playin' the stocks game
brk: $2000 really isn't enough to "play the market".  As the other comments have suggested there is too much stacked against you.If you really want to try your hand, I'd pick 1 moderately risky stock with a shot at long-term (5-7 years) surprise growth.  There is a high probably your $2000 will become $200, but that probability exists almost universally.Personally, if I was going to bet a $2000 chunk, I would throw it at Ford stock today (F).  This is based on the fact that I used to work there (FSIC), still know several people in the company, and have a belief that they have a solid long-term strategy.  There is a high probability that they'll run out of money before they can fully enact that strategy, but if they do, that $2.50 stock will easily be $25 in 7 years.  Or $0.  That's the fun of trying to make money on individual stock trades :)In 5 years, you'll either have a decent chunk of money, or nothing.  Neither outcome is life-changing anyway.