Nick is a cash game player, content creator and part of 888poker’s Stream Team. Each week he shares his thoughts and experiences as a player dedicated to the daily grind. This week he stands on the precipice of greatness… if he can only make 20 bucks playing poker…
A few weeks ago, I wrote about a bankroll challenge I undertook in August 2021, a few months after joining the 888poker Stream Team. Dubbed the $1,000 10NL Challenge, I tasked myself with the gruelling gauntlet of winning $1,000 solely at the humble stake of $0.05/$0.10.
When I started off, the prospect of reaching that milestone was so daunting that the only reasonable thing to do was take it hand-by-hand and see where it took me. Well, either that or realise the errors of my ways and quit immediately. But I’m still here almost three years later, and (whisper it very quietly) we’re actually in with a shot of completing it.
$20 away from joy
After a whopping 260,000 hands of 10NL, I’ve managed to accrue the tantalising total of $981.30, leaving me within 2 buy-ins of unbridled joy.
If you’re just learning about this challenge for the first time and you think I’m sounding a tad dramatic, you’re probably right. But on a personal level, the sheer longevity of this quest coupled with the demonic evil that poker often summons, it really does feel like I’m on the precipice of immortality.
Here's the very latest update from my YouTube channel.
As I’ve said before, I won’t allow myself to get sucked into talking too much about how it’s going to feel if I manage to get over the line, or what my streaming plans are when it’s all over. My only focus is to find a way - any way - to secure this last $18.70, and I’ll be doing that in the same manner that got me to this point: one hand at a time.
Planning my parade route
But while I haven’t allowed myself to get carried away, or count my proverbial chickens before they’ve hatched, I have had to make certain provisions. I’ve made reservations at my favourite restaurant, just in case the next stream happens to be the last.
For those who suggest this is ‘tempting fate’ or ‘jinxing it’, first of all I don’t believe in all that nonsense. But even still, I’ll present the same analogy I used in my most recent challenge update video on my YouTube channel.
As a Liverpool fan, I know all too well that when a title challenge goes down to the last day of the season, the team with little hope still has to make their ‘Champions’ t-shirts and plan the bus parade on the off chance that it all comes together. Well my heavenly local Indian restaurant is my bus parade, and I very much hope I can be on top of it on Friday evening, even if I’m the only one celebrating.
Today’s (maybe) the day
If it doesn’t happen this week, which is entirely possible and certainly the more likely option, then I’ll go again and again until I reach the summit. I know now that even if this isn’t the day, then I can’t and won’t be stopped from getting there someday, even in the event of a (much requested - thanks chat) 20+ buy-in downswing. It’s poker after all, so there’s every chance that the people will get what they want.
Regardless, if you want to check out the stream, I’m kicking things off today, Friday May 31, at 4pm BST on my Twitch channel. It would be great to have you along.
I mentioned before that if I had one word of advice for those thinking of attempting a bankroll challenge, it would be: don’t. That certainly rings true from my experience of the near three years of what mostly felt like a futile battle. So far I’ve only known the pain, suffering and ignominy of the journey, and so that’s the only reasonable advice I can give.
But I can’t help but wonder if I might change my advice if I do achieve the unthinkable. If I can, I’ll let you know.
Nick Eastwood regularly posts videos, vlogs and live streams of his play, focusing mainly on low-stakes online cash games but also covering hand analysis and live events. Catch his most recent videos on his YouTube channel and follow him on X to keep up to speed with his latest news.
Image courtesy of Pascal Habermann/Unsplash
