Weekly Bankroll Update 3/24 - 3/30

As March winds down, I find myself looking forward to a Spring season that brings many fun events including my birthday and graduation. I write this post as I sit looking out the window of my 10th floor room at The Tower Square Hotel in Springfield, MA. I'm here not for poker, but to see Disney On Ice with my family. Admittedly, I've been reflecting on my success, and its meaning, a lot over the past few days. It's been a pretty big week for the bankroll as it passed  $2,000 for the first time, and it's a huge milestone. I am bankrolled to play $100 cash games now. I had a pretty good week on the tables even making a final table in the $1,000 guarantee on Thursday. Here's where I'm at:

Play Money: 23,668,000 Up 2,781,000

Real Money: $2,024.89 Up $81.38

Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)

Target for next MTT level: $2,750 ($55)

Target for next Cash Game level: $4,000 ($200)


It feels good to finally get past that $2,000 number. Still a lot of work left to be done though. I will be formulating my strategy week to week as I go. I expect it to be a mix of everything at all different stakes. I'm going to try just going with my instincts and play whatever I feel comfortable with on that day. I can play many different levels now, and I just need to make sure I keep the roll above 2K. Success really is just what you perceive it to be. We all strive for it, but how do you know when you've reached it? These past few days, I feel like no matter what happens going forward, I've succeeded, and that's really all that matters.

Weekly Bankroll Update 3/17-3/23

I had some struggles last week as bad beats reared their ugly heads, but a nice deep run in Saturday's $500 guarantee helped recoup most of my losses. I took $32 and change for my 5th place finish. I was all over the map as far as what games I played with no real strategy as far as game selection. That could have been part of my problem. Here are some numbers:

Play Money: 20,887,000 Up 747,000

Real Money: $1,943.51 Down $10.20

Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)

Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)

Target for next MTT level: $2,750 ($55)


It would appear as though the envelope promo funds have dried up as Global has not credited my account from the last batch I sent, so it looks like I'm gonna end up just shy of $2,000 and will need to formulate a strategy moving forward. I should be playing $50 cash games regularly now so that will have to be part of the plan. I'd like to try and use any profits from the cash games to start playing some of the bigger MTTs in the hopes that I can put together some sort of deep run. As far as SnGs, I think it's time to make the $6.60 level 1 and do the steps from there. I'll only play the $3.30s if I need to make a "day-saver". The main goal right now is to break that $2,000 marker and start building to get to the $100 cash games. It's been tough to schedule a casino run with school and the weather not being cooperative, but I'm hoping next month offers me an opportunity. Until then, I'll continue my online grind at Global Poker.

Weekly Bankroll Update 3/10-3/16

A huge hand in the $100 cash game and a profitable home game session contributed to the majority of my record-setting profits last week. The home game drew nine players Sunday night, and I was able to get a few good hands to exploit their poor play pulling in $34 of profit. Being the only sober one at the table helped too. It's nearly impossible for impaired players to disguise their tells. Saturday night I sat down at a $100 cash game on Global and the very first hand generated a $60 profit. Here's how it went down: I started the session in the big blind and picked up JJ. There was a middle position raise to $4 and one caller. I flat-called and the flop came 4-4-J. Yup. I flopped a boat. I of course checked, and the pre-flop raiser bet $6.25. The other player in the hand folded and I called. The turn came a third club and I checked again. The pre-flop raiser bet $10 and I min-raised to $20. He re-raised all in for his remaining stack and I called. He turned over AK of clubs for the nut flush, but it was not enough to beat my full house. I got out of the session a few hands after that and it was mission accomplished. Here's where I'm at:

Play Money: 20,140,000 Down 72,000

Real Money: $1,953.71 Up $200.15

Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)

Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)

Target for next MTT level: $2,750 ($55)

I know I played slightly above my limits entering a $100 cash game, but in order for me to unlock my promo money from my Global account, I have to actually play with it by entering cash games and tourneys, so that was more designed to make the funds available for withdrawal than anything. That's why I got up shortly after that big hand. I wasn't planning on playing a long session at that level. I should be able to break the $2,000 marker this week. Once that happens I'll up my frequency of cash games, and start playing slightly bigger MTTs. Let's see how this week goes.

Weekly Bankroll Update 3/3 - 3/9

Things continue to roll right along for the bankroll as spring approaches (even though it doesn't feel like it yet. It's snowing this morning). There is a live game going on tonight that I'm playing in and it should be full of fish. Hopefully my cards run well and I can take advantage of what is likely to be very bad play. I've been able to bank some cash over the past few weeks thanks to Global's envelope promo and it's really helped the roll as the $2,000 marker nears. Here are some numbers:

Play Money: 20,212,000 Up 500,000

Real Money: $1,753.56 Up $92.48

Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)

Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)

Target for next MTT level: $2,750 ($55)

I really can't wait to play some live poker tonight. It's much more fun than online which can really feel like a grind sometimes. I also want to try and get to the casino sometime in the next couple of weeks. The roll is growing and I will soon be adjusting my strategy accordingly. More cash games and MTTs will be a part of it, but I also want to start playing sattelites into bigger tourneys. Stay tuned to my Twitter feed for live results from the home game tonight!

Weekly Bankroll Update 2/24 - 3/2

February has finally come to a close and I'm really looking forward to Spring. February always results in me being sick, car troubles, financial challenges, and overall school and work stress. Happy to put all that behind me and move on to bigger and better things. The bankroll continues to grow as good SnG and cash game results come my way, and the bankroll is my main focus now. Here's where I'm at:

Play Money: 19,712,000 Down 750,000

Real Money: $1,661.08 Up $88.92

Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)

Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)

Target for next MTT level: $2,750 ($55)


I finally have enough banked for $33 MTTs, but it doesn't mean I'm just gonna play them all right away. It's really just a milestone more than anything. At the rate I'm going, I should pass $2,000 within the next few weeks. Then look out. I will be very aggressive between the $2,000 and $4,000 milestones. Playing small stakes conservatively is no longer a viable option in that range, and we will start to see the exponential benefits that take place. The more you have, the more you'll make. It's an exciting time for the roll right now. I'm just gonna sit tight the next few weeks and make sure I hit that next milestone. I'm also hoping for a casino trip sometime this month. School doesn't start back up until March 30th so there's some time for a run assuming the weather cooperates.  We'll see.