My Project

I've had a PokerStars account for some time, but no money in it. Post-UIGEA, it's hard to get money onto online poker sites, and I've never been motivated enough to explore how it might be done. I only created the account so I could participate in freerolls. However, on February 29th, Pokerstars deposited $5 into my account, presumably to get me hooked on real money play, so that I will later make a deposit. But I had a better idea. I'm going to take that $5 and see how far I can run it up in no-limit cash games without making any deposit.

Chris Ferguson recently a completed a similar - but harder - challenge. His goal was to start with $0 and turn it into $10,000. (Starting with $0, he needed to win a freeroll to even get off the ground.) It appears he started in March of 2006, and hit his goal in August of 2007. Perhaps surprisingly, it took him several months to get his bankroll to surpass $6.50 (and stay there).

Anyhow, by starting with $5, I guess I'm driving from the ladies' tee in comparison. I don't have a specific dollar goal, but I'll keep it up until I get bored, or until I can't make money. I started with the $.01/$.02 full ring games, moved up to $.02/$.05, and then to $.05/$.10. I've been stuck there for a while, but recently have started making forward progress again. My bankroll is currently $106. The rule I have set for myself is that I can move up when I have 500 big blinds at the next level. So I can move up to $.1/$.25 when I get to $125.