This thread will be about my journey from the micro stakes to hopefully the high stakes. I will be playing strictly 6-max on Ignition starting at 5 NL.

Challenges before moving up to the next stake:
5NL: 20,000 hands
10NL: 50,000 hands
25NL: 200,000-250,000 hands
(Also will need a minimum of 20 max buy-ins before moving to the next stake)


I will be posting graphs every 5k hands along any interesting hands that I come across.
5k graph to be posted shortly.

(Feel free to ask any poker related questions, I will be happy to give my opinion)
Let the Grind begin!

5K Graph Below!
Started off well, just have to continue putting in the volume.

hello sir nice first 5k hands!!gl with your challenge.How is the traffic on ignition?

GL bro let's get it!

Thanks for the support Winkelstraat. Hitting a massive downswing at the moment, 10k graph will definitely reflect that. Hopefully I can grind through it. Traffic is alright, I have a buddy who is on ACR and it seems that Ignition is a much softer and profitable site. Usually 6-7 5NL tables running

10K Graph
Ran into a massive downswing, however slow and steady I am grinding it back

15K Graph
Went on a mini heater before reaching 15 k hands, brought my BB/100 back up a bit. Plan is to put in another 5k hands in order to meet my goal of 20k, hopefully the bankroll is between $220-250 at that point. I will then move up stakes to 10NL and play 50k hands as originally stated and evaluate the situation from there.

Solid graph bro keep it up!

20K Graph
5NL challenge complete. FINALLY! Time to move up to 10NL and continue the grind. I may or may not take a couple shots at 25NL, depending on how my sessions on 10NL go.

5k 10NL Graph
A bit of a slow start to my 10NL challenge, however i feel like i will be able to beat this stake at the same rate as a did on 5NL. My main focus for the upcoming week is to put in as many hours as possible. I'm going to be starting a full time job next week therefore, I am planning on putting in a good amount of volume this upcoming week.
AHHHHHH!!! Just misclicked $30 all in pre with 8d 6d utg because of this post LOL! Got called by KK and doubled the player up. $22 pot :/

10K 10NL Graph
Got crushed, not much else to say. Most players are extremely fishy, i ended up getting it all in on the flop with an over pair to their donk-bet jam, where they had two-pair. This happened several times, however can't see myself folding in those spots too often. The variance is real. Not going to let the downswing get to me, just going to keep at it and grind it out.

My first hand posting. I played an interesting hand here, i would love some feedback/criticism. Let me know what you guys think.

iPoker - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 30 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
CO: 134 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 18)
BTN: 123.3 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 1.92, 3Bet Preflop: 3.23, Hands: 52)
Hero (SB): 131.8 BB
BB: 244.1 BB (VPIP: 92.98, PFR: 47.37, 3Bet Preflop: 28.00, Hands: 60)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J 9

fold, CO raises to 2.7 BB, fold, Hero raises to 10.4 BB, fold, CO calls 7.7 BB

Flop: (21.8 BB, 2 players) J A 9
Hero bets 10.9 BB, CO calls 10.9 BB

Turn: (43.6 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero bets 26.8 BB, CO calls 26.8 BB

River: (97.2 BB, 2 players) Q
Hero checks, CO bets 85.9 BB, fold

CO wins 178.3 BB

15k 10NL Graph
Progress ladies and gentleman, we are in the green and it feels good ! Full-time job starts tomorrow, however most likely going to put in a couple of hours after work. I want to move up to 25NL already however need to stay patient and grind out the challenge in order to have a proper bankroll.

20k 10NL Graph
HEATER ALERT!!! Last 5k hands were quite enjoyable, just take a look at that spike! Hopefully I can maintain this BB/100 going forward and throughout the 50K challenge. I do not plan on taking any 25NL shots even though I want to. Just going to grind through 30K more hands at 10NL, which should leave me with a bigger then expected bankroll for 25NL if all goes well.

Solid stuff! Keep the upswing going!

Do not stop playing for having such a ''break'', this event is gonna happen anytime, so my suggestion is to be one step ahead and always keep in mind that you can play some more, at least on less tables but still playing, still with chances.
Crush it bro

Thanks for the motivation and support mchares, whenever i have some free time I am going to try to hop on and get some volume in. Thanks for commenting and stayed tuned for the journey !

Thanks for the support DonkeyKong, much appreciated ! You're my #1 follower haha! Shout out to DonkeyKongMK for staying tuned in on my grind to the "riches"

Played an interesting hand here Pre-flop just a couple of minutes ago. Just some background: The hand prior to this, i beat the the player on the button in this hand for a decent pot around $19 dollars. With that in mind i decided to play the hand the following way:

iPoker - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 105.8 BB (VPIP: 21.33, PFR: 14.67, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 76)
BB: 190.4 BB (VPIP: 35.29, PFR: 29.41, 3Bet Preflop: 22.22, Hands: 17)
Hero (UTG): 154.5 BB
CO: 145.1 BB (VPIP: 59.18, PFR: 8.16, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 50)
BTN: 98.3 BB (VPIP: 36.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 7.14, Hands: 30)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K A

Hero raises to 3 BB, CO raises to 10.5 BB, BTN raises to 31 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 54 BB, CO raises to 145.1 BB, BTN calls 67.3 BB, fold

Flop: (252.1 BB, 2 players) 3 6 5

Turn: (252.1 BB, 2 players) 4

River: (252.1 BB, 2 players) 6

CO shows J K (One Pair, Sixes)
(Pre 12%, Flop 3%, Turn 10%)
BTN shows A A (Two Pair, Aces and Sixes)
(Pre 88%, Flop 97%, Turn 90%)
CO wins 46.8 BB
BTN wins 239.5 BB


As you read, I decided to 5 bet with AK. The 5 bet was rather on the smallish side as i wanted to go heads up with the BTN. The CO played a wide range of hands but was extremely passive pre-flop. I also wanted to size my 5 bet rather small in case the CO jammed for his remaining stack.This is exactly what happened and the BTN snap called leaving me with a though decision since the pot was on the rather larger side. I ended up folding having a feeling that the CO had me dominated. To my surprise the CO just decided to go bananas with KJ, however the BTN woke up with AA. Probably would have ended up getting stacked by the BTN if the CO folded to my 5 bet.

All critiques and comments are welcome, thanks guys! #grind

Fold vs BTN 4B, I believe our Villian is decent enough to not 4B the fish (who is extremely passive like you said) with hand worse than AK, even after the hand you guys just played, its just a single hand that you can just let go.

Other point is that you compromised the third part of your stack already and fold the AK, I believe that this is never good, with that money in, its worse folding than calling.

Good analysis mchares, I was thinking the same thing after reviewing the hand again. Should have just let it go.
I had around $5 committed and $10 so yes a third of my stack. I just felt that after the jam there is no way I am even flipping. In the long run tho the play seems to be to fold to 4 bet, and then call off once i have a third committed. Thanks for the critique, definitely helpful.

25K 10NL Graph
HALFWAY THERE! Cant wait to finish this challenge and hit 25NL.
Heater is officially over to say the least. Definitely have not been playing my A game. I am however happy that I am getting some decent volume in. Started reviewing and studying more and more hands. I feel that my game has definitely improved.

30K 10NL Graph

The countdown to 25NL begins. Pretty satisfied with my play lately, aside from a few hands. A mini goal that I set for myself is to be winning at least 10BB's/100 after this 50K challenge. Lost about 3 buy ins within the last 40 hands, which is always brutal. Basically got coolered in both hands, verse extremely fishy loose players.
20K more hands, lets go!!

35K 10NL Graph
Results have not been up to par. Still excited for the 25NL streets, just need to get final 15k hands in and hopefully I will have around $550 in the roll by then.

Subbed brah. See you at the tables.