From Small to High Stakes: One PLO players climb
Creating this thread to keep me accountable on my journey. PLO player, some live some online. Working full time and grinding on the side.
On a mission to become a better player and move up stakes. To do this I'm initially going to focus on online. Get in the volume and review/study my decisions. Playing time vs study time has been an issue for me in the past, need to devote more time to study.
Current Bankroll = $15,500.
Pretty simple bankroll management strategy. 50 x buy in for live and 100 x buy ins for online. Currently playing PLO200 online.
LFG !
Played 1k hands. I won't be getting in very high volume of hands. What I've found is I tend to go on auto-pilot with more than 2-3 tables. Ideally 2 tables allows me to focus and think through decisions. I think it's important to be mindful of this considering my focus is to study and improve my game. As I add more tables, I find my red line starts to plummet, really not ideal.
Decent portion of my bankroll is also in crypto (mostly BTC), so expect fluctuations.
Bankroll: $16,300
Getting some study hours in. Still a bit unbalanced compared to play time. Will aim to increase study/review of hands. 10 days in, not the best start to the journey. . . . . . .
Had this spot below which I really tanked the river. Should of never opened the hand, but wasn't complaining on the flop. The 4th heart on the river and the one in my hand ended up convincing me to make the call. After review, I think it's a fold with me holding a set.
Ignition - $2 PL Hi (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 3 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
SB: 12.02 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 12.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 25)
BB: 272.37 BB (VPIP: 65.85, PFR: 34.15, 3Bet Preflop: 10.53, Hands: 43)
Hero (BTN): 176.27 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) BB has 9♣ 8♥ K♦ Q♥
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 7♦ 8♣ 7♠ 9♥
Hero raises to 3.5 BB, SB calls 3 BB, BB calls 2.5 BB
Flop: (10.5 BB, 3 players) 6♠ 7♥ T♥
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 4.99 BB, fold, BB raises to 24.95 BB, Hero raises to 69.85 BB, BB calls 44.9 BB
Turn: (150.19 BB, 2 players) K♥
BB checks, Hero checks
River: (150.19 BB, 2 players) 3♥
BB bets 111.9 BB, Hero calls 102.93 BB and is all-in
BB shows 9♣ 8♥ K♦ Q♥ (Flush, King High)
BB wins 355.04 BB
Good luck on your journey!
Getting some study hours in. Still a bit unbalanced compared to play time. Will aim to increase study/review of hands. 10 days in, not the best start to the journey. . . . . . . Had this spot below which I really tanked the river. Should of never opened the hand, but wasn't complaining on the flop. The 4th heart on the river and the one in my hand ended up convincing me to ma
This hand is an open fwiw, I like how you played it. Running into a tough river spot and even sometimes into a better hand doesn't mean you did anything incorrect...it might mean that but not necessarily which is why poker is such a difficult game to improve at
This hand is an open fwiw, I like how you played it. Running into a tough river spot and even sometimes into a better hand doesn't mean you did anything incorrect...it might mean that but not necessarily which is why poker is such a difficult game to improve at
I thought it was an open when played too. The solver disagrees for the rainbow combination. Both for 100bb and 200bb.
My bad, I was reading your hand as the BB's hand. Yea your hand is probably close in some games, it would depend on how fishy the blinds are playing. Solver is a great way to figure out what the baseline should be if we're playing pretty tough games but when we're in really good games we should be able to stray some from that in the right spots
I've been playing some 6 card recently on app games. I prefer 4 card but the action seems good in this club and 6 card is the main game. It can be so swingy.
I have started putting some time into studying 6 card. Nothing too complex but getting a better grasp over the fundamentals currently.
Bankroll: $18,300
I've been playing some 6 card recently on app games. I prefer 4 card but the action seems good in this club and 6 card is the main game. It can be so swingy.
I have started putting some time into studying 6 card. Nothing too complex but getting a better grasp over the fundamentals currently.
Bankroll: $18,300
Keeping your full bankroll in crypto will add variance. Is there a reason you don't keep it in USD? Good luck btw.
Keeping your full bankroll in crypto will add variance. Is there a reason you don't keep it in USD? Good luck btw.
Thanks! Yea definitely more variance. Usually I've been keeping 25%-40% in crypto. Basically I don't want my whole bankroll to just be sitting there in dollars not doing anything, so happy to keep some in crypto.
At the moment I've got almost 70% in crypto. Due to market going up and recent downswing I had on the tables. Its a higher % than I'd like, but even at this level I need to go on a +30 BI downswing before I use those funds.
End of month review
There are lots of areas for improvement this month. To be honest, I haven't been in the best mental space over the past few weeks. It's completely unrelated to poker. However it has resulted in a lack of motivation and focus. I've been motivated to play, but not motivated to study and work on my game.
I've played 104 hours this month which is very high volume for me. Too high! Ive spent some time studying and my game has improved, just not the extent I wanted it to.
I've got access to a decent online game which is mostly PLO5 and PLO6 on the apps. Such different games. I will predominantly focus on these games in August if the environment stays the same and I don't have any issues with the host. I've hardly studied 5 and 6 card so will need to do this if I continue to there.
I made a very small profit this month (+$500). Really nothing for the hours I've played. However Crypto has been on a bit of a run, so my bankroll has got a healthy bump up.
I intend to play less hours in August (max 60). I'm not a pro poker player so want to focus on other areas of my life. My gtm routine is one thing that has improved. Been consistently going this month and intend to continue.
Bankroll = $19,500
Gym is so crucial.
How was the 104 hours split between live and the app games?
Sounds like a solid plan, especially with the disciplined bankroll management. Balancing play and study will definitely pay off long-term. Good luck on the climb, looking forward to seeing your progress!
Poker has really taken a back seat over the past month. Been extremely busy with work and had to prioritise it.
Recently I'm finding myself getting a little distracted too easily in general. Not staying present and on task. Haven't been meditating in a while, and think this is a practice that really benefits me, both for poker and being productive in other areas of my life.
2 months since starting thread. Results so far. . .
Hours: 154
Profit: +$3,180
Hourly: +$20.65
Bankroll: $22,300
Another super busy month with work. Study has taken a back seat. Have got some hours in the tables at some decent games. Think it's +EV to prioritise playing over study while games are soft. 3 months down and results are getting better. Had a very good month even though I lost one of the biggest pots I've ever played ($5k). Had 80% equity when money went in. Wasn't the slightest bit bothered about loosing, happy with my play.
Month
Result: +$5,200
Total
Profit: +$8,400
Hourly: +$35.53
Bankroll = +$27,300
Almost doubled my bankroll since starting challenge which is nice. Approx 55% of my bankroll is currently in crypto.
I was basically on auto pilot during October. Games were great, and been running good, so can't complain. Feels like I'm printing. Another record breaking month since starting this thread. Maybe I'll get brought back down to reality soon.
Month
Result: +$8,800
Total
Profit: $17,000
Hourly: $48.21
Bankroll = $34,900
Swingy month in November. Decent amount of volume, ended in front a little +$700. All 5 months have finished in profit since starting this thread. BTC has taken a bit of a hit to my bankroll since where it once was.
December is going to be a high volume month. Predominantly playing online but going to try mix in some more live this month. Also going to focus on learning and improving, which is really one of the primary goals when starting this thread. Games have still been decent online so trying to make the most of them. Will look to post some hands.
Overall, past 6 months have been successful from a results perspective. I also feel super confident in the field when I'm sitting at the table playing live and online (in private apps).
December was the best month of my life in terms of poker results. Finished +$23,700. Been playing a super juicy live home game, sold a bunch of action as it's too big for me. Ended up running great. The issue is, I'm still owed $13k from the host which is annoying. I knew this going into the game (payments won'tbe immediate), but the lineup is so good that I decided to take the opportunity.
Reflecting on 2025, it's been successful but definitely lots of room for improvement in 2026. I want to improve my game from a theoretical basis. Moving forward I'm going to be selective with times I play. Poker is my passion and great source of side income, but it does take away from other aspects in my life that Im trying to progress in. One of the major impacts is to my sleeping pattern, I find myself in a juicy game and decide I can't leave, resulting in <4 hours sleep before having to wake up the next day. My sleep pattern is all over the place.
Fitness has been consistently mediocre. Going gym 2-3 days a week. Playing some other social sports like tennis which is fun. Overall, I want to improve this.
I've withdrawn some funds from my bankroll since starting the thread, however trying to continue increase the balance as I have positive months. Crypto has also taken a bit of a hit recently which has impacted my bankroll
Month (December)
Result: +$23,700
Total since thread
Profit: +$42,400
Hourly: +$83.44
Bankroll: $51,600 ($13k of this is still not received yet).
Ignition - $5 PL Hi (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
Hero (CO): 90.07 BB
BTN: 73.91 BB (VPIP: 24.14, PFR: 20.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 29)
SB: 133.8 BB (VPIP: 35.71, PFR: 17.86, 3Bet Preflop: 18.18, Hands: 29)
BB: 99.29 BB (VPIP: 27.59, PFR: 20.69, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 29)
UTG: 200.54 BB (VPIP: 35.71, PFR: 3.57, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 29)
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J♠ T♥ 7♦ Q♦
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) SB has 3♥ A♦ 9♦ A♣
fold, Hero raises to 3.5 BB, fold, SB raises to 11.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 8 BB
Flop: (24 BB, 2 players) 5♦ 8♠ A♥
SB checks, Hero checks
Turn: (24 BB, 2 players) 6♥
SB checks, Hero bets 16.55 BB, SB calls 16.55 BB
River: (57.1 BB, 2 players) 4♥
SB checks, Hero bets 56.5 BB, SB calls 56.5 BB
Hero shows J♠ T♥ 7♦ Q♦ (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 38%, Flop 10%, Turn 8%)
SB shows 3♥ A♦ 9♦ A♣ (Three of a Kind, Aces)
(Pre 62%, Flop 90%, Turn 93%)
SB wins 169.5 BB
Been a while since my last post. Things have been going well until this month. On my worst downswing in my life (dollar value). Currently down $15,000 from all time high. It's over 25% of my bankroll and it hurts. Bankroll currently $43,000.
Most of downswing is PLO500 online, also couple tournies. I know it's standard, but need to remind myself of that, doesn't feel good. I'm dropping down to PLO200 until I have 100 buy ins for PLO500 again. I think that's a sensible idea.
Was planning to shot take a bigger live game next week. Have some travel plans booked. Bit annoying with the timing of my downswing. Need to reassess.
Finished off April as worst month I've ever had -$15k.
Will be taking a few days off to reset then getting back into the grind. If I'm honest I've definitely punted a few stacks recently from tilting. Usually my mental game is super strong, but this month got to me a bit. I've set some rules for myself about when I will play sessions, ensuring I'm in the right mindset. Plan to also keep multi tabling to 3 or less tables so I ensure I'm really thinking about every decision.
Always a good time to reflect when I'm in the middle of a bad downswing. I also find my study really increases when I'm not getting positive results.
Hoping to finish in the green this May.
I'm +$40,400 since starting this thread. 10 months in. Overall I'm happy with that result.
Do you think ignition 500plo games are safe to play? Isn't there a lot of collusion and cheating?
Do you think ignition 500plo games are safe to play? Isn't there a lot of collusion and cheating?
I'm not sure how much collusion might be going on. I haven't seen anything that has blatantly looked like cheating. My sample size is extremely insignificant, however I think it's profitable with the player pool I've played with.
Good first half of the month after such a bad April.
Bankroll back to $50k.
40% cash, 36% stocks, 24% crypto.
It's been 10.5 months since starting the thread. Be nice to finish the 12 months strong.
Also going to set some thoughtful goals for the next 12 months. Not just poker, also the rest of life.
