker?

Well, I have a good job with good pay. And my own business, which is very small indeed, but growing. So money isn't the nuts, exactly. Don't get me wrong; I want more of that folding, papery loveliness, but I'm not desperate!

I find that I enjoy poker. I like the patience. The occasional burst of aggression (and surely that can only be even more fun if properly focussed with the kind of practised skill I do not yet possess). And winning; I love leaving a table with more than I started with, even if it is only a few cents.

I also like the odd drink and getting a bit squiffy. So in an ideal world, I would let a good claret breathe then sample it to slight (or extreme) excess while demonstrating the most awesome poker anyone has ever seen.

Problem with that, I am guessing, is that alcohol and good poker don't mix. Am I right that poker requires; judgement, patience, concentration and some other stuff as well (including mathematics)? This stuff does not mix with a good claret, I'm guessing.

Oh, please, please, please tell me if I am wrong; that great poker players are always half-gone on a good single malt. But I am guessing that the only peeps that might tell me that are folks that want to find me on the tables and milk me.

So, my ambition is this: To build up a sufficient bank roll (and sufficient skill to maintain it) to fund occasional Friday night games at lower stakes to my usual game so I can play them blind drunk and not worry about the losses.

Math geniuses - please work out the bank roll needed for that!