T L R;
Hey guys, how’s it going?

I just finished my exams! Usually this would mean sleeping 13 hours, working, getting pissed and just bumming around, I’ve decided to stop screwing around and do something constructive and something I enjoy, playing Poker.

A bit about myself, Joined the forums about two months and started taking it seriously about three weeks ago, basically prowling 2+2 forums, reading the stickied threads, analyzing hands in the uNL section as well as reading quite a few poker eBooks.

Although I haven’t been playing poker for a long time (About three months since I began), I feel I’ve learnt enough of the fundamentals to make the next step and determine how good I am/ can get.
I just lost my current bankroll of about $19.00 on purpose (originally started with $0, won a free roll and went from there) as I had exams and I wanted to put all my attention into studying. Now that I’m finished with exams – I’ve got 6 weeks to burn and what better way to spend it than to playing poker!

Firstly, my current goal is to grind 2NL and determine whether or not I’m a winning player. Obviously I’m going to need a nice hand sample to determine this, so I was thinking of an 80-100k hand sample.

Currently, I’ve decided on starting an account on FTP with the 27% rake back deal, +100% extra deposit (+ HEM + Membership after 100.00 in rake is paid) through card runners. I was also thinking of depositing about $60-$70. Since HEM is such an important tool that I do not currently own and it may take a while to get $100.00 in rake paid, I thought I’d use the 15 day trial period until I rack up the $100 and receive a complimentary copy.

Some of things I want to do:
- From Hand #1-#40,000 – Two tabling
- From Hand #40,000-#80,000 – Four tabling.

Basically, What I want to ask is, if you were to start over all over again in cash games and you were in a similar position how would you go about it?

My main questions are:
How much should I deposit? Is going with FTP a good decision? Would you go with the card runner deal? How many tables would you/should I begin with, and when should I make the transition to more (and how many) How long will it take me 2 tabling to rake up $100.00 in rake paid. Is there anything else that i'm forgetting? I'm open to any and all advice

Currently I’ve set my schedule to consist of:
8 hours of sleep -> Run & workout in the morning ->Meditation/Relaxation –>3-4 hours playing -> Review session/read poker books/analyze poker hands in uNL -> Break of 2-3 hours -> 3-4 hours playing -> Review - Sleep
Keep in mind, that my main goal is to improve my poker game and secondly to bring up my bankroll to be well above the BR needed for 5NL so i can move there once once my challenge is successful

-Thanks in advance
-Martin
(I wasn’t sure if this is correct forum since it’s a bit of both, but I’m sure it’ll be ok since I will probably posting results and asking some follow up questions.)

If you play 8 hours a day at 2 two tables at a time, you know you are talking 1000 hands a day and it will take you the next month and a half to grind 50k hands @ 2NL.

I would instead, start with 2 tables, make sure you are playing correctly via analyzing your game and HH's, once you feel comfortable with your game, bump it up to 4 tables (shouldn't take more than a few days @ 8 hours per day). Play 4 tables until you have 20 buy-ins for 5NL and then move up.

2NL is easy to beat and if you are studying as much as you say you are, it should be np to maintain a high WR at that level. 5NL is pretty easy as well, so try to push through the micro's as quickly as possible, until you reach 25NL at which point you will want at least a 40 Buy-In roll IMO, and at that point, you could transition back down to two tables as you learn the new stake.

2NL and 5NL play virtually the same. You will find a few more regs @ 10NL. 25NL is where you actually have to start playing poker. 2, 5, and 10NL you can just play 9/8 Nit and make money...

As long as you are comfortable with your game, are making the right decisions, and they are not robotic decisions, just keep adding tables til you can't keep up anymore, then scale it down a tiny bit and work that level for awhile.

Primary goal shouldn't be 100k hands at 2NL but to grind a roll so that you can move up limits as quickly as possible.

Just my two cents.

BAEVentures

Hey guys.

I hit the grind about 2 days ago and its been quite the ride so far. I've only played about 2700 hands which is nothing compared to what some people do. Yet i honestly believe that I'm improving at quite a steady rate.

I'm overall quite satisfied with my game so far, even though it has plenty of holes.I have to say though, I can feel myself improving! It feels great, I'm slowly being able to read the players better and better. and HEM manager is a god send its soo ****ing awesome and there's still so much more potential that i'm not using.
It's a pity that i'm the 15 day trial, I'm not sure if i will be able to get to $100 paid in rake to get it for free, going to have to do some serious grinding to pull it off.

I've had quite a few bad beats and made a couple of foolish mistakes that have cost me quite a few cheeseburgers. Yet somehow my bankroll is $42.56 and i deposited $40 which means I'm up about $2.56. Woot I thought i would have negative -ptbb/100 so i'm quite pleased.

Here is my graph to date;

http://img229.imageshack.us/f/day3.png/


Also, I know this hand is a cooler but you would have played it any differently?

Full Tilt Poker $2.00 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

SB: $1.98
BB: $2.00
UTG: $2.07
UTG+1: $0.71
UTG+2: $2.22
Hero (MP1): $2.05
MP2: $1.98
CO: $2.16
BTN: $3.82

Pre Flop: ($0.03) Hero is MP1 with J J
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.08, 2 folds, BTN calls $0.08, 3 folds

Flop: ($0.21) 4 T J (2 players)
Hero bets $0.14, BTN calls $0.14

Turn: ($0.49) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $0.28, BTN raises to $0.56, Hero raises to $0.96, BTN raises to $3.60, Hero calls $0.87 all in

River: ($4.15) 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $4.15
Hero shows J J
BTN shows A K
BTN wins $2.11
(Rake: $0.27)

Thanks guys Good luck at the tables.

Just a cooler. You played it fine, although my 3b on the turn woulda been a shove, that sizing is crying for a call.

BAEVentures