Hello everyone!

I'm a former 2+2 member, but unfortunately, with the time that has passed since I have been active, I no longer remember my PW and no longer had the email to recover my name. I was formerly known here as DKJ, not that I was anyone special, I'm just not a 2+2 newbie.

Anyhow, I'm an American player, and I'd heard from acquaintances that I had lost touch with (thank you social media) that there was some fairly safe online poker options facing the US again. My wife and I are on a fixed income, but I was still able to say the hell with it, and deposited $40 into ACR.

After the international charges from our Gestapo bank, I had a grand total of $35.20 to begin my career again anew.

I was a 35-40% ROI player in SNG and micro/low MTT between FTP and PS before the horrors of Black Friday. I had just finalized my backing arrangements and was going to be playing 30+ events in SCOOP, and was ready to change my life. Obviously, my life changed in the opposite direction. Anyway, enough about old things... I'm looking at this as a possible new lease on my old life.

The long-term goal of this challenge is to take my $35.20 to $3520.00, focusing on micro MTT and SNG in the early going. The only cash I'm likely to play is the $2 max buyin .01/.02 NL games if I'm at the end of an evening and just want another table to keep sharp without opening another tournament. So this will be nearly exclusively a MTT/SNG challenge.

I'm also going to be cross-posting on CardsChat as that is where I started the challenge.

This thread is to keep myself constantly motivated and striving to get my old life back, while also getting back active in the poker community. I just was unable to bring myself to do it previously while feeling there was little hope of being to safely play online at home again.

THANK YOU for reading this novel and I hope you will follow along with me through the ups and downs -- and bust my balls when they need busting!

CHALLENGE BANKROLL START: $35.20
CHALLENGE BANKROLL CURRENT: $92.62
FINAL TABLES: 1
TOURNAMENT WINS: 0

My SN on ACR is also TheImperator, so please, say hello if you see me at the tables!

My first session on this challenge was yesterday August 3, 2016.

I played a total of six MTT on ACR, cashing 3 of the 6 with the best finishing being third place in the midnight BIG10 $500 GTD for $82.68.

Total Profit for 8/3/2016: $57.42

RUNNING CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $92.62

In cuz I play on ACR..GL op, what's your BRM for MTT's?

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Well, since I'm not completely ruined if I bust and have to reload, I've been sticking to any MTT with a guarantee, with a buyin of $3.30 or less.

I'd obviously prefer to have 50 buyins, but once I got up to the $90 mark I felt a lot better about myself.

I haven't moved back above 4-tabling yet as I'm still knocking off the rust of five years being gone from the game.

Played a long session yesterday, mostly sticking to just those tournaments with at least $100 GTD. Made one final table, and cashed the $3.30 $1500 GTD R/A -- but it was about a ~$20 total loss for the day.

At the same time, only about $14 of it was from MTT, I played three Jackpot $2's just to see what the fuss is about. I'd have to look into the algorithm a bit more and see how often you get more than a $4 game, because I think they look pretty -EV right now, at least for me.

RUNNING CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $73.01
TOTAL FINAL TABLES: 2

Jackpots are the only game I'm playing right now. Played just under 3k and have a 3% evroi. Swings are brutal though, up 50bi followed by down 80bi. I'm thinking of adding some mtts that's why I was asking.

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I actually quite like their MTT's... they make up for the lower player base by making late reg a lot longer and allowing re-entry... I mean, is it Stars/FTP in the heyday? Of course not... but they've got a bunch of decent guarantees in the micros and I'm liking what I see so far.

I've got to look more at the algorithm that defines how often you get an actual multiplier... I know with the $2 game, if it winds up being a $4 free-for-all, that's 1/3 of the buyins flying into the ether...

I tried them, but I've got to do more research on them for sure... I'm not sure that they aren't -EV, especially for long-term grinding.

Well not to make a self plug but I broke it down in my pg&c. My thing is time with mtts. I can only play some nights but I'm going to try them out this weekend.

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I didn't play very well yesterday, and its probably just as well because I was practicing some pretty horrific BR management with the shock of just returning to the game as a US player.

Even though I had a losing day, it did have one silver lining in that I'm at exactly $40. I want to keep playing tournaments (I did throw around the idea of going to $2NL cash) - so starting today I'm going to be playing the $0.55 $25GTD On-Demand games. I've got just over 72 buyins for that game, so while its not "ideal" its a helluva lot better BR management for the long-term than me getting all that MTT run out of my system.

I just got a good night's sleep, and am getting ready to run these games today (8/5/2016) until my eyes bleed. If anyone would like to make a day of it I'll setup my Skype or something and we can have a good old-fashioned grindfest!

EDIT: I didn't play badly, I just ran badly. Only two of my busts all day did I get the money in bad, and one of them was in a heavy short-stack situation. I'm very happy with where my game is -- especially with having to shake off essentially five years of rust.

CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $40.00
MOVING TO $0.55 $25 GTD ON-DEMANDS TODAY

I totally understand about the time factor. My wife understands how big of a player I used to be and the importance that poker played in my life -- but we didn't meet until after Black Friday, so it has been a bit of an adjustment for her with me putting in three 12+ hour sessions where we didn't have any freedom of movement to go anywhere.

We're "hermits" as it is, so it was and is no big deal to her, but I was also looking to have something without as big a time constraint, and also something that had a buyin that was more conducive to solid BR management. The micro SNG on ACR do leave a little to be desired, but I guess I'm kind of meeting in the middle with the $25 GTD On-Demands now going to be my game for the foreseeable future. They were the only game I saw that not only fit BR management, but also that I felt I could get at least solid volume in.

We'll see how it goes, and I really appreciate your interest, as you're the only one who has commented so far!

Considering this is at least a $9 tournament, it is way above your bankroll. Also, keep in mind that ACR has unlimited re-entries so you should consider 200 buyins as a minimum for your BR. The $0.55 are the best way to start.

Yw...always looking to help and be helped you know? I'll see you at the tables!

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Been a solid two days of play. I've actually run very poorly, and still up ~16 BI in the new game.

Will be back at it tomorrow afternoon!

CHALLENGE RUNNING BANKROLL: $48.63

So, I was starting to wind down last night and was reading "Kill Everyone" but I still had the ACR client open. Was sitting in bed with wifey and saw that they had a $100 GTD PLO R/A ($0.55) that started at 2AM.

For some reason I wanted to play it.

The reason must have been because I shipped it. First ship on ACR, for $27.56 and to pop the bankroll back up!

Going to read and relax for a few minutes more before starting today's session as I was up very late, but will be grinding hard again today!

CURRENT BANKROLL: $74.64
TOTAL TOURNAMENT WINS: 1

Had another solid session today, and moved the bankroll up another good chunk of buyins.

Not sure if I'm going to play anymore tonight, so I came to edit the BR.

CURRENT BANKROLL: $82.63

Today's session is off to a fantastic start. I regged a total of 4 .55's, and I was able to ship one, take 3rd in another, and just finished 14th in another after AK fell to AJo.

Profit of $15.34 so far today, going to start regging again along with playing the $250 GTD and $100 GTD at least.

Another few wins and I'll be able to look at the $1.10 games on offer. I'm targeting $110.00 before I will run any $1.10 games, so I've still got a bit of work to do.

Hoping to run well tonight as well, I appreciate the support I've gotten from you folks here! THANK YOU!

CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $97.97
TOTAL TOURNAMENT WINS: 2

200 BI BR management at .55's? It seems very passive.

You don't think you could mix in $1's and $2's at all?

I'm sure I could, but other than the first few tourneys (which I knew I had another $40 waiting to deposit if I went bust) I'm a firm believer in not moving up a level until you have at least 100 BI for that level. It's definitely not that I don't think I'd fare well in the next game -- I do. I'm not even to 200 BI for $0.55 yet (although I have two games going and one at the FT, and just had a third place finish) -- but even at 200 BI in a re-entry game, I wouldn't say I'm underrolled, and I'm definitely not adequately rolled to move up yet.

It is more a case of if I'm doing well enough and soundly beating the game I'm playing, I don't really see any reason to add on unnecessary risk, which playing $2 games on less than $100 is, at least in my humble opinion. If I truly deserve to be at the next level, I'll get there organically -- and safely.

I made the money in those final two games I had open, but got donked out in both of them shortly after ITM time, once with a K6 against me that was pretty absurd. Oh well, we're in profit for the day, can't complain too much.

I also looked at the games available at the next level, and honestly, I think I'd need more money to consider them than I expected. I would figure that my natural progression on ACR would be into the $1.50 9-mans. Turbos are $1.62 after fees, Regular are $1.65.

So 100 buyins for that level would be $162-$165... I guess I can look at that as my first move-up point. If I see a $1 On-Demand running, I guess I could jump in one of those after 110, but they register not so often. I guess we'll see... what I wouldn't give to play my old volume, or even half of it, really.

CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $96.60

Rakeback just posted to my account, that ups our balance!

Just started today's session!

CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $101.72

Subbed gl! Right now I'm switched my focus from cash to MTTs under $6 including the 1s and every now and then the .50s. So I'm interested in reading about your progress. What is your ACR name? Good luck at the tables and maybe we will run into each other.

My ACR name is the same as here on 2+2, TheImperator.

I'm going to try to post more hands and the like, but honestly, I've yet to be in a truly tricky spot in these games... I was a SNG & MTT specialist before Black Friday, and I've picked up pretty close to where I left off. Just wish I could get anywhere near my old volume!

Played a short session earlier, going to use this reply as a bankroll update! I really appreciate you subscribing and following my progress, I appreciate the support, sir!

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I played quite a few games this afternoon, but mainly just held my ground. because I ran very, very poorly. Hell, I had AKs fall to 93o to end a tournament... and not for a small amount of chips. But, I managed some minor cashes, and lost less than $2 from the total after rakeback earlier today!

Going to run another session now, I'll be in the $0.55 On-Demands on ACR if anyone wants to rail. TheImperator is the name. There isn't a player search function but I'll be in every $0.55 that opens until probably 12:30AM EST.

CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $99.63

I lost about $5 last night, but I've expanded my challenge to include some cash play, and some HU SNG play as well. I was watching Doug Polk's new challenge on Twitch, and he and I are essentially right in the same boat at the moment.

Right around $100, and looking to break out on our way to $10K. I'm going to now be focusing on just getting into the most profitable games, whether it be SNG, MTT or cash play.

I'm also changing my BRM to be very similar to what Jesus Ferguson used when he did his $0-$10K challenge:

New BRM:

1. Never ever get into a cash game or SNG tournament where the buy in is more than 5% of the entire bankroll that you have. You can break this rule in case your bankroll is very small and you are going to play a Sit and Go or cash game where the buy in is lower than $2.5

2. Don’t join a MTT (Multi Table Tournament) where the buy in is higher than 2% of your current bankroll. By not risking you will be able to keep a lot of your money intact. This rule applies unless the buy in at the tournament lower than $1.

3. In case you have managed to win at a cash game and your money that you have at the table represents more than 10% of your online poker bankroll, then you should cash out of that table the moment the blinds are going to reach you.

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CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $94.41

Still took 5th for $5.04 here in a $0.55 OD, but this is how I've been running the past few days, and still been able to tread water ~$100.

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WPN, 1,250/2,500 blinds, 250 ante No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 5 Players
Poker Tools by CardRunners - Hand Details

BTN: 135,495 (54.2 bb)
SB: 38,595 (15.4 bb)
Hero (BB): 23,582 (9.4 bb)
MP: 34,326 (13.7 bb)
CO: 20,002 (8 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A T
2 folds, BTN raises to 7,500, SB folds, Hero raises to 23,332 and is all-in, BTN calls 15,832

Flop: (49,164) 6 7 9 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
Turn: (49,164) 3 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: (49,164) K (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results: 49,164 pot
Final Board: 6 7 9 3 K
BTN showed 9 T and won 49,164 (25,582 net)
Hero showed A T and lost (-23,582 net)

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CHALLENGE BANKROLL: $95.57

I know people like graphs, so even though SS isn't complete by any means, here's a graph for the challenge up until now.

Thanks for following and for the support!