100-Week Poker Challenge: From $0 to $100,000
Hi everyone,
I decided to start this thread to document a long-term poker challenge and to keep myself fully accountable.
Originally, I planned to start this challenge with a $100 bankroll. But after thinking about it more, I asked myself a simple question:
Is it still possible to build something serious literally from zero today?
So I decided to make this challenge harder — and more honest.
The Challenge
• Goal: $100,000
• Duration: 100 weeks
• Volume target: ~1,000,000 hands
• Game: Online No-Limit Hold’em cash games
Starting Bankroll
• Starting bankroll: $0
I will not deposit money specifically to start playing poker.
The initial bankroll will be built from scratch, using bonuses and promotions offered by the poker room and its partner platforms.
How the Initial Bankroll Is Built
The starting bankroll will be accumulated from:
• Deposit match bonuses
• Weekly poker room promotions
• Casino bonuses
• Casino free spins and similar offers
• Sports bonus bets
For example,on BetMGM or WSOP NJ weekly casino and sports promotions can realistically generate around $0–$15–$20 per week. Over time, this is enough to build a small initial bankroll and start grinding the lowest limits once combined.
All bonus conversions and bankroll growth will be tracked and reported transparently.
This Blog Is About
• Discipline and structure
• Proper bankroll management
• Volume and regular study
• Learning from mistakes and variance
• Long-term thinking
• And simply a genuine love for poker and the process behind it
No shortcuts, no rush — just consistent work and patience.
Blog Format
I will post weekly reports (usually on Mondays).
Each report will include:
• Hands played
• Hours played
• Profit / loss
• Rakeback & bonuses
• Study hours
• Bankroll update
• Short thoughts on mindset and adjustments
No unnecessary hand spam — only interesting or educational spots.
Current Status
• Week: 1
• Bankroll: $0
• Focus: Building the first roll through bonuses
I don’t expect miracles. I expect variance, work, and slow progress.
Let’s see if building from zero is still possible in 2026.
GL at the tables 🍀
4 Replies
GL although I personally think challenges starting from $0 are very strange and pointless. Anyone (even complete mega donkeys) can start from $0 and farm the free promos or bonuses until they hit something. It's not a reflection of skill starting from 0, as much as a reflection of how much time you want to burn doing this. And I think time efficiency is more respectable for a poker player than "hey lets see how much time I can waste on freerolls and stuff until I finally hit something". Your premise of building from "literally 0" is inaccurate since you are valuing your time = 0 which can't be true as everyone's time has value.
I highly suggest just starting from $100 which for all intents and purposes is a starting roll that anyone can relate to for challenging themselves on a poker journey.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I understand what you mean.
I agree that starting from $0 is not about pure poker skill or time efficiency.
For me, this challenge is more about discipline, consistency, and documenting the full process.
This is simply the format I find interesting to do and to share.
Thanks for the feedback and GL.
Week 1 Results
Hands
• Played (week): 952
• Played (total): 952 / 1, 000, 000
Poker
• Win/Loss (week): +$0.08
Spoiler
[image]5KKKPLm.jpg[/im
..]
Bonuses
• Sports bonus bet: $12.00
• Casino free spins: $21.25
Spoiler
Total bonuses (week): $33.25
Total bankroll: $33.33 / $100, 000
Week 1 Thoughts
The start is done.
Thanks to bonuses, I have a small bankroll now.
This week I didn’t play much, had other things to do.
Next week plan: 20 hours of play, 5 hours of study.
Step by step, getting deeper into poker again.
Week 2 Results
Hands
• Played (week): 3072
• Played (total): 4024 / 1, 000, 000
Poker
• Win/Loss (week): +$43.2
Bonuses
• Casino free spins: $7.44
Spoiler
• Poker Bonuses: $10
Spoiler
Week2 Profite: $60.64
Total bankroll: $93.97 / $100, 000
Week 2 Thoughts
Discipline: 1 – Me: 0.
Because of work and other responsibilities, my discipline and time management suffered.
I played about 15 hours instead of the planned 20, and did only 2 hours of study.
This week I want to focus more on my schedule and discipline.
New plan: 15 hours of play and 3 hours of study.
Study will be only Flopzilla and hand reviews.
I want a deeper understanding of ranges, so no solvers for now.
Week 3-5 Results
Hands
• Played (week): 3412
• Played (total): 7436 / 1, 000, 000
Poker
• Win/Loss (week): +$28.48
Spoiler
[image]6SYTxGg.jpg[/im
..]
Bonuses/Rake back: +$71.44
Week3-5 Profit: +$99.92
Total bankroll: $193.89 / $100, 000
Week 3-5 Thoughts:
Fact: the volume wasn’t there.
That’s on me.
Too much time went to work and other responsibilities. But if I’m being honest, the issue wasn’t work — it was priorities and time management. No structure, no system — predictable result.
Playing volume — minimal.
Study time — almost zero.
You don’t beat the long run like that.
On the positive side, the bankroll reached $200.
Bonuses, rakeback, and a small profit at the tables pushed it there.
After that, I made a cash-out.
Around $100 went back into development: Hand2Note subscription and upcoming coaching sessions.
New month starts with a $100 bankroll.
The biggest result this month wasn’t financial.
It was clarity.
No more overestimating myself.
No more planning fantasy volume.
I now have a realistic schedule I can maintain alongside work. No emotion. No excuses. Just structure.
Next month isn’t about motivation.
It’s about discipline.
Either the system holds —
or I find out I’m still making excuses.
