Grinding from zero: Building a bankroll in online poker

[mardi1987]

When I started playing poker, I had no experience, no bankroll, just curiosity, a little free time and a persistent feeling that this game has a deeper meaning. Through freeroll tournaments, small wins, brutal defeats and a lot of thinking, I realized that what makes the biggest difference is not cards but discipline.
After a break of almost two years, I returned to poker with a new perspective. This book was originally created as a personal guide, something to help me re-establish myself, analyze my approach and stay consistent with myself in the game.
Now I want to share it with the community in the hope that it will make the journey that I went through easier for at least someone. No illusions about quick success, but with clear steps on how to build a bankroll from the ground up, with discipline as the strongest support.

Grinding from zero: Building a bankrol in online poker
(Master the art of freerolls and micro-stakes to grow your bankroll)

TABLE OF CONTENTS​

Spoiler: Introduction – The goal of this book, how to grind a bankroll from zero

Chapter 1: Introduction
​

Building a Bankroll from Zero: A Strategic Approach to Online Poker

The Goal of This Book​

Many players dream of building a poker bankroll from scratch, but few know the right path to success. This book provides a clear roadmap, outlining how to start with nothing and use strategic gameplay to steadily increase your funds.

​

How to Grind a Bankroll from Zero​

Through disciplined decision-making, proper game selection, and an understanding of key poker concepts, you will learn how to maximize opportunities in freerolls and micro-stakes games. Whether you're new to online poker or looking to refine your strategy, this guide will help you develop a sustainable approach to bankroll growth.

Spoiler: Basic Principles of Online Grind – Advantages of online poker vs live play, freeroll and micro-stakes strategies

Chapter 2: Basic Principles of Online Grind​

2.1 Maximizing Your Success in the Online Poker Environment

Building a bankroll from zero requires understanding the unique advantages of online poker. Unlike live play, the online grind offers higher volume, smaller stakes, and a vast player pool—creating ideal conditions to refine your skills and steadily grow your bankroll.

Key Advantages of Online Poker vs Live Play:​

• Higher volume – More hands per hour accelerates progression.
• Lower stakes accessibility – Micro-limits allow gradual bankroll growth.
• Global player pool – Facing diverse playing styles sharpens adaptability.
• Convenience & flexibility – Play anytime, anywhere.
• Tracking tools – Software like HUDs and solvers enhance decision-making.

Freeroll and Micro-Stakes Strategies:​

Success at lower stakes comes down to recognizing common player tendencies and adjusting accordingly:

• Freerolls – Play tight early, loosen up mid-game, and maximize aggression late.
• Micro-Stakes – Identify weak players, focus on solid fundamentals, and exploit common mistakes.
• Bankroll progression – Move up gradually while protecting profits.
• Table selection – Find softer games where win rates are higher.

By mastering these fundamental principles, you will establish a strong foundation for bankroll growth, improving decision-making and long-term success.

2.2 Advantages of Online Poker vs Live Play

Why Online Poker is the Best Environment for Bankroll Growth​

One of the biggest reasons players choose online poker for bankroll building is its efficiency and accessibility. Unlike live poker, online games allow you to play more hands, at lower stakes, with a global player pool, all from the comfort of your home. These advantages make online poker the ideal environment for structured grinding.

Key Benefits of Online Poker:​

• Higher Volume – Online poker allows you to play significantly more hands per hour, accelerating your learning curve and bankroll progression. Unlike live games, where a single table may see 30 hands per hour, online platforms offer 100+ hands per table, making it easier to capitalize on long-term profitability.
• Lower Stakes Accessibility – Many live casinos don’t offer stakes lower than $1/$2, forcing beginners into riskier games. Online poker, however, starts as low as $0.01/$0.02 cash games and freerolls, creating a perfect space for players to build their bankroll without financial pressure.
• Global Player Pool & Softer Games – Playing online gives access to a diverse range of opponents, from recreational players to professionals. Many low-stakes and freeroll games contain weaker players who make frequent mistakes—giving disciplined players a chance to exploit leaks and grow their bankroll faster.
• Convenience & Flexibility – Live poker requires travel, scheduling, and dealing with real-world distractions. Online poker, however, allows players to log in anytime, play multiple tables, and take advantage of softer games across different time zones. You dictate when and where you grind.
• Tracking & Analysis Tools – Unlike live games, where tracking is manual, online poker provides hand histories, HUDs, and solver tools, giving players deeper insights into their strategy. These tools help in identifying patterns, fixing leaks, and refining play, ensuring consistent long-term improvement.

With these advantages, online poker is the perfect setting for grinding from zero, offering faster gameplay, lower-risk entry points, and valuable analysis tools to sharpen your edge. Mastering these elements will allow you to build a bankroll efficiently while improving as a player.

2.3 Freeroll and Micro-Stakes Strategies – Winning Small to Build Big

Most players grinding from zero rely on freerolls and micro-stakes as a starting point. These games are often filled with loose and inexperienced players, making structured strategy essential for long-term bankroll growth.

Freeroll Strategy – Making the Most of Free Money​

Freerolls provide a risk-free opportunity to build funds, but a stage-based approach is essential for success.

🟢Early Game – Survival Mode ​

Example: You sit at a freeroll table with players pushing all-in recklessly.​

Solution: Play tight, wait for strong hands, and let others eliminate themselves.​

Common Mistake: Calling all-ins too loosely with marginal hands, risking elimination.​

🟡Mid-Game – Expanding Opportunities ​

Example: You’ve built a healthy stack and blinds are increasing. Many players are scared to bust out.​

Solution: Identify weak, tight players and steal blinds aggressively.​

Common Mistake: Playing too passively, missing opportunities to grow your stack.​

🟠Late Game – Play to Win ​

Example: You’re at the final table and payout jumps are significant.​

Solution: Pressure short stacks, attack scared opponents, and use controlled aggression.​

Common Mistake: Playing too cautiously, folding too often, and missing chances to gain chips for the win.​

​

Micro-Stakes Strategy – Exploiting Common Weaknesses​

​

Players at micro-stakes make predictable mistakes that can be systematically exploited:

• Example: Opponent calls every bet with weak hands.
  

  • ✔️Solution: Bet strong hands for value, avoid unnecessary bluffs.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Trying to bluff calling stations—if they never fold, don’t bluff them.​
• Example: A player bets small when weak and big when strong.
  

  • ✔️Solution: Read betting patterns and adjust accordingly—call small bets, fold against obvious strength.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Ignoring obvious betting tells and assuming opponents are balanced.​
• Example: Opponents limp frequently instead of raising.
  

  • ✔️Solution: Attack limpers with strong raises to take control of the pot.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Playing passively and allowing weak players to dictate the action.​

By recognizing common mistakes and applying structured strategies, players can steadily build a bankroll, improve their poker fundamentals, and transition to higher stakes successfully.

Spoiler: Bankroll Management & Game Selection – How much you need for different formats, best tournaments and platforms for grinding

Chapter 3: Bankroll Management and Proper Game Selection
​

How to Sustain and Grow Your Poker Funds​

​

A disciplined bankroll management strategy is essential for preventing unnecessary bust-outs and ensuring stable progression through poker stakes. Without proper planning, even skilled players can lose their funds due to variance and poor risk control. This chapter will cover how much you need for different formats, optimal tournaments to play, and choosing the best poker platforms for grinding.

3.1 How Much You Need for Different Formats

Each poker format requires a different approach to bankroll management, as risk varies based on variance and player field size.

• Cash Games – Recommended bankroll: 20-40 buy-ins
  • Example: If playing NL5 ($0.02/$0.05), you should have at least $100-$200 set aside.
  • Cash games have lower variance, making them more consistent for bankroll stability.
• MTTs (Multi-Table Tournaments) – Recommended bankroll: 50-100 buy-ins
  • Example: If grinding $1 tournaments, ensure a bankroll of $50-$100.
  • Higher variance means downswings are inevitable, requiring deeper reserves.
• Sit & Go (SNGs) – Recommended bankroll: 30-50 buy-ins
  

  • Example: Playing $3 SNGs? Keep a bankroll of $90-$150.​
  • Less variance than MTTs but still requires bankroll discipline.​

Having a structured bankroll plan ensures consistent growth while reducing emotional decision-making during inevitable losing streaks.

3.2 Best Tournaments and Platforms for Grinding*

Choosing the right platform and tournaments significantly impacts your ability to build a bankroll efficiently

• Best Freerolls for Starting a Bankroll:
  • PokerStars & 888poker – Large player pools, solid freeroll options.
  • GGPoker – Frequent promotions & high-value freerolls.
  • Americas Cardroom (ACR) – Overlay-heavy freerolls offering softer games.
• Micro-Stakes MTTs & SNGs for Growth:
  • Look for low buy-in tournaments with high ROI potential.
  • Prioritize soft field events where weaker players are common.
• Cash Game Platforms for Bankroll Stability:
  • PokerStars & GGPoker – Best liquidity and game variety.
  • Ignition/Bodog – Anonymous tables, making games softer for grinders.

A smart approach to bankroll management and game selection lays the foundation for steady progression and minimizes risk, keeping your poker journey sustainable.

Note: The information in section 3.2 is based on past personal experience and may change depending on current promotions and conditions on poker platforms. Before choosing where to play, I recommend checking the current offers and tournament structures.

Spoiler: Game Strategy – Winning at Low Stakes – Adapting to weaker players, aggression, value betting, and exploit strategies

Chapter 4: Game Strategy – How to Win Freeroll and Micro-Stakes
​

Mastering Low-Stakes Play to Build a Bankroll​

​

Freerolls and micro-stakes games are the best way for players to build a bankroll without significant financial risk. However, success at these levels requires understanding weaker opponents, balancing aggression and value betting, and exploiting common mistakes effectively.

In this chapter, we will cover:

• How to adapt to weaker players and maximize profits.​
• Key strategies for aggression, value betting, and exploitation to boost win rates.​
• Common leaks at low stakes and how to counter them effectively.​

4.1 Adapting to Weaker Players – Practical Examples

• Calling Stations – Example:
  

  • Situation: You’re playing a $1 micro-stakes game, and a player calls every bet, even with weak hands like bottom pair or weak draws.
    

    • ✔️Solution: Instead of bluffing, bet bigger for value when you have a strong hand. Exploit their tendency to call too often by extracting maximum chips.
    • ✖️ Mistake: Attempting multi street bluffs—since they rarely fold, your bluffs will lose more than win.​
• Hyper-Aggressive Maniacs – Example:
  

  • Situation: A player shoves all-in frequently, even preflop with weak hands.
    

    • ✔️Solution:Trap them with strong hands, call when you have premium holdings and let them pay you off.​
    • ✖️ Mistake:Trying to “fight back” with marginal hands, just wait and let them make mistakes.​
• Passive Players – Example:
  

  • Situation: You notice a player never raises and only calls bets.
    

    • ✔️Solution:Apply pressure with frequent bets, they’ll fold most hands unless they hit the nuts.​
    • ✖️ Mistake:Checking too often and missing opportunities to take pots uncontested.​

4.2 Aggression & Value Betting – Spotting the Right Moments

• Exploiting Limpers – Example:
  • Situation: A player limps into pots without strong hands.
    • ✔️Solution: Raise aggressively preflop to take control of the hand and make them fold weak holdings.
    • ✖️Mistake: Checking behind preflop and letting them see free cards.
• Maximizing Value Against Calling Stations – Example:
  • Situation: You flop top pair, but your opponent calls every bet no matter what.
    • ✔️Solution: Bet bigger on every street—they will continue calling with worse hands.
    • ✖️Mistake: Betting small or slow playing—this just reduces your winnings
• Reading Betting Patterns – Example:
  • Situation: An opponent only bets big when they have strong hands.
    • ✔️Solution: Fold when they make a large bet—don’t pay them off.
    • ✖️Mistake: Calling their big bets just because you don’t believe them—trust the pattern.

4.3 Common Leaks at Micro-Stakes – How to Fix Them

• Example :
  • ✖️Bluffing Too Much vs Calling Stations
    🧪Situation: You try a big river bluff against a player who never folds anything.
    ✔️Solution: Only bet strong hands—against these players, bluffing is pointless.
• Example:
  • ✖️Playing Weak Hands from Early Position
    🧪Situation: You open with K-10 offsuit from UTG in a $1 game and get called by multiple players.
    ✔️Solution: Stick to premium hands—you don’t want to play multi-way pots with weak holdings.
• Example:
  • ✖️Failing to Adapt to Opponents
    🧪Situation: You continue playing your standard strategy, ignoring that an opponent only bets big when strong.
    ✔️.Solution: Adjust to your opponents—stop calling their obvious value bets.

On a micro level, it's not the boldest who wins, but the most disciplined. Adapt, exploit weaknesses, and your bankroll will thank you.

Spoiler: Mental Game & Discipline – Staying focused on profit, handling variance

Chapter 5: Mental Game and Discipline
​

How to Stay Focused on Long-Term Profit​

Poker is not just about making the right plays—it’s also about maintaining emotional control, handling variance, and staying disciplined over time. Many skilled players struggle with tilt and poor bankroll discipline, leading to unnecessary losses.

In this chapter, we will cover:

• How to develop a strong mental game and avoid emotional mistakes.​
• How to handle variance and losing streaks without affecting your decision-making.​
• How to stay focused on long-term profitability instead of short term results.​

5.1 Handling Variance – Surviving the Downswings

Understand the Nature of Variance

• Poker is a game of skill and probability, meaning short-term results don’t always reflect actual skill level. Even top players go through downswings where nothing seems to go right.
  • ✔️Solution: Detach emotions from short-term results—focus on making profitable decisions, not just winning every session.

Recognizing Tilt Before It Happens

• Tilt comes in many forms, including anger, frustration, or chasing losses. Example: You lose with AA vs. 7-2 offsuit
  • ✔️Solution: instead of playing reckless hands out of frustration, take a break or review hand history objectively.

Bankroll Protection During Losing Streaks

• Bad runs happen, but proper bankroll management ensures they don’t destroy your poker career.
  • ✔️Solution: Stick to your buy-in limits—don’t chase losses with higher stakes.

5.2 Long-Term Focus – How to Maintain Discipline

​

Avoiding the “Short-Term Thinking Trap”​

• Many players focus too much on daily results, which leads to bad decision-making.
  

  • ✔️Solution: Evaluate progress over hundreds of games, not just a few sessions.​

Tracking Performance Objectively

• Use hand history reviews, tracking software, and bankroll logs to see where improvements are needed.
  • ✔️Example: Instead of saying “I ran bad”, analyze key mistakes and adjust future strategy accordingly.

Routine & Consistency for Long-Term Success

• Success in poker comes from consistent, disciplined grinding, not occasional big wins.
  • ✔️Solution: Set weekly poker study goals, analyze key spots, and grind effectively without emotional swings.

The long-term game doesn't require you to win every pot, just not to lose your head in the wrong one.

Spoiler: Conclusion – Transitioning your bankroll to higher limits, investing in advanced tools

Chapter 6: Conclusion
​

Transitioning Your Bankroll to Higher Limits & Investing in Advanced Tools ​

​

Building a bankroll at micro-stakes is just the beginning. To reach the next level, players must transition effectively, choosing the right moments to move up in stakes and investing in tools that enhance their strategy.

6.1 How to Transition Your Bankroll to Higher Limits

Use a Structured Approach

• Instead of moving up impulsively, follow a bankroll plan that ensures financial stability.
  

  • ✔️Example: If grinding NL5 cash games, wait until you reach $250-$500 before trying NL10 to absorb variance.​

Adjust to Tougher Competition

• Higher stakes bring more skilled players, so refining your strategy is crucial.
  • ✔️Solution: Review hand histories, study advanced concepts like range balancing, and track player tendencies more precisely.

Avoid Moving Up Too Soon

• Many players take shots at higher stakes too early, risking their bankroll.
  • ✔️Solution: Only move up when winning consistently and have adequate buy-ins for the next level.

6.2 When to Invest in Advanced Tools

Tracking Software (PokerTracker, Hold’em Manager, GTO Solvers)

• These tools identify leaks in your game, improving decision-making.
  • ✔️Best time to invest: When transitioning to NL25+ cash games or mid-stakes tournaments, where competition is tougher.

Solvers & Study Groups

• At mid-high stakes, understanding game theory optimal (GTO) principles helps maintain a competitive edge.
  • ✔️Best time to invest: Once familiar with basic strategies and ready to refine deeper aspects of play.

Mental Game Coaching

• At higher levels, mental endurance and tilt control can separate long-term winners from frustrated grinders.
  • ✔️Best time to invest: If struggling with emotional swings or decision fatigue in longer sessions.

 

[mardi1987]

Spoiler: Bonus: Visual Guides for Bankroll Growth

1️⃣ Bankroll Progression Table​

📊Recommended bankroll sizes for different formats

Format	Buy-in range	Recommended bankroll
Cash games	$0.01/$0.02 – $0.05/$0.10	20-40 buy-ins
MTTs (Tournaments)	$1 – $5	50-100 buy-ins
SNGs (Sit & Go)	$3 – $10	30-50 buy-ins

Example: If grinding NL5 cash games, aim for $100-$200 before considering higher stakes.

2️⃣Game Selection Flowchart​

​

How to pick the right format based on your bankroll and goals

• Do you prefer low variance and steady bankroll growth? → Cash Games
• Do you enjoy high-reward tournaments but can handle swings? → MTTs
• Do you prefer short, structured games with medium variance? → SNGs

Example: If you want to build a bankroll efficiently, freerolls + micro-stakes MTTs are ideal starting points.

3️⃣ Variance vs. Win Rate Graph​

​

📈Understanding how different formats affect swings

Format	Variance	Potential win rate
Cash games	Low	Steady
MTT	High	Big jumps but big swings
SNG	Medium	Moderate consistency

Example: MTTs offer the biggest bankroll jumps, but also the biggest downswings, requiring deep bankroll reserves.

4️⃣ Common Mistakes Table​

​

⚠️Top leaks to avoid at micro-stakes

Mistake	Vhy it's bad	How to fix
Bluffing too much vs. calling stations	They never fold, so bluffs lose money	Only value bet strong hands
Playing weak hands from early position	Leads to bad post-flop spots	Stick to tight ranges in early position
Failing to adjust to opponents	Misses' easy exploits	Observe betting patterns and adapt

Example: If an opponent never folds, stop bluffing—just value bet relentlessly.

Spoiler: Checklist & Mental Game Essentials

Checklist for Bankroll Growth

​

(Quick reference list for stable progression)

• Always play within your bankroll – Stick to buy-in limits (20-40x for cash games, 50 100x for MTTs).
• Focus on profitable formats – Avoid high-variance games until your bankroll is stable.
• Track your bankroll growth – Regularly log sessions and adjust your strategy accordingly.
• Don’t skip stakes too quickly – Progress gradually, avoiding reckless shots at higher limits.
• Use bonuses and promotions – Maximize freerolls, rakeback, and tournament overlays.
• Analyze your game regularly – Review hand histories, identify leaks, and refine your strategy.
• Stay disciplined – Avoid tilt and emotional decisions that could damage your bankroll

Tips for Long-Term Mindset​

(Key mental strategies for successful grinding)

1. Focus on making the right decisions, not short-term results – Poker is a marathon, not a sprint. The quality of your play matters more than immediate outcomes.
2. Accept variance as part of the game – Short-term bad results don’t mean bad play. Long-term EV is what makes winners.
3. Keep learning and adapting – Poker evolves, and successful players study trends and refine their strategies constantly.
4. Play with a clear purpose – Set realistic short-term and long-term goals instead of chasing quick profits.
5. Maintain emotional control – Tilt destroys bankrolls faster than bad strategy. Find a way to stay calm and make rational decisions.

Spoiler: Final Thoughts

Mastering freeroll and micro-stakes play sets the foundation for long-term poker success. By applying structured bankroll management, disciplined game selection, and continuous learning, players can steadily move up in stakes and increase profitability. With the right mindset and tools, poker can evolve from a grind to a skill-based investment, leading to consistent results at higher levels.
Remember: Poker rewards discipline and learning. Stay focused, improve consistently, and results will follow. Your journey starts now—time to crush the game!

​

Thank you for following the entire guide. If it helped you, leave a comment, share your experience or ask a question — every feedback means. And if you want the complete PDF version with all chapters and bonus materials in one place, feel free to send me a message.

 

[Marcwantstowin]

Hi @mardi1987

Very interesting to see something like this written in a way that I think anyone can understand and use for the betterment of their game. I will be giving it a go, and hopefully I will be able to report back and let you know what I found.

Thank you for this.

Marc

 

[mardi1987]

Thanks, just so the variance doesn't bother you like me, but even with the variance I manage to collect a small amount until I build a BR for some money games. Freeroll is getting tougher and rng rewards unplayable hands

 

[Mig32]

What an inspiring post — thank you so much for sharing this valuable content with the community.

Your words about discipline truly resonate, and it’s great to see such a thoughtful approach to the game. I wish you all the best on your continued poker journey — and may the cards treat you well!

 

[mardi1987]

What an inspiring post — thank you so much for sharing this valuable content with the community.

Your words about discipline truly resonate, and it’s great to see such a thoughtful approach to the game. I wish you all the best on your continued poker journey — and may the cards treat you well!

Thanks buddy, I hope you're doing better than me at poker, although it can always be worse, and even with bad variance I'm building a bankroll before I move to micro. It'll help me a lot (at least I hope) when I get my platinum status back.

 

[christovam]

When I started playing poker, I had no experience, no bankroll, just curiosity, a little free time and a persistent feeling that this game has a deeper meaning. Through freeroll tournaments, small wins, brutal defeats and a lot of thinking, I realized that what makes the biggest difference is not cards but discipline.
After a break of almost two years, I returned to poker with a new perspective. This book was originally created as a personal guide, something to help me re-establish myself, analyze my approach and stay consistent with myself in the game.
Now I want to share it with the community in the hope that it will make the journey that I went through easier for at least someone. No illusions about quick success, but with clear steps on how to build a bankroll from the ground up, with discipline as the strongest support.

Grinding from zero: Building a bankrol in online poker
(Master the art of freerolls and micro-stakes to grow your bankroll)

TABLE OF CONTENTS​

Spoiler: Introduction – The goal of this book, how to grind a bankroll from zero

Chapter 1: Introduction
​

Building a Bankroll from Zero: A Strategic Approach to Online Poker

The Goal of This Book​

Many players dream of building a poker bankroll from scratch, but few know the right path to success. This book provides a clear roadmap, outlining how to start with nothing and use strategic gameplay to steadily increase your funds.

​

How to Grind a Bankroll from Zero​

Through disciplined decision-making, proper game selection, and an understanding of key poker concepts, you will learn how to maximize opportunities in freerolls and micro-stakes games. Whether you're new to online poker or looking to refine your strategy, this guide will help you develop a sustainable approach to bankroll growth.

Spoiler: Basic Principles of Online Grind – Advantages of online poker vs live play, freeroll and micro-stakes strategies

Chapter 2: Basic Principles of Online Grind​

2.1 Maximizing Your Success in the Online Poker Environment

Building a bankroll from zero requires understanding the unique advantages of online poker. Unlike live play, the online grind offers higher volume, smaller stakes, and a vast player pool—creating ideal conditions to refine your skills and steadily grow your bankroll.

Key Advantages of Online Poker vs Live Play:​

• Higher volume – More hands per hour accelerates progression.
• Lower stakes accessibility – Micro-limits allow gradual bankroll growth.
• Global player pool – Facing diverse playing styles sharpens adaptability.
• Convenience & flexibility – Play anytime, anywhere.
• Tracking tools – Software like HUDs and solvers enhance decision-making.

Freeroll and Micro-Stakes Strategies:​

Success at lower stakes comes down to recognizing common player tendencies and adjusting accordingly:

• Freerolls – Play tight early, loosen up mid-game, and maximize aggression late.
• Micro-Stakes – Identify weak players, focus on solid fundamentals, and exploit common mistakes.
• Bankroll progression – Move up gradually while protecting profits.
• Table selection – Find softer games where win rates are higher.

By mastering these fundamental principles, you will establish a strong foundation for bankroll growth, improving decision-making and long-term success.

2.2 Advantages of Online Poker vs Live Play

Why Online Poker is the Best Environment for Bankroll Growth​

One of the biggest reasons players choose online poker for bankroll building is its efficiency and accessibility. Unlike live poker, online games allow you to play more hands, at lower stakes, with a global player pool, all from the comfort of your home. These advantages make online poker the ideal environment for structured grinding.

Key Benefits of Online Poker:​

• Higher Volume – Online poker allows you to play significantly more hands per hour, accelerating your learning curve and bankroll progression. Unlike live games, where a single table may see 30 hands per hour, online platforms offer 100+ hands per table, making it easier to capitalize on long-term profitability.
• Lower Stakes Accessibility – Many live casinos don’t offer stakes lower than $1/$2, forcing beginners into riskier games. Online poker, however, starts as low as $0.01/$0.02 cash games and freerolls, creating a perfect space for players to build their bankroll without financial pressure.
• Global Player Pool & Softer Games – Playing online gives access to a diverse range of opponents, from recreational players to professionals. Many low-stakes and freeroll games contain weaker players who make frequent mistakes—giving disciplined players a chance to exploit leaks and grow their bankroll faster.
• Convenience & Flexibility – Live poker requires travel, scheduling, and dealing with real-world distractions. Online poker, however, allows players to log in anytime, play multiple tables, and take advantage of softer games across different time zones. You dictate when and where you grind.
• Tracking & Analysis Tools – Unlike live games, where tracking is manual, online poker provides hand histories, HUDs, and solver tools, giving players deeper insights into their strategy. These tools help in identifying patterns, fixing leaks, and refining play, ensuring consistent long-term improvement.

With these advantages, online poker is the perfect setting for grinding from zero, offering faster gameplay, lower-risk entry points, and valuable analysis tools to sharpen your edge. Mastering these elements will allow you to build a bankroll efficiently while improving as a player.

2.3 Freeroll and Micro-Stakes Strategies – Winning Small to Build Big

Most players grinding from zero rely on freerolls and micro-stakes as a starting point. These games are often filled with loose and inexperienced players, making structured strategy essential for long-term bankroll growth.

Freeroll Strategy – Making the Most of Free Money​

Freerolls provide a risk-free opportunity to build funds, but a stage-based approach is essential for success.

​

🟢Early Game – Survival Mode ​

​

Example: You sit at a freeroll table with players pushing all-in recklessly.​

Solution: Play tight, wait for strong hands, and let others eliminate themselves.​

Common Mistake: Calling all-ins too loosely with marginal hands, risking elimination.​

​

🟡Mid-Game – Expanding Opportunities ​

​

Example: You’ve built a healthy stack and blinds are increasing. Many players are scared to bust out.​

​

Solution: Identify weak, tight players and steal blinds aggressively.​

​

Common Mistake: Playing too passively, missing opportunities to grow your stack.​

​

🟠Late Game – Play to Win ​

​

Example: You’re at the final table and payout jumps are significant.​

​

Solution: Pressure short stacks, attack scared opponents, and use controlled aggression.​

​

Common Mistake: Playing too cautiously, folding too often, and missing chances to gain chips for the win.​

​

​

Micro-Stakes Strategy – Exploiting Common Weaknesses​

​

Players at micro-stakes make predictable mistakes that can be systematically exploited:

• Example: Opponent calls every bet with weak hands.​
  • ✔️Solution: Bet strong hands for value, avoid unnecessary bluffs.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Trying to bluff calling stations—if they never fold, don’t bluff them.​
• Example: A player bets small when weak and big when strong.​
  • ✔️Solution: Read betting patterns and adjust accordingly—call small bets, fold against obvious strength.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Ignoring obvious betting tells and assuming opponents are balanced.​
  • 
    
    
• Example: Opponents limp frequently instead of raising.​
  • ✔️Solution: Attack limpers with strong raises to take control of the pot.​
  • ✖️Common Mistake: Playing passively and allowing weak players to dictate the action.​
  • 
    
    

By recognizing common mistakes and applying structured strategies, players can steadily build a bankroll, improve their poker fundamentals, and transition to higher stakes successfully.

Spoiler: Bankroll Management & Game Selection – How much you need for different formats, best tournaments and platforms for grinding

Chapter 3: Bankroll Management and Proper Game Selection
​

How to Sustain and Grow Your Poker Funds​

​

A disciplined bankroll management strategy is essential for preventing unnecessary bust-outs and ensuring stable progression through poker stakes. Without proper planning, even skilled players can lose their funds due to variance and poor risk control. This chapter will cover how much you need for different formats, optimal tournaments to play, and choosing the best poker platforms for grinding.

3.1 How Much You Need for Different Formats

Each poker format requires a different approach to bankroll management, as risk varies based on variance and player field size.

• Cash Games – Recommended bankroll: 20-40 buy-ins
  • Example: If playing NL5 ($0.02/$0.05), you should have at least $100-$200 set aside.
  • Cash games have lower variance, making them more consistent for bankroll stability.
• MTTs (Multi-Table Tournaments) – Recommended bankroll: 50-100 buy-ins
  • Example: If grinding $1 tournaments, ensure a bankroll of $50-$100.
  • Higher variance means downswings are inevitable, requiring deeper reserves.
• Sit & Go (SNGs) – Recommended bankroll: 30-50 buy-ins​
  • Example: Playing $3 SNGs? Keep a bankroll of $90-$150.​
  • Less variance than MTTs but still requires bankroll discipline.​
  • 
    
    

Having a structured bankroll plan ensures consistent growth while reducing emotional decision-making during inevitable losing streaks.

3.2 Best Tournaments and Platforms for Grinding*

Choosing the right platform and tournaments significantly impacts your ability to build a bankroll efficiently

• Best Freerolls for Starting a Bankroll:
  • PokerStars & 888poker – Large player pools, solid freeroll options.
  • GGPoker – Frequent promotions & high-value freerolls.
  • Americas Cardroom (ACR) – Overlay-heavy freerolls offering softer games.
• Micro-Stakes MTTs & SNGs for Growth:
  • Look for low buy-in tournaments with high ROI potential.
  • Prioritize soft field events where weaker players are common.
• Cash Game Platforms for Bankroll Stability:
  • PokerStars & GGPoker – Best liquidity and game variety.
  • Ignition/Bodog – Anonymous tables, making games softer for grinders.

A smart approach to bankroll management and game selection lays the foundation for steady progression and minimizes risk, keeping your poker journey sustainable.

Note: The information in section 3.2 is based on past personal experience and may change depending on current promotions and conditions on poker platforms. Before choosing where to play, I recommend checking the current offers and tournament structures.

Spoiler: Game Strategy – Winning at Low Stakes – Adapting to weaker players, aggression, value betting, and exploit strategies

Chapter 4: Game Strategy – How to Win Freeroll and Micro-Stakes
​

Mastering Low-Stakes Play to Build a Bankroll​

​

Freerolls and micro-stakes games are the best way for players to build a bankroll without significant financial risk. However, success at these levels requires understanding weaker opponents, balancing aggression and value betting, and exploiting common mistakes effectively.

In this chapter, we will cover:

• How to adapt to weaker players and maximize profits.​
• Key strategies for aggression, value betting, and exploitation to boost win rates.​
• Common leaks at low stakes and how to counter them effectively.​

4.1 Adapting to Weaker Players – Practical Examples

• Calling Stations – Example:​
  • Situation: You’re playing a $1 micro-stakes game, and a player calls every bet, even with weak hands like bottom pair or weak draws.​
    • ✔️Solution: Instead of bluffing, bet bigger for value when you have a strong hand. Exploit their tendency to call too often by extracting maximum chips.
    • ✖️ Mistake: Attempting multi street bluffs—since they rarely fold, your bluffs will lose more than win.​
    • 
      
      
  • 
    
    
• Hyper-Aggressive Maniacs – Example:​
  • Situation: A player shoves all-in frequently, even preflop with weak hands.​
    • ✔️Solution:Trap them with strong hands, call when you have premium holdings and let them pay you off.​
    • ✖️ Mistake:Trying to “fight back” with marginal hands, just wait and let them make mistakes.​
    • 
      
      
  • 
    
    
• Passive Players – Example:​
  • Situation: You notice a player never raises and only calls bets.​
    • ✔️Solution:Apply pressure with frequent bets, they’ll fold most hands unless they hit the nuts.​
    • ✖️ Mistake:Checking too often and missing opportunities to take pots uncontested.​
    • 
      
      
  • 
    
    

4.2 Aggression & Value Betting – Spotting the Right Moments

• Exploiting Limpers – Example:
  • Situation: A player limps into pots without strong hands.
    • ✔️Solution: Raise aggressively preflop to take control of the hand and make them fold weak holdings.
    • ✖️Mistake: Checking behind preflop and letting them see free cards.
• Maximizing Value Against Calling Stations – Example:
  • Situation: You flop top pair, but your opponent calls every bet no matter what.
    • ✔️Solution: Bet bigger on every street—they will continue calling with worse hands.
    • ✖️Mistake: Betting small or slow playing—this just reduces your winnings
• Reading Betting Patterns – Example:
  • Situation: An opponent only bets big when they have strong hands.
    • ✔️Solution: Fold when they make a large bet—don’t pay them off.
    • ✖️Mistake: Calling their big bets just because you don’t believe them—trust the pattern.

4.3 Common Leaks at Micro-Stakes – How to Fix Them

• Example :
  • ✖️Bluffing Too Much vs Calling Stations
    🧪Situation: You try a big river bluff against a player who never folds anything.
    ✔️Solution: Only bet strong hands—against these players, bluffing is pointless.
• Example:
  • ✖️Playing Weak Hands from Early Position
    🧪Situation: You open with K-10 offsuit from UTG in a $1 game and get called by multiple players.
    ✔️Solution: Stick to premium hands—you don’t want to play multi-way pots with weak holdings.
• Example:
  • ✖️Failing to Adapt to Opponents
    🧪Situation: You continue playing your standard strategy, ignoring that an opponent only bets big when strong.
    ✔️.Solution: Adjust to your opponents—stop calling their obvious value bets.

On a micro level, it's not the boldest who wins, but the most disciplined. Adapt, exploit weaknesses, and your bankroll will thank you.

Spoiler: Mental Game & Discipline – Staying focused on profit, handling variance

Chapter 5: Mental Game and Discipline
​

How to Stay Focused on Long-Term Profit​

Poker is not just about making the right plays—it’s also about maintaining emotional control, handling variance, and staying disciplined over time. Many skilled players struggle with tilt and poor bankroll discipline, leading to unnecessary losses.

In this chapter, we will cover:

• How to develop a strong mental game and avoid emotional mistakes.​
• How to handle variance and losing streaks without affecting your decision-making.​
• How to stay focused on long-term profitability instead of short term results.​

5.1 Handling Variance – Surviving the Downswings

Understand the Nature of Variance

• Poker is a game of skill and probability, meaning short-term results don’t always reflect actual skill level. Even top players go through downswings where nothing seems to go right.
  • ✔️Solution: Detach emotions from short-term results—focus on making profitable decisions, not just winning every session.

Recognizing Tilt Before It Happens

• Tilt comes in many forms, including anger, frustration, or chasing losses. Example: You lose with AA vs. 7-2 offsuit
  • ✔️Solution: instead of playing reckless hands out of frustration, take a break or review hand history objectively.

Bankroll Protection During Losing Streaks

• Bad runs happen, but proper bankroll management ensures they don’t destroy your poker career.
  • ✔️Solution: Stick to your buy-in limits—don’t chase losses with higher stakes.

5.2 Long-Term Focus – How to Maintain Discipline

​

Avoiding the “Short-Term Thinking Trap”​

• Many players focus too much on daily results, which leads to bad decision-making.​
  • ✔️Solution: Evaluate progress over hundreds of games, not just a few sessions.​
  • 
    
    

Tracking Performance Objectively

• Use hand history reviews, tracking software, and bankroll logs to see where improvements are needed.
  • ✔️Example: Instead of saying “I ran bad”, analyze key mistakes and adjust future strategy accordingly.

Routine & Consistency for Long-Term Success

• Success in poker comes from consistent, disciplined grinding, not occasional big wins.
  • ✔️Solution: Set weekly poker study goals, analyze key spots, and grind effectively without emotional swings.

The long-term game doesn't require you to win every pot, just not to lose your head in the wrong one.

Spoiler: Conclusion – Transitioning your bankroll to higher limits, investing in advanced tools

Chapter 6: Conclusion
​

Transitioning Your Bankroll to Higher Limits & Investing in Advanced Tools ​

​

Building a bankroll at micro-stakes is just the beginning. To reach the next level, players must transition effectively, choosing the right moments to move up in stakes and investing in tools that enhance their strategy.

6.1 How to Transition Your Bankroll to Higher Limits

Use a Structured Approach

• Instead of moving up impulsively, follow a bankroll plan that ensures financial stability.​
  • ✔️Example: If grinding NL5 cash games, wait until you reach $250-$500 before trying NL10 to absorb variance.​
  • 
    
    

Adjust to Tougher Competition

• Higher stakes bring more skilled players, so refining your strategy is crucial.
  • ✔️Solution: Review hand histories, study advanced concepts like range balancing, and track player tendencies more precisely.

Evite subir muito cedo

• Muitos jogadores tentam apostas mais altas muito cedo, arriscando seu saldo.
  • ✔️Solução: Só suba quando ganhar de forma consistente e tenha buy-ins adequados para o próximo nível.

6.2 Quando investir em ferramentas avançadas

Software de rastreamento (PokerTracker, Hold'em Manager, GTO Solvers)

• Essas ferramentas identificam vazamentos em seu jogo, melhorando a tomada de decisões.
  • ✔️Melhor momento para investir: Ao fazer a transição para cash games NL25+ ou torneios de apostas médias, onde a competição é mais acirrada.

Solucionadores e Grupos de Estudo

• Em apostas médias-altas, entender os princípios da teoria dos jogos (GTO) ajuda a manter uma vantagem competitiva.
  • ✔️Melhor momento para investir: Uma vez familiarizado com as estratégias básicas e pronto para refinar aspectos mais profundos do jogo.

Treinamento de jogos mentais

• Em níveis mais altos, a resistência mental e o controle de inclinação podem separar os vencedores de longo prazo dos moedores frustrados.
  • ✔️Melhor momento para investir: Se estiver lutando com oscilações emocionais ou fadiga de decisão em sessões mais longas.

[/ SPOILER]

Spoiler: Conclusion – Transitioning your bankroll to higher limits, investing in advanced tools

Very interesting.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[EvoSlike]

Hi Mardi. You summarised the general approach to building the bank roll from zero very well. For anyone that are starting the BR, I would like to say that playing with guidelines Mardi gave, learning, while building mental strenght and discipline, should be very good base for growing the bankroll.
So once again I'd like to praise this very good read and good reference material for everybody that want to build the BR and grow it upwards.
Slow and steady wins the game in the long run.

 

[Marshmalo1994]

Nice contribution Mardi! Every new (and not so new) player should receive these advices.

 

[Goggelheimer]

Good guide!
The only thing, I think, the bankroll management for today’s games is far too low.

Here an example calculation from Primedope for $1 tournaments with about 400 Runners and the ROI of 10% which is high for beginners.
The used bankroll is $150 (150 buy ins).
The graphs are nice but not very helpful, so I threw them away.

The important part is in table 2:
Bankroll & Risk of Ruin.

Risk of Ruin means in our case losing the complete bankroll.
The Risk of Ruin is about 50 % with a bankroll of $84 (very close to the 100 buy in range).
This means in 50% of the simulations with this bankroll size, you end up losing your complete bankroll.
This approach is a coinflip approach, that is not good advice.
The second class is with a Bankroll size of nearly double the size ($194) of the recommended 100 buy ins and here the chance of risking the whole bankroll is reduced to about 15%.
You will find 2 additional steps in the table that give even more conservative Bankroll sizings.

As OP mentioned in one of his posts, poker is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
So a conservative BRM, with much more than 100 buy ins, will give a bigger last longer chance in the games.

This is also true for Sit and Go and cash games.

The chosen bankroll sizes from the OP are ultra aggressive and risky, a more conservative bankroll approach is much more advised.

 

[OnyxD]

Amazing OP post, I will refer beginners to it! I have posted about my experience in a sticky thread that maybe useful too:

Building from a baby bankroll

We get a lot of discussion on here around what to do when you're trying to build a bankroll from a small amount. Maybe you've just had a freeroll cash, maybe a friend's been kind enough to transfer you a small amount or maybe you've deposited in the past and you've only got a few bucks left. How...

www.cardschat.com

 

[OnyxD]

Good guide!
The only thing, I think, the bankroll management for today’s games is far too low.

Here an example calculation from Primedope for $1 tournaments with about 400 Runners and the ROI of 10% which is high for beginners.
The used bankroll is $150 (150 buy ins).
The graphs are nice but not very helpful, so I threw them away.

The important part is in table 2:
Bankroll & Risk of Ruin.

Risk of Ruin means in our case losing the complete bankroll.
The Risk of Ruin is about 50 % with a bankroll of $84 (very close to the 100 buy in range).
This means in 50% of the simulations with this bankroll size, you end up losing your complete bankroll.
This approach is a coinflip approach, that is not good advice.
The second class is with a Bankroll size of nearly double the size ($194) of the recommended 100 buy ins and here the chance of risking the whole bankroll is reduced to about 15%.
You will find 2 additional steps in the table that give even more conservative Bankroll sizings.

As OP mentioned in one of his posts, poker is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
So a conservative BRM, with much more than 100 buy ins, will give a bigger last longer chance in the games.

This is also true for Sit and Go and cash games.

The chosen bankroll sizes from the OP are ultra aggressive and risky, a more conservative bankroll approach is much more advised.

View attachment 390716

View attachment 390717

Wow, this is very interesting. I'd think 150 BI as a bit too conservative. Why do you think that is? MTT micro players became that much better? Structures changed? This is quite a jump in variance from the 2000s.

 

[Goggelheimer]

Wow, this is very interesting. I'd think 150 BI as a bit too conservative. Why do you think that is? MTT micro players became that much better? Structures changed? This is quite a jump in variance from the 2000s.

Nope it´s not too conservative. As the calculation with the variance calulator and my database tells me.

Fields got larger since the 2000´s, more material is freely available, solvers, bots, RTA, Multiple-reentries, bounty mechanics and so on.
My database tells me that a conservative approach is much more advised, all other approaches are bingo play.
This is my graph overall, STT(inculding Spins), MTT of all kinds :



And this is the graph for buy ins from $1 - $2:

 

[fundiver199]

Here an example calculation from Primedope for $1 tournaments with about 400 Runners and the ROI of 10% which is high for beginners.

It might be high for beginners (most of whom will be losing), but for a winning player 10% ROI in $1 MTTs is quite conservative.

The Risk of Ruin is about 50 % with a bankroll of $84 (very close to the 100 buy in range).

This is true. But is it really that important to talk about "Risk of Ruin" playing $1 MTTs? The term imply, that its impossible to make another deposit of say $50. And if people have that poor of a financial situation, maybe they should fix that first and play poker later? For me bankroll management in online poker is not so much about "Risk of Ruin" but more about setting some reasonable guidelines for, when we can attempt to move up, and when we need to move down. So in this example with MTTs, if the tournaments available are $1, $2, $3, $5 and $8, then the 100x rule would give the following guidelines for game selection:

<$200 - $1 MTTs
$200-300 - $2 MTTs (or lower)
$300-500 - $3 MTTs (or lower)
$500-800 - $5 MTTs (or lower)
>$800 - $8 MTTs (or lower)

So in reality the 100x rule is quite conservative, especially since we will almost always be playing a range of buyins, as soon as that is possible, in order to get more volume and reduce waiting time. But in this example assuming, that $1 is the cheapest games, or that we do not want to spend time on even cheaper games, there is no "bankroll requirement" for $1 games, as we can just redeposit if needed.

 

[Goggelheimer]

It might be high for beginners (most of whom will be losing), but for a winning player 10% ROI in $1 MTTs is quite conservative.

This is true. But is it really that important to talk about "Risk of Ruin" playing $1 MTTs? The term imply, that its impossible to make another deposit of say $50. And if people have that poor of a financial situation, maybe they should fix that first and play poker later? For me bankroll management in online poker is not so much about "Risk of Ruin" but more about setting some reasonable guidelines for, when we can attempt to move up, and when we need to move down. So in this example with MTTs, if the tournaments available are $1, $2, $3, $5 and $8, then the 100x rule would give the following guidelines for game selection:

<$200 - $1 MTTs
$200-300 - $2 MTTs (or lower)
$300-500 - $3 MTTs (or lower)
$500-800 - $5 MTTs (or lower)
>$800 - $8 MTTs (or lower)

So in reality the 100x rule is quite conservative, especially since we will almost always be playing a range of buyins, as soon as that is possible, in order to get more volume and reduce waiting time. But in this example assuming, that $1 is the cheapest games, or that we do not want to spend time on even cheaper games, there is no "bankroll requirement" for $1 games, as we can just redeposit if needed.

Sorry to say that, but the thread title is:

“Grinding from zero: Building a bankroll in online poker”​

So feeding the poker ecosystem with deposits is not the main goal.
Therefor you have to use an ultra conservative BRM.

 

[fundiver199]

Sorry to say that, but the thread title is:

“Grinding from zero: Building a bankroll in online poker”​

So feeding the poker ecosystem with deposits is not the main goal.
Therefor you have to use an ultra conservative BRM.

Yes but "grinding from zero" makes absolutely no sense at all and is just a waste of time, regardless how many posts people make about it. Also the original post in this thread seem to either AI-generated or copy-pasted from somewhere else. So whatever...

 

[Goggelheimer]

Yes but "grinding from zero" makes absolutely no sense at all and is just a waste of time, regardless how many posts people make about it. Also the original post in this thread seem to either AI-generated or copy-pasted from somewhere else. So whatever...

Hello Mr. God, you are right and I have peace. Discussions with God living in sweden have no worth.

 

[fundiver199]

Hello Mr. God, you are right and I have peace. Discussions with God living in Sweden have no worth.

Its all good. So let me just round it off by asking this: When someone have won their first $10.000 in online poker, do you really think, they care, weather they originally deposited nothing at all, $10, $100, $200 or whatever other similar small amount? The answer is of course no, they dont care at all, because it does not matter. And this is why, its so wrong to advice people to be super worried about depositing and losing even a tiny bit of money in $1 tournaments.

Instead the advice should be for people to build up their skills and bankroll and get to at least low stakes games ($5-19) as fast as possible, so they can start to win some money, that are at least somewhat significant rather than wasting their time on freerolls or penny games. If people are new to poker, its fine to start with either 2NL cash games or $1 tournaments, but anything lower than that is a waste of time, and the goal should be to move up as soon as possible

 

[Sparta77]

Hi. I changed my strategy after many failures and with 0 bankrols my account is currently at $647.

 

[fundiver199]

Hello Mr. God, you are right and I have peace. Discussions with God living in Sweden have no worth.

Its all good. So let me just round it off by asking this: When someone have won their first $10.000 in online poker, do you really think, they care, weather they originally deposited nothing at all, $10, $50, $100, $200 or whatever other similar small amount? The answer is of course no, they dont care at all, because it does not matter. And this is why, its such a bad advice to tell people to be super focused on depositing as little as possible.

Instead the advice should be for people to build up their skills and bankroll and get to at least low stakes games ($5-19 tournaments or 25NL-50NL cash games) as fast as possible, so they can start to win some money, that are at least somewhat significant rather than wasting their time on freerolls or penny games. If people are new to poker, its fine to start with either 2NL cash games or $1 tournaments, but the goal should be to move up as soon as possible

 

[primrose]

Yeah I agree that the "I can never deposit anything and must play from 0$" thing is stupid. If you're losing significant money in this game, it's because of different reasons, it's not because you dared deposit a little money. Grinding freerolls/ultra low stakes tournaments makes absolutely no sense time-wise if your goal is to eventually make real money. it's not good practice, either.

 

[mardi1987]

Hi. I changed my strategy after many failures and with 0 bankrols my account is currently at $647.

I'm glad and I wish you even better progress

 

[mardi1987]

Yes but "grinding from zero" makes absolutely no sense at all and is just a waste of time, regardless how many posts people make about it. Also the original post in this thread seem to either AI-generated or copy-pasted from somewhere else. So whatever...

I didn't know this was a waste of time from freeroll ticket , thanks for the advice, I will try to apply it
And thanks for the compliment that it looks as you say.
Have a nice day. 🍻

 

[mardi1987]

Yeah I agree that the "I can never deposit anything and must play from 0$" thing is stupid. If you're losing significant money in this game, it's because of different reasons, it's not because you dared deposit a little money. Grinding freerolls/ultra low stakes tournaments makes absolutely no sense time-wise if your goal is to eventually make real money. it's not good practice, either.

Explain the difference between a $200 deposit and a freeroll win?

 

[primrose]

Explain the difference between a $200 deposit and a freeroll win?

Assuming that by "win" you mean "getting to e.g. 2000$", then the main difference is that the 200$ deposit win probably took much less time.