Last week, I shared my experience with a personal bankroll challenge — The 10NL Challenge — where my goal was to win $1,000 by playing $0.05/0.10 cash games. Over the last few years, a lot of my poker time has been consumed by this challenge, and, honestly, it’s had a few meaningful consequences on my journey as a poker player.
Playing 10NL cash games isn’t exactly where you’d find the highest level of poker theory. There’s a lot of suboptimal play, and I’ll admit, I’ve made my share of mistakes. What’s more frustrating is that many players seem to enjoy beating me in the most ridiculous ways possible, often exploiting my fragile mentality and propensity for going on tilt. As a result, I’ve found myself caught in endless cycles of frustration, which makes the game feel much less enjoyable. The deeper strategy and excitement of battling at the tables fades, and you’re left second-guessing whether your opponent is going to slow-roll you on the river.
Here’s an update on how things are going with my challenge:
Rediscovering the Passion
After a particularly rough session last Tuesday, I decided to take the rest of the week off from 10NL to give myself a break and let my mind reset.
It might sound strange, but after playing 100NL to get away from the grind of 10NL, I found myself rediscovering the passion I’ve always had for the game. Despite running terribly, as usual, I was finally being challenged in ways that made me think deeply about my decisions. When I joined the 100NL SNAP pool on 888poker and found myself in tough spots with regulars, I came to a shocking realization: I had no idea what I was doing.
I’d spent so much time at 10NL that I’d lost touch with the complexity of poker at higher stakes. Studying felt pointless during the frustration of my bankroll challenge, and I’d started pushing it to the back of my mind. But the experience of facing tougher competition reminded me that I still had a lot to learn and, more importantly, that I loved the challenge of improving my game.
Why We Play
There are many reasons why people love poker — financial gain, the mental challenge, social aspects, or something else entirely. For me, poker has always been about competition. I’ve been a competitive person since I was a kid, whether it was battling in Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64 or facing off at the poker table. That drive to compete and hate losing is what originally drew me to the game, and it’s something I’ve neglected in recent years.
As I struggled against the 100NL regs, I realized that competitive spark had been buried under frustration and complacency. But this realization wasn’t uncomfortable; it was an epiphany. I don’t want to keep finding myself in situations where I have no clue how to handle a hand. I want to work hard on my game, improve my thought process, and compete at the level I know I’m capable of.
I may never have all the answers, but I’m determined to give myself the best chance to do what I’ve always wanted: compete at the highest level.
So, the journey continues — with renewed energy, a clearer focus on my game, and a burning desire to succeed.
