I'll be starting at 10NL on Ignition. I'm creating this thread to evaluate my performance and provide a framework to challenge myself. I find myself lost sometimes grinding and I believe having goals to always advance toward is crucial in poker success.

I haven't played much for 3-4 years so I am pretty rusty. I always lingered around slightly winning micro stakes back in the day but had no real goals and then the LockPoker BS happened so I gave up losing what roll I had and most of my interest in online poker.

I do have a job working overnight full time 4 or 5 nights per week. But, I believe I can put in 7-10k hands per week. I believe the sleep schedule I am on from working nights will be beneficial as my nights off my body will be ready to grind all night during peak hours.

My main priority is playing at a high level. If I am too tired, unmotivated, or burnout I will take a break instead of cramming in volume. I'd like to complete this challenge as quickly as possible, but there is no rush.

This is my graph since I started back last week. I deposited $150 and started at 10NL.



I'm dedicating myself to getting a 25 BI $1,250 by grinding my way through the ranks. I will update at minimum once weekly of my progress and thoughts.

I did just do a test withdrawal which I received super fast and I'm really motivated now. After withdrawal my bankroll is at $192.57.

Enjoy the journey

Graph for this past week. Pretty swingy and running significantly below EV. I could have definitely put in more hours and went harder. There is still much to work on. Will try to hit 50K total hands by next week.

Bankroll $281

Hey good luck. We're in about the same boat it looks like. I work night shifts, just started grinding on Ignition after a number of years off and am chipping back away at the micros.

Are you using Bitcoin for withdrawals?

Also, what games are you playing? 6 max, full ring, Zone?

One last question, how did you import your hands to Poker Tracker? I guess I assumed tracking software didn't work on Ignition.

I play 6 max.

Yes I use bitcoin for withdrawals to a BitPay card. Last time I got withdrawal to cash in 22 hours.

I use Ace Poker Solutions HH converter to convert HH into PT4. It works great and I highly recommend it. They even have a support thread in the forum.

Cool. I'll have to check it out when my computer stops acting like a little *****.

25,000 Hands Complete

I have taken a break the past couple of days. Below are my up to date results. Tomorrow I will be re-charged and it's time to get back on the grind.




Ignition rewards system sucks. All that play I got enough for 1 $5.50 MTT in points to tickets. I just used it and bought into the $5 $2K GTD late.

I'm too unfocused for cash game tonight I will stick to this tournament and relax. I will start back tomorrow.


Bankroll $338.61

Current Task

1. Hit 50K total hands while maintaining 7+BB/100 win-rate by 5/21/17

Once I complete this task my roll should be enough to jump to 25NL.

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

BTN: 38.4 BB
Hero (SB): 150.2 BB
BB: 110.3 BB
UTG: 101.6 BB
MP: 254.7 BB
CO: 135.1 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, MP calls 3 BB

Flop: (9 BB, 2 players) 6 5 J
Hero bets 9 BB, MP raises to 18 BB, Hero raises to 36 BB, MP calls 18 BB

Turn: (81 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 110.2 BB and is all-in, MP calls 110.2 BB

River: (301.4 BB, 2 players) K


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

BB: 91 BB
CO: 22.2 BB
Hero (BTN): 147.3 BB
SB: 383 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 8 Q

fold, Hero calls 1 BB, SB raises to 2 BB, fold, Hero calls 1 BB

Flop: (5 BB, 2 players) T 3 J
SB bets 5.6 BB, Hero raises to 21.8 BB, SB raises to 38 BB, Hero raises to 145.3 BB and is all-in, SB calls 107.3 BB

Turn: (295.6 BB, 2 players) K

River: (295.6 BB, 2 players) 3

Hero shows 8 Q (One Pair, Threes)
(Pre 37%, Flop 54%, Turn 33%)
SB shows T A (Two Pair, Tens and Threes)
(Pre 63%, Flop 46%, Turn 68%)
BB mucks 5 8 (One Pair, Threes)

CO mucks J 6 (Two Pair, Jacks and Threes)

SB wins 285.6 BB

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

UTG: 260.3 BB
MP: 110.8 BB
CO: 108 BB
Hero (BTN): 240.6 BB
SB: 95.9 BB
BB: 101.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has T T

fold, fold, CO calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 4.5 BB, fold, BB calls 3.5 BB, CO calls 3.5 BB

Flop: (14 BB, 3 players) T 4 2
BB checks, CO checks, Hero checks

Turn: (14 BB, 3 players) A
BB checks, CO bets 14 BB, Hero raises to 50 BB, BB calls 50 BB, CO calls 36 BB

River: (164 BB, 3 players) J
BB checks, CO bets 53.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 53.5 BB, BB calls 46.9 BB and is all-in

CO shows 2 A (Two Pair, Aces and Twos)

Main Pot [304.7 BB]: (Pre 31%, Flop 5%, Turn 6%)
Side Pot#1 [13.2 BB]: (Pre 33%, Flop 5%, Turn 6%)

Hero shows T T (Three of a Kind, Tens)

Main Pot [304.7 BB]: (Pre 47%, Flop 93%, Turn 94%)
Side Pot#1 [13.2 BB]: (Pre 67%, Flop 95%, Turn 94%)

UTG mucks 8 Q (High Card, Ace)

MP mucks 5 7 (High Card, Ace)

SB mucks 4 9 (One Pair, Fours)

BB mucks 7 J (One Pair, Jacks)

Main Pot [304.7 BB]: (Pre 22%, Flop 1%, Turn 0%)

Hero wins 302.1 BB

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

BB: 102.1 BB
Hero (UTG): 190.8 BB
CO: 158.6 BB
BTN: 105.8 BB
SB: 92.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 8 8

Hero raises to 3.5 BB, CO raises to 12 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 8.5 BB

Flop: (25.5 BB, 2 players) 8 7 K
Hero checks, CO bets 15.7 BB, Hero raises to 44.3 BB, CO raises to 146.6 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 102.3 BB

Turn: (318.7 BB, 2 players) 5

River: (318.7 BB, 2 players) K

Hero shows 8 8 (Full House, Eights full of Kings)
(Pre 47%, Flop 95%, Turn 100%)
CO shows A K (Three of a Kind, Kings)
(Pre 53%, Flop 5%, Turn 0%)
BB mucks T 2 (One Pair, Kings)

BTN mucks 7 8 (Two Pair, Kings and Eights)

SB mucks 9 4 (One Pair, Kings)

Hero wins 302.8 BB

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

SB: 127.6 BB
Hero (BB): 146.2 BB
UTG: 114.8 BB
CO: 25.9 BB
BTN: 100.4 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, CO raises to 2 BB, fold, SB raises to 4 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, CO calls 2 BB

Flop: (12 BB, 3 players) 8 7 T
SB bets 8 BB, Hero calls 8 BB, CO calls 8 BB

Turn: (36 BB, 3 players) 4
SB bets 20 BB, Hero calls 20 BB, fold

River: (76 BB, 2 players) A
SB bets 95.6 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 95.6 BB

SB shows K 9 (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 40%, Flop 27%, Turn 21%)
Hero shows Q A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 60%, Flop 73%, Turn 79%)
UTG mucks 2 5 (High Card, Ace)

CO mucks J A (One Pair, Aces)

BTN mucks 5 J (High Card, Ace)

Hero wins 253.9 BB

3 Losers + 3 Winners

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

UTG: 105.1 BB
CO: 84 BB
Hero (BTN): 100 BB
SB: 70.5 BB
BB: 237.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

fold, fold, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, fold, BB calls 2.5 BB

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) J 3 9
BB checks, Hero bets 6.5 BB, BB calls 6.5 BB

Turn: (20.5 BB, 2 players) 5
BB checks, Hero bets 20.5 BB, BB raises to 82 BB, Hero raises to 90 BB and is all-in, BB calls 8 BB

River: (200.5 BB, 2 players) 8




Guy tanked until almost last second.

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

SB: 95.5 BB
BB: 76.6 BB
CO: 105.1 BB
Hero (BTN): 103 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

CO raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 9.5 BB, fold, fold, CO raises to 20 BB, Hero calls 10.5 BB

Flop: (41.5 BB, 2 players) Q 4 T
CO checks, Hero bets 20.7 BB, CO calls 20.7 BB

Turn: (82.9 BB, 2 players) 8
CO checks, Hero bets 62.3 BB and is all-in, CO calls 62.3 BB

River: (207.5 BB, 2 players) K



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

BTN: 38.4 BB
Hero (SB): 150.2 BB
BB: 110.3 BB
UTG: 101.6 BB
MP: 254.7 BB
CO: 135.1 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q Q

fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, MP calls 3 BB

Flop: (9 BB, 2 players) 6 5 J
Hero bets 9 BB, MP raises to 18 BB, Hero raises to 36 BB, MP calls 18 BB

Turn: (81 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero bets 110.2 BB and is all-in, MP calls 110.2 BB

River: (301.4 BB, 2 players) K



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

Hero (SB): 145.8 BB
BB: 108.5 BB
UTG: 88.2 BB
CO: 99.3 BB
BTN: 180.4 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7 T

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 3 BB, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 7 5 T
Hero bets 5.3 BB, BB raises to 16.9 BB, Hero raises to 142.8 BB and is all-in, BB calls 88.6 BB and is all-in

Turn: (217 BB, 2 players) J

River: (217 BB, 2 players) 4



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

UTG: 62.6 BB
Hero (CO): 117.1 BB
BTN: 67.6 BB
SB: 90.9 BB
BB: 155.6 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 4.5 BB, fold, SB calls 4 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (11 BB, 2 players) 4 4 7
SB checks, Hero bets 5.5 BB, SB calls 5.5 BB

Turn: (22 BB, 2 players) A
SB bets 80.9 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 80.9 BB

River: (183.8 BB, 2 players) 3


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

SB: 99 BB
BB: 102.9 BB
Hero (UTG): 108.4 BB
CO: 150 BB
BTN: 51.7 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

Hero raises to 3.5 BB, CO raises to 7 BB, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 21 BB, CO calls 14 BB

Flop: (43.5 BB, 2 players) 3 6 4
Hero bets 30 BB, CO raises to 129 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 57.4 BB and is all-in

Turn: (218.3 BB, 2 players) Q

River: (218.3 BB, 2 players) Q



My fav one

At what point will you take a shot ?

I have totally flunked the challenge so far. Will I give up? NO! My story of what happened is below the most current 10NL graph.



I ran my roll up to around $300. I got frustrated after a long break even and bad beat stretch

I decided to hop into PLO. I've never even played the game I didn't know what I was doing. So I hopped into PLO HU SNGS and crushed about 20 of them. Had my roll at 500. Life was smooth I finally had a roll where I could play 25NL. I have decided I love PLO and will be getting back into it soon as I am properly rolled. 10NL PLO just isn't fun it's 25PLO or more for more so I will NL until I get around $750.00 to PLO.

Non-Poker Story
Long story, short. I was staying at my best friend's house and during this whole time my friend's mom (who lives with and is supported by him and his uncle) was there doing her usually meth head behavior. I'm on the East Coast of USA so I've never really seen meth heads in action. They are nuts.

She robbed us all multiple times over the weekend. One $20 out of 3 wallets,(mine,son's, other friends), my $10 roll of quarters for laundry, some medication here, and random hygiene products. I don't get it, I would have given her any of these items had she requested. Then she lies when confronted and says we disrespected her and we framed her because we all hate her. She even stole her own son's Amazon package and tried to pawn it. The evidence was circumstantial at first until we caught her red handed. She eventually called the police on ME and they could clearly tell she was smoked out of her head and just suggested I stay away from the residence. Which sucks that was my chill spot with my boy but whatever. I could go on about all the wild stories at that place but this is a poker forum and you get the just.

Back to Poker
So, these are not conditions to be firing up the poker client. They are all doing drugs, drinking, pot, etc. But, no, I had to shot at 25NL full stacked PLO where I quickly lose $100. Then after raging monkey tilt I jumped into $25 ZONE so I could quickly recover my loses. Ended up going broke down to $27 and almost threw my computer out the window. I was heated from the mother ordeal and suffering severe anxiety and my mind was not in the right state of mind to play.

I got home and entered all the last money I had in 6 tournaments. I ended up final tabling 2 of them. I had my roll back up to $270 above where I began. Instead of taking a breather or a few days off to regain composure. I was like **** 10NL i'm sick of playing for this dime bull****. Back on $25 ZONE. well, now I have $107 bankroll.

I have learned many lessons from this experience and will do all I can to not repeat them.

Right now i'm debating taking a 10.7 shot at 10NL again and if I lose I can just reload $300 in 3 weeks when I get paid. Or try 5NL. 5NL is just so boring and 10NL is bad enough.

But, if I go broke i'll have no poker for 3 weeks which may be a good thing. I've had a few day break I feel like I played my A+ game yesterday but suffered lot's of bad beats.

I will make my decision by lunchtime. One thing for sure, I will not quit. I will complete this thread and get to 50NL. If I want to complete the goal I must make more sacrifices.

Well, I guess you could say I took some very unsuccessful shots and now may even be rebuilding the roll from less than what I had. I learned some very valuable bankroll management lessons and will not shot 25NL until $600.00

IMO you are wasting valuable time waiting until $600 to play 25nl. Rake is too high and players are not good. Honestly if I had $200 I'm instantly sitting $25nl