The Project

Now that we know how we got here, let's get started with the bankroll! The plan details still haven't been created because I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the bankroll theories. Mainly having the most problems with understanding growth using the Kelly criterion. There is a great deal of literature about it out there, I just haven't got there yet. The goal of the project is a bankroll of $10,000(ie. Fergason, Wallace, & other poker gods). A couple of basics to the plan is to move up levels as the roll allows for 40 buy-ins and drop back down a level if it drops below 25 buy-ins. I will be playing 10 man sit-n-gos almost exclusively. I have allowed myself the freedom to play an occasional MTT as long as no more than 1 buy-in at the current level is used per week. This will help keep my brain from freezing up and hopefully keep my eyes on the real goal. That probably needs definition at this point also. The actual purpose of this project is to become a major MTT player and start with a roll that can handle some variance. As I sit and think about the goal, it comes to mind that even that my change as my game changes. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds!!!

The project is being played at Cake poker. There's a number of diffrent reasons for that. First and foremost is the rakeback concept. I first learned about this from the people at PokerFox.net. Because I already had accounts at all the other sites the U.S. people can play at, Cake was my only option. I love the idea of a poker room sharing it's profits that I help in creating! Although it isn't a whole lot compared to playing cash games, it will still help the project. The second reason for Cake is a suggestion from Chris "Fox" Wallace(poker instructor/pro/god) in an article about bankroll building and where the soft tables are at. Thirdly, because the traffic volume is smaller, it keeps a little closer to the pace I'm used to at this point. Another bonus I've noticed over the past couple weeks is that there isn't the childish brattle of young professors pounding away in the chat boxes. I now I can turn it off but I do like to compliment good play when I recognize it. For those who can't read between the lines, that last statement means I'm still a donkey myself.

So, here is the present situation. I started the project on the 21st day of July, the year of our lord 2008. It began with the amount of $205.42. That has allowed the project to begin at the $5 sng level(per the perameters). You will notice that the data that follows doesn't necessarily follow the rules, but we'll discuss that afterwards. Here are the current stats:

Buy-in Games ITM ROI
$4.40+.40 117 44.44% 18.97%
$9.20+.80 2 0% -100%

With rakeback and deposit bonuses, that brings the current bankroll to $349.86. We have been running the project for 12 days and had total increase of 70.3%. Not a bad start in my opinion once you understand some of the outstanding circumstances surrounding the project, which we will get into now.

I started the project while working in South Carolina. Two days into it, the job completed and I was sent to Orlando, Florida for the next one. I travel with a fifth wheel R.V. that takes a day to wrap up or set up properly. Because my house is only about 1 1/2 hours drive time from Orlando, I went home for the weekend. I hadn't been there for about 2 months, so it made for a nice weekend. Then back to Orlando. The job I'm currently in charge of is between two bridges of the FL Turnpike, which we can only work during the night time hours. Tracy, my wife, and Jax, my dog, decided to come over for a few days because my rig is set up in "Old Town" while I'm here. It's a great place to hang out if you enjoy some overall fun. I like the part where I can carry my beer into while walking town without someone giving me shit!! So, all of this leads to some interesting observations toward bankroll building and poker in general.

#1- heavy drinking and BR projects are NOT a very good combination!!! I reiterate, NOT a very good combination!!! Especially if you can't remember how many games you've played. Fortunately, I've gotten to the point where even my subconcious knows to record my results on paper, no matter how bad they are. That being said, I did play some live, free sngs Wensday night at a local bar and DOMINATED!! Drunk and fun to boot. WOOHOO!!

#2- sleep deprivation and BR projects are NOT a very good combination!!! I have found that playing when well rested and not extremely fatigued allows for better player recognition and situational understanding. The funny part is that I have graphs that dramatically show these effects. All I have to do is view these graphs to understand where I was physically and mentally. I love technology as much as I hate it. It's hard getting older sometimes.

I am using program called Pokerscore to track all of my results. Very simle, accurate and free. I do suggest a small donation cause the program is sweet and simple. I would like to say thanks to all the people who have helped my growth to this point. PFox, PXF, the wonderful authors of poker knowledge every where. The poker community in general has been wonderful. Mayhap someday I'll be able to say I've gone from donkey to full grown ass!! Gotta go to the pool, so I shall pick this up another time.

Good luck at the tables!!!

Caisson