Week 41 :: NB $144/ SWC $31/ ACR $195/ BB $19/ CP $16/ Jaxx $266/ SS $0 GG/ $10= $681

I am in week 41 of learning to play poker. Sure, I have mucked around before, but had never considered position or hand strength, pot odds or a single basic concept of the game.

In 41 weeks, playing 6-8 hrs a day I have gone from $0 and playing freerolls to my current BR of $681. A laughable $/hr rate, but do have the time.

On the whole, I play micro MTTs - sub $1.50 buy ins. My biggest win is 73 euros. I am pretty lazy and although have started a few (free) courses, don't think I've completed one. Never review hands. Most of the time when I read threads I barely understand half of it.

I am totally outclassed when playing higher buy-in events, basically a fish out of water. Even in the micros I will come across better, controlled agro players that kick my ass.

I have been very good at controlling risk and BR management - a by-product of losing a fair bit trading on the stock market.

I live do not have access to the bigger sites like PS/PP and 888 - but play on ACR and netbet and a couple of smaller ones. But that will hopefully be changing in a few months and those sites will be open to me.

My goal would be to earn a wage from poker at micro/low stakes. I do have a little behind me and probably do not need as much as some. The other option is min wage. Yup, made some pretty bad life/ career choices and I bit late to retool now.

Have much to learn, most of the time, when I read other people's blogs, I am lucky if I understand 50% of it. I need to get better, either by studying others or evaluating my own game.

A couple of days ago I had my first $100 day, obviously a personal achievement. Next goal would be winning $100 in an MTT.

I guess the first port of call would be actually finishing a free poker course...

How are you getting outclassed? any hands you remember where your getting owned?

I am way to passive, so aggro guys just push me out pots. Too much limping. At the micros I can get away with it slightly, but get nailed the higher up the food chain I go.

Part of the problem is I need to start playing slightly higher buy-in events. I have pretty much ditched freerolls, maybe it's time to say goodbye to sub 50c games and take on more $2+ events. I am far from taking on $6+ but maybe sub $4.

This week's goal will be to get some quality studying done, as well as practice what I've learned. Get a proper hour in a day.

interesting start from freerolls! I realise everyone has their views on BRM, but yes, with 681 you can comfortably play up to $4 buyins. You can still be safe by keeping your average buyin low (say <$3). Playing only sub $1 with this roll is not great.

Starting from freerolls is great, but you do need a ton of time - which most people do not have. Had I chucked $1000 into a site, I certainly would have lost it by now and been pretty frustrated. I might though, have become a better player quicker.

On BRM I think it's also important to have a daily cap. At the moment I am using $15 (winnings are not recycled) upped from $10 and want to enter around 8 MTTs a day so can squeeze in a $3/$4. But still undecided if money might be better spend firing 2/3 bullets early on in $1 and pushing for an early lead.

Week 42 :: NB $144/ SWC $32/ ACR $191/ BB $19/ CP $16/ Jaxx $266/ SS $0 GG/ $10= $678

This week I will be playing most of my MTT's in the morning - from 06H00 there are enough on ACR to keep me busy through to lunch. Unless ACR is down in which case will hit up a few cash tables.

Afternoons I will study and in the evenings might play a ticket game/ freeroll.

The daily cap is $15 and the target is $750

It is true that it is advisable not to have a significantly large percentage of your bankroll in play (for example in case of a power outage, internet or technical issues or emergency affecting your session). However, the idea of a daily cap is flawed, as you should be trying to put in as much volume as possible in your sessions, rather than arbitrarily limiting them. A daily cap like this will only delay your progression. Good luck though!

Week 43 :: NB $149/ SWC $32/ ACR $166/ BB $19/ CP $25/ Jaxx $266/ SS $0 GG/ $28= $685

Struggling with concentrating on the longer comps at ACR, but have made a little on cash games at coinpoker and the short PLO comps on GG.

I have just so much on my plate at the moment I cannot just play poker for a 6-8 hour stretch, so must stop entering these type of comp. Concentrate on a bit of cash/ small MTTs.

So we've sold our house and have to be out in 6 weeks. Now we not just moving to another house, but another country with all the issues that throws up, and my wife needs a very expensive visa. Then we are not just chucking everthing into a shipping container, but pretty much getting rid of everything - another huge issue.

Then my computer ( 2 year old mid range Acer laptop that started giving problems within 9 months - a serious piece of chunk) - have reverted to using my 8 year old Dell. I will never buy ACER again.

Then have a leak on a pool pipe that I cannot seem to fix. And now, coming home I see that my back electric gate going to need playing with before it wears through a cog. Had to replace the cars battery as well this week. Cannot wait to rent a property for a while. Cannot find my UK NI number and this is proving to be very hard to get out the country need it for my wifes visa.

Will just need to make a list a knock it off one by one. But poker will be taking a back seat for a while.

Week 43 :: NB $149/ SWC $33/ ACR $161/ BB $19/ CP $12/ Jaxx $266/ SS $0/ GG $33= $673

No real changes - did not play much. Did get a 3rd this morning in a PLO on GG. Did get my CP account up to $25 or so playing cash, but manged to give it all back

Week 44:: NB $152/ SWC $34/ ACR $172/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $323/ SS $0/ GG $14= $724

Broke the $700 barrier - not from playing, but from holding crypto. i'll take it anyway i can. Just play here and there now, zero studying. Just keeping the brain ticking over until we settle and I get myself set up and join the big sites.

For me I need to have a clear mind when playing - if i had a full to do lits and even minor things bothering me, I just do not play well. i am entering some small event if at a convienient time. So accounts are still ticking over.

Just had a nutty few days - entering very few MTTs, but cashing frequently. just being very selective - then playing well. Yesterday took the cake. Entered 5 MTTs (27c, 55c, 52c) on ACR and two 1$ plos on GG. Made 3 FT's including 1 win and a second. Leading up to this though had being cashing a fair bit on ACR and have really started making FTs on GGs PLO's.

Have really started shrugging off bad beats - did I make the right play? yes. move on. No? learn from it. Done. Next. And have become very selective on MTT's. I have stopped playing ones that I feel I should be playing and just play the ones I want to play.

Sure, I should be playing higher buy ins - BR now must be north of $800. But with all thats going on with selling up a house and moving to a differnt country during COVID, with offices closed, with the Rand plumetting in value (I've lost many $1000's) the stock market being killed...and to top it of found out this week that there is a land claim on out property from 1996 which is holding up the sale. Awesome. I'll just play the MTT's that I want to, even if they way below my BR.

And even though getting rid of EVERTHING I actually bought a few second hand poker books online. They a bit old and a bargain, so can read and dump. i am doing zero learning besides watching some guys playing - which means i am learning a bit but maybe with abit of reading i can increase that side.

when I read other guys blogs and they start getting technical, It just goes all over my head - at some point I am going to have to learn what the hell they saying.

This Sunday cash up is going to be a nice jump - but really looking for some consistancy.

Week 45:: NB $155/ SWC $34/ ACR $222/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $335/ SS $0/ GG $86= $861

Almost $140 up on last week - very happy with that. Onwards and upwards. Will will stick with the smaller MTTs - but will keep an eye out for slightly bigger PLO's. I feel a little more equal in PLO than NLHE.

I know $861 is pretty small, but did start with zero and built up from freerolls. I lnow, not unique, but a small achievment nevertheless.

yup, playing like a total idiot. Few cashes, even a 2nd, but throwing away so many chances. Probably should take tomorrow off.

Week 46:: NB $185/ SWC $34/ ACR $185/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $341/ SS $0/ GG $66= $840

Been struggling with ACR - just so many bad beats. Yesterday entered three micros - got up to ok stacks and then faced all-ins. Lost KK vs 33, KK vs Q9o and lastly AKs vs 42o. UFB - been happening all week.

Not sure if i nedd to start playing a little higher, will i get away from the nutters.

Making steady progress on NB - always seem to get into the money in a PLO8 $1/$50 MTT they have every might. Winning it last night. Came second in a GG PLO MTT the other night - threw away first though when I lost concentration in firstplace HU and just played badly. That 5 minutes cost $10 - stupid.

Last 2 weeks in this house - going to be hectic.

Week 46 :: NB $192/ SWC $32/ ACR $41/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $437/ SS $0 GG/ $52= $783

probably my biggest losing week. my bad run continued (mainly with KK = 42o, 33,66 - gotten beaten by junk villian had) Eventually had a tilt inspired morning and lost $30 or so on ACR. decided to withdraw another $100 and just play 252/50c MTTs on there for a bit.

Moving out this week so another busy one, will just play one or two in the evening to chill.

decided to skip last week as a poker week. We moved on Friday so the week was pretty hectic and will now be bunking up with the MIL and sister in law. have set up my monitor on the dining table and it's relatvely comfortable.

One hurdle of the house sale is through, and on the whole I am less stressed about the whole situation.

have been putting in the hours in MTTs and have been playing patiently - for the last 4 days have got a FT on each day - only on 2nd on a PLO. Lots of small cashes - not really moving the needle though - really need a 1 -3 in a decent comp. But it will come.

Got a bit tilted tonight. Was doing very well in a $300 GTD. Was the chip leader by far on my table, but when i got decent cards could not get a call.

Got QQ and limped in then did very small raises, guy eventually found a str8 for his 9T and went all in - i stupidly called. bye bye 20BB. Then lost AK with the king connecting to AJ - also str8 - around 30BB. Then with AJ, AKQ on the flop, go all in - vill has A7. Yay. 7 on the turn. bye bye. and that was me. Not bubble, but a very close to it.

But a big win(s) is arround the corner.

had another wierd thing happen yesterday - was doing well on 4 tables on ACR late reg almost finished and sitting 4th/ 2nd/ 2nd and 12th when all of a sudden a pop up apperas where i have to prove i am not a robot.

Once done, my game falls aprart. Nothing holds up, runner runner losses. One I remeber, on PLO8 was scooping on the turn, the guy need a 3 on the river to get a wheel and scoop, but I had 2 3's. So 2 left. so 4%. yup, he gets one....

Didn't cash one two - cashed on the others, but no FT.

decided that i really need to tighten up just out side the money and also just outside the FT.

so today sitting 5th on final late reg level. UTG and get Ak - go all in with my 150BBs get called buy the other big stack, 145BB with QQ - pffft. lose. silly,

But then later I finally do it and win the zodiac rat on GG woohoo Ok around $65 - not much for most, but my second biggest score. And it was coming. played the ft like a champ too, did not hang back.

Week 46 :: NB $182/ SWC $32/ ACR $63/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $383/ SS $0 GG/ $115= $804

back over $800 - so thats good. this week going to start play a £5/ £1000 plo on NetBet. It's the game I am most comfortable with, time to level up.

couple of thoughts on the week.

Playing pretty well 90% of the time - but often fatal, stupid mistakes often cripple me. i do not know had to "run the table" when chip leader.

On the bright side cashing often. But often those cashes are pretty meaningless. Need to start playing in large MTTs where even min cashes make money,

Another win - PLO bounty - $55 2 wins in 3 days

Have a power cut in a couple of hours so going to try study a bit - shock!!

And another win - GG poker again, PLO Ko again. In ACR i am ether falling flat or getting into the ft but ending 8/9 - no real cashing

Hey there. Good luck building your bankroll. Very impressive so far considering you started from freeroll. Last year i did a bankroll challenge playing cash game only. 100$ to 10 000$ took me about 8 months. This year im doing something similar but playing mtt. Im on my 5th week. Playing 30-50 mtt a day. Anyway. You mentionned having issues with terms or playing higher buy ins. If u want to discuss hands or anything dont hesitate to PM me. Im currently playing the 5$ with a 200-300 Buyin rules so just a bit over you but pretty sure i could help you. I know the stress and struggle of trying to move up.

Sorry for the wall of txt. Good luck again. And let see each other at higher buyin soon hehe

Cheers for that. When I enter a higher buyin I feel pressure to make a move, and inevitably, do something out of the ordinary and stupid. I really just need to feel comfortable in that MTT. Yesterday I decided to enter a $5 PLO MTT a few times a weeks - there is one on iPoker at 19H00 and one on GG at 19H30 - the iPoker one has a $5 rebuy and GTD is double ($1000) - but am sure after playing them a few times I will become a bit more comfortable.

Did something pretty stupid yesterday - enter a $1/$500 gtd NLHE on ACR. Started at 06H00 - I started 30 min in - a pretty soon had a decent stack. For the next few hours stayed in the top 10, playing well. 13H00 comes along - sitting 4th out of 16 or 18. It's my last game and decided at the break I will log of an pick it on my laptop in the bedroom and play on the bed.

While walking down a pretty short passage, I forget I am play in an MTT and doing pretty well. Instead brain says take a nap. 40 minutes later a wake a brain says ---err, arn't you forgetting something? Log in to see I have 5bbs, in the BB and my turn to act - have 55 and shove, vil has AT and gets a str8 on the river. Out in 11th...

But must stop playing on ACR - these 3/4/5 hr late reg events are a pain - rather do the 1/2hr ones on GG and ipoker

Week 49 :: NB $185/ SWC $30/ ACR $47/ BB $19/ CP $10/ Jaxx $384/ SS $0 GG/ $195= $870

Good week - but still lots of elements of sloppy play. Making it week 49 as I seemed to count 46 a few times

Did I mess up last night. In the $2 PLO on GG, was the chip leader by alot into the final table. Then, not sure what happened, but spewed it all in two hands and finished 9th. by that time had finished two bottles of wine. what a missed oppotunity. 1st was worth $190.