I recently had a challenge on her labeled my microstakes grind. It was going fairly well. I just recently got a decent check so I decided to take $50 of it and deposit it into my FTP account. This brought my BR up to the $75 mark. So now I am going to start a new challenge to myself. My first challenge was a good starter to get a feel of where I am at. Here is my new challenge:

Challenge:
- Go from $75 to $500 by the end of October.

Stipulations:
- I will only play at stakes as soon as I have 20 buy ins.
- I will move down in stakes after I lose 10 buy ins. (Which hopefully will not happen)
- I will begin by 10 tabling .01/.02 FR

I feel like 3 months is a good time frame for this. I am starting up school again at the end of this month so I won't be able to spend as much time playing. I feel like by the end of the year is too much time and way to feasible. I want to challenge myself as much as possible. I am going to start this new challenge right now .

you re better off playing a 7 to 10 BI roll over 4 tables. I cant understand why anybody would 10 tables 2nl but to each his own.

GL

That makes sense. What limits would suggest a 7-10 BI? At what limit should you move the 7-10 to 20 or so?

took maybe's advice and played a session of .02/.05 rush. Here are the results:

Duration: 464 hands (~1 hour)
Profit/Loss: +$1.14
BR: $77.74

Here is the biggest pot won:

Full Tilt Poker $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BB: $8.10
UTG: $3.61
UTG+1: $6.29
Hero (UTG+2): $9.62
MP1: $4.26
MP2: $9.07
CO: $4.50
BTN: $1.44
SB: $4.07

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG+2 with 6 8
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.15, 5 folds, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.32) 8 7 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.20, BB calls $0.20

Turn: ($0.72) K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.40, BB raises to $0.80, Hero calls $0.40

River: ($2.32) A (2 players)
BB bets $6.95 all in, Hero calls $6.95

Final Pot: $16.22
BB shows K A (two pair, Aces and Kings)
Hero shows 6 8 (a flush, Ace high)
Hero wins $15.14
(Rake: $1.08)

The biggest loss:

Full Tilt Poker $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BB: $2.50
Hero (UTG): $13.77
UTG+1: $4.12
UTG+2: $3.70
MP1: $4.49
MP2: $3.76
CO: $6.55
BTN: $6.42
SB: $0.89

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG with K Q
Hero raises to $0.15, UTG+1 calls $0.15, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.15, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.52) 9 2 K (3 players)
Hero bets $0.30, UTG+1 folds, MP2 calls $0.30

Turn: ($1.12) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $0.65, Hero calls $0.65

River: ($2.42) T (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $2.42, Hero calls $2.42

Final Pot: $7.26
Hero mucks K Q
MP2 shows K T (two pair, Kings and Tens)
MP2 wins $6.78
(Rake: $0.48)

I had no stats on villian. I had a feeling I was up against a KJ type of hand. Possible a A9, K9, Q9, J9 kind of hand. I didn't feel like he had the flush. I felt if he had the flush he would have made a value bet on the river which would have been way less than pot. I don't think the ppl at 5nl have the savvy to make a pot bet in order to make me think that way. Any thoughts?

Lucky Hand:

Full Tilt Poker $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

CO: $3.96
BTN: $7.46
SB: $4.32
Hero (BB): $5.10
UTG: $2.95
UTG+1: $6.87
UTG+2: $4.90
MP1: $1.89
MP2: $4.92

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with A A
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.15, 6 folds, Hero raises to $0.47, UTG+1 requests TIME, UTG+1 calls $0.32

Flop: ($0.96) 3 7 J (2 players)
Hero bets $0.70, UTG+1 raises to $2.10, Hero raises to $4.63 all in, UTG+1 calls $2.53

Turn: ($10.22) A (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($10.22) 4 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $10.22
Hero shows A A (three of a kind, Aces)
UTG+1 shows 7 7 (three of a kind, Sevens)
Hero wins $9.54
(Rake: $0.68)

My goal is a little bit like yours, i deposited 20$ on Stars and started 2 tabling 10nl cuz i feel i can crush this limit (25nl too but let's go slowly), and in one week i got to 140$, so imo if you think you have an edge in this limit, forget the hassle of 2nl and 5n, it's just disheartening at best.

Number of BIs required to play a stake should be relative to your capability of crushing the limit in question. At the same time you dont wanna go broke after a downswing. Personnaly, if you feel confortable, i'd say 10-15, otherwise wait for the standard 5%.

1 table 25NL. Just think, a cbet constitutes an entire buyin at NL5. What would you rather do, play 1000 hands to win a buyin, or cbet ONE?

those rush hands are crap

I agree with you bruce. Javi while what your saying does make sense it is very dangerous. Lets say I 1 table nl25. A few hands in I pick up AA and we end up getting it all in. He shows KK and hits a K to bust me. I just lost 1/3rd of my bankroll. I am going to use a 10/5 rule. I will move up when I have 10 buy-ins for the next level and will drop down when I lose 5. Using this rule I think playing nl25 comfortably should be easily attainable by the end of October if not by the end of September.

I am not exactly sure what you are saying here wizzard. Are you just saying that rush poker sucks?

Firing up a session right now. Will post results when done.

He is saying that they aren't (or shouldn't be) representative of a solid skill game of poker, or making particularly good decisions. They hands either played themselves, or you got lucky or unlucky.

you played them lyk a newb

raising KQo UTG FR

68s MP FR

AA is cooler mostly if you have nothing on villain

I play a much looser game when I play rush poker. I know these are not standard plays. So many people play super tight in rush poker that I loosen my game up quite a bit. This involves raising with KQo and 68s. You would be suprised at how often you will just pick up the blinds. If you get a caller than reanalyze the situation. These are plays I don't make when I play regular tables. I fold KQo and 68s everytime from those positions in a regular game. It is a strategy I have been trying out and hasn't been working too bad. I never said I played optimal poker in those situations.

Anyways I finished up my last session a couple hours ago and then went to workout. Here are the results:

Duration: 372 hands (~1 hour)
Profit/Loss: +$9.21
BR: $86.98

Biggest Win:

Full Tilt Poker $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BTN: $1.75
SB: $3.30
BB: $4.60
UTG: $5.00
UTG+1: $4.95
Hero (MP): $5.07
CO: $5.22

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is MP with 6 6
UTG raises to $0.15, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.15, 2 folds, SB calls $0.13, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.60) 4 6 2 (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $0.45, SB folds, BB folds, UTG raises to $1.20, Hero raises to $4.92 all in, UTG calls $3.65 all in

Turn: ($10.30) 7 (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($10.30) 6 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $10.30
UTG shows A K (a pair of Sixes)
Hero shows 6 6 (four of a kind, Sixes)
Hero wins $9.62
(Rake: $0.68)

Biggest Loss: Here the villian had shoved about 4 times in the last 10 hands or so. AK has to be way ahead of his range here.

Full Tilt Poker $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

CO: $5.34
BTN: $1.75
SB: $5.20
BB: $5.04
UTG: $5.00
UTG+1: $5.15
UTG+2: $0.97
MP1: $1.58
Hero (MP2): $6.57

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is MP2 with A K
3 folds, MP1 raises to $1.58 all in, Hero raises to $6.57 all in, 4 folds

Flop: ($3.23) 9 2 9

Turn: ($3.23) T

River: ($3.23) T

Final Pot: $3.23
MP1 shows T T (four of a kind, Tens)
Hero shows A K (two pair, Tens and Nines)
MP1 wins $3.02
(Rake: $0.21)

No other interesting hands really. Most of the hands played pretty straight forward.

so basically any action you get is from ranges that crush yours and you have no info on your opponents?


niiice

Not necessarily. At higher stakes absolutely. You would be surprised at how many times you are ahead when raising with KQ UTG. Many people will call with KJ, KT, QJ, QT and hands like that. If they are playing a smaller pocket pair then you are flipping. If you miss you give the hand up. If a board like A62 rainbow comes off you can make a cbet and take the pot down. The money you make from picking up the blinds and taking pots down with cbets. also the times you have your opponent dominated and make money more than enough makes up for the times you get reraised pre or the cbet doesnt work. If I raise with KQo UTG and get a caller and the flop comes Q63 rainbow and make a cbet and get called then I slow down. He could have AQ. I have poker tracker running so I do get stats on opponents throughout the session. I would not suggest this strategy passed nl5, I really wouldn't even suggest this strategy at nl5. It is just something I was experimenting with. I am a better post flop player than most of nl5 players easily. I can get away from top pair hands if there is alot of resistance. This is the beauty of poker. There is no fool proof way to make money. Different strategies can work. I do understand what you are saying though. You have a very valid point. Which is why I wouldn't suggest using this strategy unless you are completely confident in your post flop game.

if your going to 1table have like 10-15 buy ins, tbh i just lost 7 buy ins my first time at 10nl yesterday so a 7-10 buy in rule isnt that great, the greatest player in the world can lose 10 buy ins in 1-2days at any limit if they dont run good

Yea I am still trying to find my comfort level for moving up and down. This is the first time I have seriously tried to make moves with my poker bankroll. I have always been more of a recreational player. I think right now at this point after reading and watching different things. Being that the microstakes are fairly easy to beat (speaking of 2nl and 5nl because that is all I have really played for extended period of time) I am going to use a 15/10 rule while 6 tabling. If I play less than 6 tables I get bored and start making terrible moves trying to make things happen. I am going to fire up a session here in a minute and see if I can't turn in a good profit while 6 tabling nl5.

After going on a huge losing streak and dropping down to a BR of $37.03 I decided to take some time and review my PTR and find my leaks. I have posted some hands in the ML FR thread and discussed some of my lines with the guys over there. I have essentially revamped my whole game and am taking a whole new approach. So I am officially calling a restart on this goal.

My new goal is to take my 37.03 and 2 table 2nl until 1. I have a sufficient BR to play 5nl, 2. I feel my game has improved enough to play 5nl.

My long term goal is to be playing 25nl by the end of my next school year which is around May/June of next year. Also to be comfortably 10 tabling.

I will be using a 20 buy-in rule to start. If I am crushing 2nl over a big sample size I will prolly drop the 20 buy-ins to 15 to move up to 5nl. I will not go down any farther than 15 buy-ins to move up. I tend to kind of have ADD when it comes to accomplishing goals and try to complete them faster than I can which causes me to play bad.

So my main focus this time is the stay focused and keep telling myself you have plenty of time to make your goal so stick to your rules. I am firing up my first 2 table session of 2nl right now. Will post results after.

I already know 2 tabling 2nl is going to be extremely boring but I feel it is necessary with my current bankroll and need to improve my game dramatically.

hey op, i'm in the middle of a challenge similar to yours

i would recommend u to 2-4 table 2nl until u get at least $70, then you can 2-4 table 5nl until u reach at least $200, then u can take shots at 10nl, but if you fall several bi's below $200, regrind ur bankroll in 5nl back to $200

Also, instead of rush, i would play 6 max or FR games, preferably 6 max, bc imo 6 max is much softer and it will suit ur style of opening UTG with SCs and such

gl op, take ur time with cautious BRM and you should be able to get to 25nl eventually

post hhs here and in the microstakes nl forum and ur game will improve quickly

i feel your pain op, dropped 8 buy ins at 10nl and then 1 buy in at 50nl tryna win it back, etc etc.. bankroll went from $243 to $70... back to $90 now, multi tabling is something you have to be good at and be truthful with yourself if you cant do it profitable, i cant so im sticking with 4tabling fullring/6max, boring at times when your card dead but essential to plug leaks, improve game play and maximize winnings and minimize loses.. tbh when your analyzing every hand it doesnt get so boring but it does take alot out of you to concentrate like that for long periods

I did it myself with that same BR and 6 tabling. Took me 4 months ...

Ferdinand