50 to 10K in a year?

[freechus9]

i just bought in 50 dollars in ultimate bet, and i made a side-bet with a friend saying that i could turn it into 10K in a year. hopefully i can do it.. currently im playing on the 1c/2c tables. i think it would be really badass to say that i used to wreck shit up on those tables before i hit 10K... currently im at $60..ill keep you posted..by the way, FTR has improved my game so much..thanks everyone

[vqc]

i just bought in 50 dollars in ultimate bet, and i made a side-bet with a friend saying that i could turn it into 10K in a year. hopefully i can do it.. currently im playing on the 1c/2c tables. i think it would be really badass to say that i used to wreck shit up on those tables before i hit 10K... currently im at $60..ill keep you posted..by the way, FTR has improved my game so much..thanks everyone

good luck!

[TLR]

Thats a nice goal

I think its doable

[Miffed22001]

Its a very doable goal, providing you hit $500 in reasoanble time and then know how to work that up quick....

[biondino]

I think you have set yourself an unrealistic target which is almost certain to affect you emotionally when you hit a bad patch. You have just started playing - are you an experienced live game player, or is this a new hobby cos you like watching it on telly? If it's the latter, then you're going to need a few months play just to find your feet, followed by another few months where you make decent $$ without too many downswings and are able to move up the limits seamlessly.

You are so far $10 up at the lowest possible limit, which is good, you have to start somewhere. But my natural reticence makes me worry that your target is simply too many magnitudes above your current situation, and possibly your capabilities, and that if you do want to set yourself goals, do them at a smaller, more reachable level, with a shorter time frame (say, to be bankrolled to play $25NL by March, or something).

Sorry to put a downer on things, but you wanted differing views, right?

[Aces]

I just finished my second year of online poker. I don't play as much as I'd like, but I've made much progress this year. I'm now currently playing mostly $50 and $100 Party SNGs. My goal for the end of 2005 was 10K, which I didn't quite make. I'm shooting for a minimum of 20K by EOY 2006. I hope to adjust that upward, but it depends on how much time constraints. This is just to give you some perspective.

I'm not saying you can't hit 10K this year(others have done that in their first year), but that's a lofty goal especially beginning at the penny tables(not saying that's a bad idea though). If you're just starting, I would think setting more modest goals, beating each level you are at and just continuing to improve(via this site, books, studying hand histories, etc) would be the main things to think about.

Overall I'd say you're better off taking your time and being cautious with your BR.

good luck...

[swiggidy]

I like the side bet, just don't get consumed with it. Keep your poker goals first, and you'll either easily make it, (or you won't but oh well).

I just made my first real-money deposit in August and things haven't gone exactly as planned. (FYI, I'm better at SnGs, than ring, just playing a couple hours a day). I started at PartyPoker, big mistake because of the short starting stacks. So there goes a month. Then I went to TotalPoker (for the bonus) and stayed because the $1 and $3 games are so easy, but could never succeed at the $5 and $10 games but made $200 there. They don't provide hand-histories so now I've started at PokerStars where I've gone from $25-$100 in 2 weeks.

I guess my point is, check out PokerStars if you're into tourneys. ($1 45 man -> easy money).

Good Luck!!

by the way, FTR has improved my game so much..thanks everyone

QFT, I say thanks too

[JeffreyGB]

A year ago, I had $10 in my UB account. I never went bust and never made additional deposits. So yes, it can be done.

I agree with what's said above, however, that making this your goal is a bit too far-sighted. Make some intermediate goals and use them to get started.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

I'm not saying you can't hit 10K this year(others have done that in their first year), but that's a lofty goal especially beginning at the penny tables(not saying that's a bad idea though).

I think you have set yourself an unrealistic target which is almost certain to affect you emotionally when you hit a bad patch.

I often wonder how much of the talk of downswings, variance, sustainability and generally what is reasonable is actually the voice of reason or if in reality it stems more from the speaker's dissatisfaction with their own results.

I think some of you are being too pessimistic. I started playing at the penny tables on Paradise and within that first year I had made over $10K. Grant it, a large portion of it was from MTTs, but the buy-ins for the MTTs were funded by playing ring games.

It's not just me and I don't think I am a particularly good player either. I could cite many players on FTR that started with a modest initial deposit and within a year had bankrolls of several thousand with numerous withdrawls made along the way. If you gave me $100 I know I could turn it into $10K within a year. You don't even have to be a very good player to start as long as you have a strong motivation to learn and improve. A year is a long time and the progression an improving player makes through the lower limits can/should be rapid. You can go from playing the penny tables to $10 NL to $25 NL in literally a matter of weeks.

The problem isn't people aiming too high and missing. It's too many people aiming low, hitting, and being pleased with the result. If anything, I think too many people set their goals too low. If you are disciplined, you or anyone else can make more than $10K in a year easily. If you're not disciplined then you're probably not going to reach a lower goal anyways. With no discipline I'd bet against you to make much more than even $100.

I'm assumming that you are disciplined (Are you? The vast majority of people playing poker are not.) and if you're not currently a good player then that you're willing to take the necessary steps to become one. If you meet those criteria then you're goal is definately doable even with such a small starting BR.

Like others have mentioned, I think it would be a good idea to establish other smaller goals on the road to achieving your ultimate one. If it was me, my first task would to earn enough to be bankrolled for $10 NL. My next goal would to be bankrolled for $25 NL, etc. If you want to make $10K you're going to have to make these steps along your way. If you keep making those steps then making $10K+ will take care of itself.

Aim high, if not higher. With motivation and discipline pretty much no goal is unreasonable. Without them though you're destined for failure.

[biondino]

We're always teaching people not to be results orientated, and this kind of far-off goal seems to be just another version of that. If you play poker to learn it and enjoy it, then you need to be able to recognise your weaknesses, roll with the punches and accept that it will take a long long time to become "good" at it. If I'm thinking of my $10K target and then lose $50 in one bad session, then the emotional impact of (being further away from) your target can really add to the annoyance that the loss will cause. You'll feel obliged to chase, to make up losses by playing recklessly. When playing at modest stakes, have a modest target. When you meet it, make a rather less modest target.

Targets that you don't meet can really add to tilt and disillusionment. If the target is unrealistic, then why potentially cripple yourself?

[elipsesjeff]

its more than possible. I took $50 into being BRed for 30/60 in a year playing LHE.

[Aces]

I often wonder how much of the talk of downswings, variance, sustainability and generally what is reasonable is actually the voice of reason or if in reality it stems more from the speaker's dissatisfaction with their own results.

I'm happy with my results. It took me longer than I hoped to get at this level, and I could do a lot better with more time, but it is what it is. I think too many people see poker as a get rich scheme and aren't dedicated enough to put in the time, learn their game and play within their BR. It's a fact - including the rake most players lose. Most people starting out online are going to lose because of lack of skill. Others will lose because they don't follow BR guidlines or they tilt too much or whatever. I've seen countless post from big names here at FTR about going broke for reasons other than lack of skill. I just think for most(not every) person it makes sense to start slowly. It will lead to varying results based on lots of factors...time, skill, discipline. I think 10K would be a better goal once the first 1-2K or more has been made.

Maybe it depends on the person, but I think for me and probably most others it is adviseable to start cautiously, see what you're good at, move up as your BR allows and not be too worried about having to make 10K the first year. All in good time. I don't know how many made 10K in their first year, but I'd say it's a relatively small percent so I'm trying to be realistic.

I think we're mostly saying the same thing just from two different angles.

[Pingviini]

It is doable. I deposited $120 in January and hit 10k in July. You just have to get a good grasp of poker and improve your game constantly and you should be ok.

Good luck.

Oh, and I also have a sidebet going on about getting to 50k with Mannerboy, whoever gets there first gets $500.

[Bmxicle]

if you aren't a douche, are willing to learn from your mistakes, study the game and play alot then you can do it easy. I ran 200 dollars up to well over 60k in about 8 months, so there is no reason you can't do it if you apply yourself. The problem that most peopel have is they refuse to completely commit themselves to do it.

[freechus9]

I am not new to poker itself but I am new to online poker. And I am VERY willing to constantly learn and improve my game, that's why I'm here, right? I do see the 10K as a goal, but I'm not really focusing on the actual 10K..I'm focusing on making money long term. And with that, I know that proper BR management, knowledge of variance, and a lot of other factors must be thought about. I am fairly confident that right now I am a solid player, but I only can improve if I stick around here. I'll let everyone know how it goes! Currently I'm at $100..I hope to hit about 200 or so before I move up to $10NL then about $500 for $25NL.

[ProZachNation]

freech, Ill play the devils advocate and say from what I have seen of you hands I think you would do fine in 10NL now, if you multi table maybe open up on 10NL table too.

Or single table 10NL becasue you would prob make more at 10NL one table in an hour than 4 tables of 2cent.

[BankItDrew]

It's very doable. This is my goal too actually.. and I've found that one could easily make a grand a month as a side job playing @ 25NL. Take into considerations of moving past the 25NL and yearly goals could reach 20K.

[Bailey]

I think you have set yourself an unrealistic target which is almost certain to affect you emotionally when you hit a bad patch. You have just started playing - are you an experienced live game player, or is this a new hobby cos you like watching it on telly? If it's the latter, then you're going to need a few months play just to find your feet, followed by another few months where you make decent $$ without too many downswings and are able to move up the limits seamlessly.

You are so far $10 up at the lowest possible limit, which is good, you have to start somewhere. But my natural reticence makes me worry that your target is simply too many magnitudes above your current situation, and possibly your capabilities, and that if you do want to set yourself goals, do them at a smaller, more reachable level, with a shorter time frame (say, to be bankrolled to play $25NL by March, or something).

Sorry to put a downer on things, but you wanted differing views, right?

lol unrealistic? he has a year to make 10k... how is that not realistic? This site generates dozens of professional players that have only been playing months.. I've been playing poker for just under a year... I think I started April 05.. I quit my job in August.. been playing professionally ever since.. my goal for this year is 100k.. his goal isnt unrealistic at all.. he could spend 6months reading books and forums and still have a good shot at doing it.

[midas06]

Bailey, the only way you will make 100k is by cheating in jackpot sngs.

[euphoricism]

I started with $50 in march, and made over 10k. However, if you're living off your roll (as I am) you will take a bit of a bankroll beating. My total wins are over 10k, but my bankroll is not.