How to crush BLAST leaderboards

We chat to Bankroll Challenger 'Studentishe' who turned $1k into $11k in just one month playing BLAST at 888poker.

What made you join PokerStrategy?

studentishe: I was just a student when I was introduced to poker by my cousin. One day, I discovered PokerStrategy with an exceptional offer — a free 50 dollars just for completing a questionnaire. It was a sweet deal, but I was a rookie back then without a clue about proper bankroll management. I danced with those precious 50 dollars like there was no tomorrow, playing games that were out of my league. It didn't take long for my bankroll to do a disappearing act, vanishing into the virtual abyss faster than I could say "royal flush."

It was the first lesson of many to come about bankroll management.

Has the process of blogging in the bankroll challenge helped your game?

studentishe: Before starting a blog I was searching internet for the similar blogs of other German players who shared their experiences in the world of Spin & Go / BLAST tournaments through their blogs. Online poker is highly regulated and taxed in Germany I was wondering what disciplines can yield any good win rates for anyone playing from this land of rules, regulations, and high taxes. Surprisingly, there weren't many out there. In those that I found I really liked going through weekly/yearly reports at the end that told interesting stories when you fast-forwarded through them.

Inspired by these tales, I decided to start my own blog. I wanted to share my approach, my strategy, the problems that I face, highs and lows of my advantage. It became a digital diary, a way to capture my journey for myself and hold myself accountable. It's been a valuable experience to look back and reflect on my progress every week, and it's been great connecting with other players along the way.

"I have a strategy for BLAST leaderboards"

Why did you choose 888poker over the other Jackpot SNG sites?

studentishe: It all came down to one simple reason—they offer the sweetest rake-back deal for BLAST players in Germany. We have four licensed providers to choose from here, but each one has its quirks.

Pokerstars, removed any rake-back deals for us Germans, though they were not very good, to begin with.

GGPoker, on the other hand, decided to add an additional 3% rake on all tournament winnings—ouch, don’t think with this deal Spins are beatable there!

Then there's PartyPoker, but they don't offer the Diamond Club if you are from Germany, and to make matters worse, players can’t get their hand histories. PartyPoker turned into PartyKiller to me and I did a cash-out after the first game I played there.

And that's when I discovered 888poker — the shining star among the platforms. They offer the one and only opportunity for players like me (recreational players) to achieve 100%+ rakeback deals through their exciting leaderboards.

It was a result of my short but diligent investigation, and the choice became crystal clear.

So, there you have it. I chose 888Poker because they're simply the best platform for Spin players in Germany, offering the most enticing rake-back deal out there. It's all about maximizing our gains and enjoying the journey to the fullest! I had a few problems with their software, but this problem doesn’t stop me from loving them.

Tell me about the BLAST leaderboards, how competitive are they?

studentishe: The leaderboards can be quite competitive, but there's a little secret that not everyone knows about. It took me some time to develop my leaderboards strategy, test it and start successfully applying it.

The trick is that players can opt-in to the leaderboard at any time. Once you opt-in, the results of your next 10 or 30 tournaments (depending on the leaderboard) will count towards your position on the ladder. Points, that you receive are equal to the game multiplier. If you win the game points are doubled.

Now, my strategy is pretty straightforward. I wait until to hit a 5x+ multiplier. Statistically, you get it once per every 12-13 games. Just before winning the last chip from the opponent I opt-in to the leaderboard and start with a solid 10+ points already in my pocket. It gives me a little edge over the competition.

I have to admit, though, I used to approach the leaderboards differently in the beginning. I would just opt-in and hope for the best. But hey, we all learn from our experiences. And I believe that tweaking my approach has been one of the main contributing factors to my results.

So, there you have it—the BLAST leaderboards can be highly competitive, but with a smart strategy and a little secret opt-in trick up your sleeve, you can definitely make your mark and climb up that ladder. It's all about finding those winning moments.

"Overconfidence is not an issue"

How long did you think the challenge would last before you started?

studentishe: To be honest, I didn't have a specific timeframe in mind when I set this challenge. I started my blog, I came across the bankroll challenge thread. Thanks to vorplaf2f pointing me in that direction. It felt natural to set a target and aim for a certain number along the way. So, rather than having a preconceived notion of how long it would take, I simply set my sights on reaching that milestone at some point. This point came earlier than I expected as I made a few shots to the highest limit ($100) and get there on the 3d shot.

How are you managing overconfidence now you completed it so quickly?

studentishe: Overconfidence? Not quite my problem, I must say. Despite the swift completion of my challenge, I still consider myself a humble recreational player in the grand scheme of things. Sure, I have some handy tools and a fantastic coach in my corner, but let's not forget that there is a number of skilled regular players who have quite a big distance on top limits.

For example, I'm currently losing 42 ChipEV in Heads-Up battles against players like "docAAK" .  So, my confidence is far from soaring into the stratosphere. I still have plenty to learn and prove to myself, particularly when it comes to conquering the highest limits and maintaining a consistent hourly rate over an extended period.

It looks like you took a GTO approach to study, do you think that's the way to go in Lottery SNGs?

studentishe: Absolutely! Going the GTO route is definitely the correct direction to go in this discipline. While it's true that some players can rely on their instincts and exploit the tendencies of the field without diving deep into the intricacies of optimal play. I believe that during my challenge, I had success because of my natural aggression in a relatively passive player pool. However, if you want to consistently come out on top, you need to master the GTO plays and strategies, identify deviations from the optimum in your opponents' play, and skillfully exploit those weaknesses with your own counter-deviations.

But at this point, I need to bring my own play closer to GTO as I constantly making mistakes and leaving EV in my opponent's pockets.

"My new goal is to win $40k"

I see you are pondering what goal to set next, what do you think it will be?

studentishe: Well, just a few hours ago, I actually set my sights on a goal in the challenge thread: to generate $40K in profits by the end of the year. It's a big, ambitious goal that I'm excited to chase and report on. However, on a more granular level within my blog, I’d like to establish shorter-term weekly goals that focus on specific aspects of my game. This week, my aim is to reduce my GTO wrong plays rate to below 13% (currently I have around 14-15% error rate). Let's see if I can find my way toward achieving that target!

What is your advice for other BLAST players wanting to do a bankroll challenge?

studentishe: My advice to fellow BLAST players setting a bankroll challenge is simple:

• Start where you are with what you have
• Set a goal that would motivate you
• Develop a plan, how you would reach it
• Follow your plan with dedication
• Revise your plan periodically if it doesn’t work as expected
• But most importantly, Have Fun on the way!

After all, poker is not just about winning money— it's about the thrill of the game, the camaraderie with fellow players, and the joy of chasing your dreams, one hand and one decision at a time.

What is the Bankroll Challenge?