Hey guys,

I don't really post on here too often, but here goes...

Looking to start a challenge to grind up as high as possible on Pokerstars Zoom cash games. I play on pokerstars as Royalhouse11. I'm currently around B/E after 20k hands on 10NL Zoom. I chalk this up to some bad calls and tilt. Getting pretty tired of doing this each session as I make good decisions but then counteract them with equally bad ones. So I thought I'd start a challenge on this forum so you guys can keep me accountable. I think posting results publicly will make me play better overall. I've tried to incorporate some solver plays into my sessions, but kinda figured the knowledge is fruitless against people in this pool, so willing to take advice from people with experience at this stake as to the best plays! Also, tell me if you're playing at 10NL on Stars Zoom as well, it'd be good to get some talk going with people playing on the same tables!

I have a bankroll of 40BIs. When I reach $750 I'm hoping to move up to 25NL with 30BIs.

I aim to post a graph or results after each session I play. Hoping you guys could give me feedback, may also post how I'm feeling about the session plus query any awkward spots.

Wish me luck!

Results after 1500 hands:-$34

Ouch. Not a great start, Player pool is Much nittier than when I last played 10NL years back. Still adjusting to the tight p environment.

Had a few bad cooler spots- I.e. AA vs 99 and AA vs A3 AI pre for 150bb and 90bb ($15 & $9) which we lost both.

After about 500 hands I was down -$30. Realised I needed to make some quick adjustments and managed to stabilise the results from thereon.

Also, I seemed to be charged more rake than what i remember. Has the rake % increased since 2018? Also feel like the forced ante can lead to more rake being paid overall.

Hi Royal house,

fellow grinder here
I am doing a similar challenge as well with 20 bi at 25 NL, playing more reg table than zoom cause im not sure how to deal with ante just yet.

I feel like its hard to actually win unless you are deep at the game, the rake and ante was killing me at nl25z.

anyways, im glad to see some fellow grinder here doing similar challenge, makes me feel less alone. Hope u start running good. Maybe consider run it twice to reduce variance or try cashing out at the initial stage of the challenge because variance can be cold af.

best of luck at the tables!

Hey man, glad to see there's still people trying to get out the micros!

Variance is defo cold. Probs gonna do some reg 10NL tables as they seem softer.

GL man

Today's results: +$13

Decent sessions today. Ran bad at zoom. Decided to check out the Reg tables, which are so much easier and softer IMO. Probably gonna play more hands there and mix it up.

Was wondering at what point with my bankroll should I move up to 25NL. I was thinking 20bi if I was just to play reg tables as I find them easy. Do you think I could move up with any less?

Hi All,

It's been a while since I posted, which isn't good as I've just started the challenge! Been busy with my Master's exams, assignments and Job/PhD applications.

I've moved to standard tables instead of zoom, as I need a change. Finding the games much softer though!

Currently $34 up after 1300 hands that I've played (2 tabling). Hoping to put more volume in over the Christmas break.

How's everyone's poker going?

After 2.7k hands on 10nl reg tables, I'm $84 up overall!

Running good, but also feel I'm currently on my A-game. I took a break after going on a huge downswing, felt it did me a world of good.

I've also been paying less heed to solver strategy, i.e. I'm not obsessing over mistakes in my game I make, and I'm also learning to deviate from it, especially against fishy players. I feel the value from solvers comes the most for playing against good regs.

Probably won't post over the next few days with Christmas and all. Have a good Christmas to anyone viewing this post!

Starting to see some real improvements in my game. I think the one thing I needed to master was some mental discipline. Most of the theory is there. I mostly get each spot correct but was probably playing a bit too risk averse. Playing reg tables has allowed me to overcome these obstacles!

I'm crushing reg tables now. Over 15bb/100 up after 5k hands. Not a large sample size but I was undergoing some major variance to begin with.

Upgraded my RAM on my laptop so I can gloss over some more complex spots in pio. I'm not paying any major heed though as I think a lot of the strategy is based on assumptions about our opponent. I feel it is still wise to study though, so I have a core baseline strategy to deviate from.

Very bad with updates, so I'm gonna post now.

The last month has been incredible for me! Took some shots that are definitely paying off! I've also invested a lot of time into solver strategy. Definitely paid off as well IMO. Got some good study groups going. Looking forward to the future!