Hi everyone,
Introduction:
Yesterday I started the Tankroll Bankroll challenge, as I don't have a huge bankroll in my account, but enough to start the foundation of playing 5NL Hold'Em.
Throughout the course of the nest week, my aim will be to play about 2000 hands per day, with regular breaks in between (as my concentration span sucks). With that, I hope to reach $1000 from my current bankroll of around $70. If my challenge has failed, then I will wait for a month or so, and then restart the challenge. I'll always make sure I stop playing if I go on tilt or I become dehydrated.
Here's a little bit about me:
I am a young man, 22 years old, from the United Kingdom (around the south east of London sort of area). I knew some of the very basics of poker for about 7 years, however I only really started knowing the proper rules 2 years ago.
Here's my live poker successes and failures:
I play in a couple of pub poker leagues (free of charge); if you do well enough, you qualify for the so-called "regionals" where you play against around 200 other pub poker players, first prize wins a free ticket to Las Vegas. Won a pub league earlier this year (after about 3 proper attempts), but did not win the Vegas ticket (came 110th out of 200-odd people). In a couple of weeks from now, since I qualified for another regionals, I will have a second shot at the Vegas trip (if I get 2nd to 15th I win some money and a Nationals ticket, which is like a second chance for Vegas).
I also play at the casino, where I go for cash games and tournaments. Generally, I'd say that I play well there (as yet), although I had a bit of a downswing due to coolers and bad beats. For instance, I played in a tournament and I got it in good all-in preflop with my final 9BBs w/ 77, got called by 55, and a 5 spikes the flop.
Here's my online poker history:
I play on PokerStars and Full Tilt. I started with a bankroll of about $10 on FT, eventually losing it all after having a few ebbs and flows for 6 ish months.
On Stars, I currently have a small profit, although I had never really put the time and concentration into the game enough. This tankroll challenge will change that, where I will be concentrating heavily, hoping to avoid being on the receiving end of any coolers or bad beats.
My strengths:
I can make smart, educated decisions and risks. For instance, being able to exploit the maniacs, nits, tight/loose passives and particularly the fish. I can be hard to read, as I like to set traps and I set a few systems into how I play my hands (for instance, in a later position if everyone folds to me, I will raise 3BBs with AA and make the exact same play with 54s). When I am concentrating, I am really "in the zone".
My weaknesses:
When I am on tilt, or have lost a big pot, I tend to start losing my patience; chasing my session losses to compensate for the blow which I had received, therefore losing more in the process. My concentration stamina can only really last 30 minutes in a row before it starts to dwindle; I still continue playing when I am out of the zone, leading me to make bad decisions.
Here's the website and plan:
My main poker website is PokerStars, where my tankroll will take place. I will use the Holdem Manager HUD to take a few reads on opponents, therefore aiding my decision making in particular situations. There will be multi-tabling, where I will be playing about 10 tables of 5NL, and then gradually reducing the number. I will also be using the chart designed by PokerStrategy when it comes to "taking shots" at the next stakes. I will also make sure that I am utilizing my strengths and eliminating my weaknesses. I will also post up daily if I have played, or decided to take a day off for any particular reason.
