Modest Means, Audacious Goals

[Legion III]

Okay guys and gals, I am still new to poker, but I have set an audacious goal for my modest bankroll at Poker Nordica for February and March. The goal is to turn my small $42 BR into a monstrous $100. That is, I want to more than double my BR in 8 weeks or less. I think achieving it will require perseverance, skill, luck, and the best advice I can get from others. I’ve been playing towards this end since Tuesday. Here are a few of the facts.

Starting BR: $42
Current BR: $45
Goal BR: $100
Game played: Long $0.02/$0.04, $4NLHE
Sitting with: $2
Average win rate for the first 9 hours of play: 8.5 big binds/hour ($0.34/hr)
Time till goal at current average win rate: 162 table hours --> 3 table hours/day
Average number of hands played per hour: 50
Average number of hands won per hour: 2

Now for a few comments on these facts… I like to play with a full table of 9 people, a long handed game.

I have been sitting short stacked with only 50 big blinds, $2. I know it can be more difficult to push people off hands with a short stack. But I am torn between that and the imperative to sit with only 5% of my BR. 5% of my current BR is $2.25.

My friend Frob says that my current average win rate is a bit high at 8.5, and he expects it to drop nearer to 5 big binds per hour. I’ve had 2 sessions of the first 9 in which I almost doubled up, good runs. Of course, with a lower win rate achieving the goal will require that I play more table hours. I can multi-table though and reduce the number of real hours played.

At my current BR, the stakes played, and a win rate of 5bb/hour achieving the goal will require 275 table hours. This translates into roughly 5 table hours per day. On the up side though, I’ve been playing at Poker Nordica where I get rakeback and this effectively increases my win rate.

Well I guess that’s enough for an opening post. I welcome any comments, questions, criticisms, encouragement, incredulity, etc.

[HeyKidMove]

One thing you should try to do is multitable. I'm assuming you're only playing one table at a time right now, I would try to play at least 2, maybe 3 once you're comfortable so your winrate will be higher.

[Legion III]

One thing you should try to do is multitable. I'm assuming you're only playing one table at a time right now, I would try to play at least 2, maybe 3 once you're comfortable so your winrate will be higher.

HeyKidMove yeah, I have multi-tabled at other sites and seem to do okay. And I think your suggestion is a good one. I do expect to end up multi-tabling.

[gamer4life27]

If you are good tournament style, then try to MTT for some $1 - $2.50. First place could be anywhere from $20 to $100 depending on the people and the payout structure.

[DeadBabySoup]

i'd recommend tournaments too. personally, i like the 90-seat sit and goes on full tilt. with your bankroll, i'd play 2 $1 games at a time. top 9 get paid. first is $20. win a couple of those and you're there. then move up to the $3 games and double your roll again. they're easy if you're tight and patient.

[C8H10N4O2]

$2.20 180 person "sng"'s over at stars are pretty easy money. I think I've averaged around $8 profit over all the ones I've played in. I've won 2 and taken down 2-5th I don't know how many times, but that's over playing in a few hundred of them, so it's come out to just an average of $8 net gain... at least, the last time I calculated it.

So, I'd say find a soft small buy in, and occassionally use what you've gained from cash tables, to enter the soft mtt tourneys. They are a great way to risk a little to gain a lot.

Also, I think you have a VERY doable goal. Even playing very conservatively, I think this goal is very achievable, assuming you are a + player.

[Legion III]

Okay guys, I will consider the suggestion of playing in a few tournaments.

Also, I think you have a VERY doable goal. Even playing very conservatively, I think this goal is very achievable, assuming you are a + player.

I hope it is Dew. I tried to set an achievable goal. I am a winning player (barely). For me the question is… will I have the stamina to pull it off?

[DeadBabySoup]

you should be able to pull it off fairly easily. i started a new account on full tilt to sign up for rakeback. i turned $50 into $350 in four weeks of casual play. less than 150 games i think.

[Legion III]

i turned $50 into $350 in four weeks of casual play. less than 150 games i think.

That seems plausible only if you played above your BR and had a good run DeadBabySoup.

[DeadBabySoup]

That seems plausible only if you played above your BR and had a good run DeadBabySoup.

i didn't play above my bankroll, but i had a good run. i took first in 4 $3 90-seat ko tournaments in a span of 2 weeks. with quite few more final tables. in my opinion, these games are very soft and easy money.