Finally Reached my First Goal - $500 from $50

So this goal has been a long time coming...

In December 2004 I found FTR.com and started reading everything I could to learn how to play poker before actually putting any real money on-line.

Then, in Jan 2005 I decided to put $50 on Paradise Poker and play the $2NL tables to get some real experience. I had read about bonus whoring and made it my goal to reach $500 off my inital $50 deposit. My plan was to stay at Paradise so that I didn't waste any more initial deposit bonuses. When I got to $500 I would then start the wheel rolling on Party Poker.

Here is kinda how my progress went:
Jan05 to June05 - BR went from $50 to $150 plaing $2NL
July05 to Nov05 - BR increased from $50 to $340 plaing $5SNG with a few $10SNG when my BR was over $200
Nov05 to Jan06 - BR went from $340 to $100 playing $5SNG
Feb06 to May06 - BR went from $100 to $200 playing $2NL - I re-evaluated and found that I enjoyed the theory behind ring game poker as opposed to SNG poker, so I changed my focus to learn ring. The bad beats just didn't affect me like they do playing SNGs because I know that I can re-load and take that money right back.
May06 to July06 - BR went from $200 to $500 playing $10NL

Now I feel that I'm ready for the next step to the $25 at Party to take full advantage of the initial deposit bonus. What can I expect from those tables? They are the lowest limits that Party offers and there are more players at Party than at Paradise. Can I expect the same level of fishiness at the Party $25NL that I saw at the Paradise $10NL?

I had been 3-tabling the $10NL at Paradise, but until I get comfortable at the new stakes I'm just going to play one table. Then I'll gradually add to that when it feels right.

I think in the past year and a half, I've really developed my patience at this game, both through experience and learning here at FTR.

Congratulations! Way to stick with it.
I've been here and playing poker online since Nov '05 and I'm still trying to turn my initial deposit into $500 so I can do the same thing. Seesaw.

Congrats.

My god, someone who listens, learns, has patience, follows BR management and doesn't let tilt get to them! Congratulations Sir - in 12 months time you'll be pwning 99% of the overhyped, underrolled tilt monsters who profess to be FTR's elite

Originally Posted by biondino

overhyped, underrolled tilt monsters who profess to be FTR's elite

wow, vicious


OP: nh sir. You've been playing a lot longer than I have. I hope i have as much patience and discipline as you after a year and a half (i have been playing for like 6 months)

Now you have $500 things should start accelerating. You can make 3x as much from bonus whoring as you can from your poker winrate. Check out EasyT's guide.

I started like you with $50 and have just gone through $10K. Most of that is from poker bonuses. The first $500 at the time seemed to take forever. Stick with it.

Originally Posted by Renton

Originally Posted by biondino

overhyped, underrolled tilt monsters who profess to be FTR's elite

wow, vicious

Renton it's a joke! The smiley face!! Seriously. I have huge respect for anyone who wins at poker, whatever level, and the people I'm poking fun of manage to do that AND write funny, thought-provoking, intense, detailed and wacko posts on FTR. I take my hat off to them, all of them.

Originally Posted by sinky

Now you have $500 things should start accelerating.

Things have certainly accelerated. I cleared my $100 Party bonus in no three days and was up $50 from poker.

I moved to PokerRoom and am working on a $100 bonus there too. That bonus clears so much slower, I think it'll take me almost the full 2 months at this rate.

I started by one-tabling, but then that got too slow and I felt comfortable at the tables. I have been 2-tabling for the past week with good results, my BR is up to $815. +$315 in less than 15 days only playing about 10 1-hour sessions (between PR and Party). I think I'll add a third table to my sessions.

When I get to $1,000 I plan to cash $250 out from my BRand spend it on myself as a reward and then keep building the BR at that rate (win $500 cash out $250). I don't think I'll feel ready for 50NL until I have enough 25NL under my belt.

I have really been enjoying poker since starting it last year. It just seems to get better and better. I guess that's how it is when things are going my way, hopefully I'll be able to battle though the downswings (when they come) with as much enthusiasm. I've been studying enough to put losses out of my mind, but we'll see how I perform when push comes to shove.

STOP CASHING OUT

When I started playing I didn't cash out a dime until my bankroll reached $10k, and it worked wonders.

STOP CASHING OUT

Isn't that a bit of generic advice? I don't mind you cashing out for a few reasons.

1. Getting the money makes you realize why you are playing the game, rewarding yourself a little helps keep you focused and driven.

2. He believes he isn't ready for 50NL, so what's the point in being over bankrolled once he finally does feel ready. As long as you are properly bankrolled for the game you are in, why not cash out and enjoy your earnings.

You have to ask yourself, am I trying to play for a living(don't cash out and move up levels) or am I playing for fun and some extra cash (cash it out!)

Either way, keep rolling man, I have almost built my roll to $500 at Titan from a free BR, I'm about to start whoring it up as well. Good to see there are more of us out there.

it takes forever to get to 1k then about the same amount of time to get to 10k. if you keep cashing out your just screwing yourself.

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

2. He believes he isn't ready for 50NL, so what's the point in being over bankrolled once he finally does feel ready. As long as you are properly bankrolled for the game you are in, why not cash out and enjoy your earnings.

The point is this. When you finally do move up a level and your first session doesn't go well, maybe you dump 3 buyins or there abouts, you won't have to go into your next session thinking "geez if I get hammered like that again I'll have to drop down and grind up 10 buyins before taking another shot".

The best thing you can do for your game early on is to get over rolled and stay that way. The 250 that you cash out at the low levels will be an absolute pittance compared to what you'll be earning per session at higher levels.

You mean all this grinding will really pay off one day?
You have given me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.