GOTTA CATCH THE LAST TRAIN - The Bankroll Challenge

Hi Matt and welkome to my blog.

It was a while when I last time write something here. Not proud of that for sure. Can say that because of time but probably should take few minutes per day or at least per week and write something.

And I was thinking about it lately. Have a lot of to write it. A lot of thinks happen in second half of that year.

Ok. Will go into more details soon. Probably the most interesting think is that I quit my regular job and start doing poker full time. Why? Because I just feel that I have to do it. You now people always talk about what they wanna do in there lives, how they are unhappy at there jobs and so on and so on. But almost no one take an action to change that. Everyone looks for right moment, right time. But it will never actually came. Always came something in between.

So I did in eyes of "normal" people absurde thing. As loosing player quit my job, where I have been payed every month (around €1k) and start chasing my dream. And yes I find myself in verry uncomfortable situation. Especially financially. But you need to belive it and follow proces. And by that I don't mean that I will stay with poker even if I won't have something to eat, like some gambler. No. I will look for a job if I will need money and I won't get any from poker. I just did what almost no one dare to do it. If I am insane? Probably yes. But I decide to do it and for now it is working fine for me. It will be probably even better if I will put in 120%.

I must be onest and say that if I won't succeed I would need to give a credit for that to my not so good work ethic. And because of that I wanna get back to that blog and start to update it daily.

Let's go to games that I play lately. At the moment I am looking for a game where I will be able to get as much as possible $/h for my low BR. Yea I already say that I am not normal . So what is my thinking process? How to get bigger BR and at the same time get enough for my monthly costs?

I decide to start playing CG. Before I was playing 6-max turbo SNGs, but I don't have passion for them anymore. If I am onest, I never have some real passion for playing them. I always love fast formats. Yea but then I will say to you that by the far best format that I wanna grind in the future are MTTs. WTF!? Or? Yea. I love MTTs and I wanna grind them in the future. But for now I will just stick to the format that will bring me $ faster and I think that CG is good option. I was playing CG before, but stop it because it was really annoying to me when table brake and I need to find another one. And now is there speed poker, where is always full table. Definitelly it is more profitable to play normal CG format, because of table sellection, but I don't like them.

Because of that I decide to start playing 6-max ZOOM at NL5. Right now I have played around 24k games and have around 5bb/100. My goal is to reach 10bb/100 over 100k games. I hope I am not too unrealistic on that. It is enough that I am unreallistic about my life .

And off course I will chase my luck in MTTs.

Ok I will go more into goals and everything else in the next days. And i wanna give BIG THANKS to everyone who will follow my journey and encourage me. I hope I won't stap back anymore. I did it a lot in the past and I really don't wanna do it again.

SO THANKS TO ALL WHO WILL FOLLOW AND ENCOURAGE ME ON MY JOURNEY!

Ok. Lets start (continue) with goals. This time I will go step by step.

First of all let put the name for the challenge:
BECAME PROFITABLE CG PLAYER AT 6-MAX FAST TABLES (ZOOM, SPEED, etc.)

Goal is to reach 10bb/100 on NL5 over 100k games. By that I don't mean first 100k games, because I am basically new to CG, but at the end, this is what I want. How to do it? Well step by step. And first one is to get familiar with open rasing ranges.

1st step: open raising ranges
I have made open rasing charts in excel and have them opened during my grind and when I am learning. For now my learning tool is PokerSnowie, where I made 500 hands daily. This take me around 1h and here are results so far:

It is interesting that it says that I played better yesterday despite the fact that I made more errors and blunders. I found that tool (challenge) usefull, so I will be doing that daily. For now I am focused on open raises and preflop play. I think that less errors PF will bring me less errors post flop.

Till the end of the November (3days ) I probably won't play a lot of hands, but in December I will need to, because I need to get 6k points on Gala to cleare my bonus. It expires on 3th of January.

Ok. This is it for now. Good luck at and off the tables!

I finished little bit late with todays (yesteredays) day. Through the day I have some thing to do, so I did my learning session now. Yea verry good for getting familiar with PF game plan. Download charts from the site and little bit change them. Basicaly remove some hands that has less playability post flop and add ones that have more playability. Now just need to get familiar with it and with that will help me PokerSnowie.
Todays learning session:

I must admit that I was preaty lucky in that session, because I get a lot of premium hands and also hit a lot of the time post flop, that is why just 2 blunders. But still not bad. Yea preflop errors will be probably high always, since game plan is little bit different to what PokerSnowie recomends.

Tomorrow (today) will be probably more of MTTs, but I will stick to my learning path for CG and will try to play some hands. It will depend on how good I will perform on MTTs.

Ok. Stay strong and crush at tables. GL on and off the tables!

My working day came to an end. Today I wasn't play any CG hands. Just MTTs. Get some ITMs and finish day in a profit. It could be much better, because I was deep in one, but I didn't came to finale table.
As I promised to my self, I did also 500 hands challenge in PokerSnowie. Today I get a lot of tough decisions and was card ded for a couple of hands. I was really struggeling at that challenge today. Here are results:

Gameplan is comming into my had slowly and I can't wait for tomorrow to play CG again.

Be good and wish you very best on and off the tables!

Yea I also think that we need to do somethng to prevent them from being so unscrupulous. It seems that they can do everything that they wan't. I personaly think that Dani put out verry good points in his interview (see bellow). It is not that I am scared of tough games. Poker is a game of incomplete informations and because of that there will be always someone who use that inforamation better. But what is concerne me is the attitude that PokerStars is showing.

I understand that changes has to be made if market dictates it. But what is writen and promised should never be affected. Those guys/girls who take there time to be able to get SNE, should have all of it benefits as they are been promised at the begining of the year. They will be affected the most at the begining and I think that all of us, who understand there hard work and amount of the time they put in, should support them and be with them in those tough times. So I am definitely in with that strike on 1st of December till 3rd of december. And this support is also for our selfs. Changes will effect all of us and there will be probably more changes, even more drastically ones, if we don't step together and say stop to that madness.

I will cash out all my money on 1st of December at 00:01 CET and won't play any game untill 4th of December 00:01 CET. And in the meanwhile I will try to put in insame volume on other site (Gala in my case).

GL at the tables and off them!

PokerSnowie 500 hand Challenge:
29th of November 2015


30th of November 2015

Working day is over. So do little bit of review. Finally get gordons book (no BS 6-max). So it is time to go through it and put things into my game plan. Especially post flop, where I am terrible. It will be great to have some default game plan post flop and then deviate from it depending on opponents. Also start watching w34z3l's videos and already seen that he and Gordon has similar aproach to micro games. And I little bit change my PF game plan because of the informations that I get from both of them (videos and book).
The other news is that my free trial licence for PokerSnowie expired, so I wasn't able to complete my 500 hand challenge.

Here are stats and graph from today:

And hand that I am not sure about it: Straight on paired board

GL at the tables and off them!

Ok. What is going on last days? I didn't play much of CG. Did some volume on MTTs. I didn't do as much volume as I wanna do douring strake on PS. I play around 3k games in that time and played badly. Also take day off, because my gf has it also. Now I am full back and prepared to clean that bonus. I have time to do it till 3rd of January. So fingers crossed.

Yea will need to put in a lot of work in next days, so I will be able to get 2 days free for Christmass and new year.

So goals for December are:
- 100k hands
- 250 MTTs
- get familiar with game plan
- watch all w34z3l's walkthrough videos
- buy Gordons No BS 6-max videos ($40)

I won't do much of session reviews, because I have no sample and it is very important to get this PF and post flop game plan fare sample before I make some changes. I think that alot of the things will came clear when I get those videos. So I hope that in January or February I will have enough big database so when I take coaching session it will be something to talk about. Untill then I think that I have a lot of work to do on my own.

But yea. If in the meanwhile I get some serious $ on MTTs, then I will turn full into MTTs :f_love::f_love:
Will do it already, but nead big enough BR to be able to play MTTs, where $/h is high enough. But this is another storry. Lets take step by step.

MTTs this month:

CG so far:

GL at tables and off them!

...♦

Ok lets bring that blog back to life. This challenge will be perfect for that. But most important is that will keep me active.

What is my current situation?
Last year in August I left my full time job and start playing poker full time. Since then I am around BE (if I include monthly expences). It was brutal start. I didn't have any results from the last year. In fact I was around $700 in minus. And was not happy where the game (6-max turbo SNGs) that I play then was going. I must also say that I didn't give 100% and this was probably the main reason why I didn't get better results. But anyway. I also play MTTs and get some results. Came 5th in Chrome+ VIP tournament for $150 and in November get 2nd in Silver+ weekly torunament (100FPP BI) for $3k after deal. I always love MTTs, but because of full time job I can't play them. But now is different and I decide to go with them. So now I am playing MTTs (freerols - $6 and some major tournaments such as Saturday Micro, Sunday Storm, and bigger nad hotter ones up to $11) and 180-man SNGs ($2,5). My BR right now is redicilously small for that. I wanna increase it, so I will be able to grind normally MTTs from $3 to $220(Sunday Million). I also play every month a tournament which cost me $650 and is called Monthly Bills. Because of that I will increase my BR slowly and probably for a whole year.

My current BR: $400 & 1100 Stars Coins
Target BR: $10k

What is my 2016 BR challenge?
- update blog at least 2 times/week
- complete small challenges that I will introduce them during the year
- get coach
- target BR: $10k
- target profit: $30k
- DEADLINE: 31st of December 2016 at 23:59 CET

AWARD FOR REACHING TARGET PROFIT:
- EUREKA PRAGUE (December 2016)
- PCA (January 2017)

1st side challenge:
- goldstar on Stars
- post at least 17 hands on forum for evaluation
- DEADLINE: 31st of January 2016 at 23:59 CET

GL at the tables and off them!

p.s.: forget to add Stars Coins so I edit first post

Hey mylove190207,

Welcome to the 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' bankroll challenge. we will be looking forward to your first update which you should post by Monday of each week in Get Rich or Die Tryin' - The Bankroll Challenge - Reporting thread.

Have fun

Laz

Hi mylove190207,

also welcome from my side!
nice structured post - if you have the same work ethic when it comes to your poker game, i am sure you will be on the road to success.
Looking forward to your hands & weekly upswing reports!

SvenBe

Yea begining of the year is not really good for me in terms of results. But horoscope says that this year will be at least good one so I have faith that this will turn around and that I will get to my goals at the end of the year.

Same is for that challenge. Weekend was not profitable. I lost $62,25 of my BR. Yea and those wins. I can't win a tournament. Grrrrrrr. 3 second places. So I decide to take me and my gf on some nice dinner when 1st win came.

Another problem that I have is my comp. I really need new one, because I can't play more than 6 tables at the same time. And if I manage to get into final table on 2 tournaments I can't play normally. It is like I am playing some video game with superb graphic which my comp doesn't support. So I really hope for some result in January to buy new one and then increase multitabling so I won't spend 15h/day playing. Yes I grind a lot of hours just because I can't multitable more than 6 tables. And even that is too much so I need to clean RAM on 2h. I also use jivaro which takes a LOT of CPU. My comp just can't handel it well. And I used to play with Jivaro so much that I just can't without him anymore. It is really awesome tool.

Also wanna ask you how are you spending Stars Coins? I will use them for tournament BI. I think that those 6max hypers are not so good option for me, because I can't see myself having at least 34% ITM on them to get better prize then 0,01/SC. Last year I have 33% and it was just enough to get little bit more than PlatinumStar conversion. And I was Silver, so this was good option for me, but now not anymore. Or sell them or buy tournament tickets. What do you think?

Progress so far in 2016 BR Challenge:
- this is my first update so one more in that week
- current BR: $337,75 & 631,63 Stars Coins
- current profit: -$62,25

Progress in side challenge:
- GoldStar progress: 585,74VPP/2500VPP
- 0/17 hands posted

GL at tables and off them!

2 same posts so I edit one to that

Thanks Lazza61 and SvenBe for your support!!

I am happy with hours that I put in for grinding, but my studying time is almost at zero. Basically what I did was some hands review that I mark them and this was about 1h before I start play. Didn't post yet any hand on evaluation forum, so will need to start doing it. I have some spots that I am not sure what the right aproach is. Will definitely post it in next days.

Results are not really great, but it starts to turn around. Yesterday I have really good day in terms of profit, but it was terrible when it cames to winnings. I just can't win a tournament. So sick. 7 second places and 0 winns. WTF! I am sure that my HU game is not as bad. In fact last week of last year I manage to win 5 in a row. Also lately I play some HU hyper SNGs to review my HU gameplan and I manage to make some profit. Ok it is $1,5 and no sample (37 games), but I am sure that my game is not like a crap. It is just variance. I will definitely look to improve in that area, because it can lead my ROI to much higher stage. Will probably do also side HU learning challenge. But probably in February.

What else? Yea right now I realy need to grind a lot to overcome that "downswing" and get profit that I need to cover monthly costs plus I need to get GoldStar status this month, so I will get more StarsCoins which I am spanding for MTT tickets. IT is not really what will I recomend to do, but when you don't have other income, it is necesery to do so. I am confident that 10-15% ROI is achivable with the play that I bring to tables right now. For more is definitelly crusal to put in studying hours and improve in all areas.

Maybe I am little bit worryed, because I didn't find yet a reg, that will have around 20% ROI for 180-man SNG. Maybe the mine reason is that they play so many tables or I didn't find one that will have more than 20%. And also because of that I need to grind a lot, so 12% ROI will bring me what I need. So far I have around 30% ROI over 924 games.

So far MTTs are not giving me back, but I am sure this will change. Especially when I get more into studying surten spots and of course when I manage to get at least decent volume. Probably after 3 months or so.

Progress so far in 2016 BR Challenge:
- this is my second update for that week, so check mark here
- current BR: $492,76 & 156,63 Stars Coins
- current profit: $92,76

Progress in side challenge:
- GoldStar progress: 888,13VPP/2500VPP
- 0/17 hands posted

Let me introduce one more challenge:
- get into first 50 on ranking list for Slovenian poker players on PocketFives

Currently I am on 98th place from 242 players. It is shame that Stars doesn't have any more torunament leader board, so this is leader board that I will follow and try to get as high as possible. I am sportsman, so besides the money results are something that are really important for me. They drive me forward. I must admit that I have REALLY BAD FILLING when I remember that on last MTT that I was in HU I didn't do anything to win it. Why? Because we made deal to chop so we just play for which name will be writen first and which second, both of us where really tired so we agree that we will go all-in every hand. But more I remember it, more I am sorry for it. I wanna winns. Maybe is some sort of carma that doesn allow me to win tournaments now. But I am really sorry and will NEVER do that again. For sure.

Ok this is already long post and it is actually my free day so be nice and see you on Monday for next update. By

first hand posted: When to take negative edge
Hands posted: 1/17

This will be quick update, because I don't have much time. I am chasing GoldStar and recently saw that I have time only till 30th of January, because on that day start tournament for GoldStar+ with 100k Gtd. Will be definitelly stupid not to play it because I will achiev status day too late. More of update will came in the midle of the week. Probably Thoursday or Friday.

Also BR is lower than it should be because I take some out for running costs. Also from now on I will show my BR dirrectly from PS client, because I get different informations from Sharkscope and PT4. For profit results I will take lower number (PT4 or Sharkscope).

Progress so far in 2016 BR Challenge:
- this is first update of the week, so one more
- current BR: $354,15 & 581,63 SC
- current profit: $104 (PokerTracker)

Progress in side challenge:
- GoldStar progress: 1272,61VPP/2500VPP
- 1/17 hands posted

And something to pump us up:

I expect it and did it. First win of the year came so I and my gf decide that we are going in spa for chocolate bath. More of that in next update.

GL at tables!

It was very bad start of the week. Mondays, mondays I would say. Should probably have breaks every Monday. I just hope that rest of the days of the week it will be better. Till now I made big loss and maybe will need to step down for couple of days. Will see how this will effect my GoldStar chase, but it is more important that I don't bust.

On thursday I finally met Darko in Zagreb. It was really quickly, because I was there just for couple of hours, so we will need to repeat it when we all be free for all day. It was my first time in Zagreb and I didn't see it much. Yea and off-course I wanna also play some live tournament there.

Yea and something about chocolate bath. Interesting experience. Bath with thermal water, chocholate cocktail, chocolate fondue. Really nice and relaxing experience.

Yea we really enjoyed that experience. Definitelly should go on more of those things in future.

Today is already Saturday and as all other weekends this one will also be busy. Need to grind a lot and also a lot of good MTTs are running in that time, starting with Saturday Micro. And I also made a little stake, so everything will be even more interesting. I hope that @UPAY4DINNER make some good result and give my BR little boost.

Progress so far in 2016 BR Challenge:
- this is 2nd update of the week
- current BR: $212,78 & 781,63 SC
- current profit: -$78,57

Progress in side challenge:
- GoldStar progress: 1563,90VPP/2500VPP
- 1/17 hands posted

GL at tables!

It was very bad start of the week and it not complete any better. Lost a lot of my BR and need to step down. It was a lot of set-ups, some bad decisions and everything together results in the way it did. But I a happy that I didn't play super bad because of that and manage to keep focus on good decisions. It is really hard when your BR start to drop and you are reaching red line of busting BR. Also I make some cashout to pay for bills and because of that my BR is so small. But I know that I can get up and complete my challenge successfully.

HOW TO GET OUT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AND BUILD UP BR TO $500:
- step down to stakes, which allows me to play without of "busting" pressure (100BI)
- play sattelites for tournaments that I can't register dirrectly because of my BR
- use StarCoins for tournament BI
- mark hands and evaluate them to get better
- don't pay attention to results but rather on decisions
- I CAN, I WILL, I MUST!!

Progress so far in 2016 BR Challenge:
- this is my first update of the week
- current BR: $81,05 & 11,63 SC
- current profit: -$63,72 (PokerTracker)

Progress in side challenge:
- GoldStar progress: 1581,40VPP/2500VPP
- 1/17 hands posted

GL at tables!