Announcing the Grinderschool.com Luckyslev1n Scholarship!

A while back a player named Gary (known here and at Grinderschool as luckyslev1n) joined FTR and subsequently Grinderschool to learn how to turn his game around. Between the two sites, the knowledge he found was eye-opening to say the least. Gary definitely got what he was looking for, but now he wants to help you do the same!

I received an email from Gary earlier this week. He had already spoken to Xianti about his idea - in thanks to FTR and GS for helping expand his poker knowledge, he wanted to pay the costs to give away a set of micro stakes memberships to members of FTR. So that's what I'm here for: Gary (luckyslev1n) is paying for five people from FTR to get a one-month micro stakes subscription to Grinderschool. Further, we like the idea so much that we're adding a sixth subscription, to the full GS site, as a cherry on the cake.

Between now and 15 March, you can apply for the GS Luckyslev1n Scholarship, simply by responding to this post and stating you think you would be the most deserving and/or most benefited person. Note that the micro stakes coverage includes up to $10nl videos, so if you're playing above that level, you need not apply.

On 15 March, the recipients will be chosen, based on the responses to this thread.

Cheers!
- Jeffrey "JGB146" Blake, Grinderschool Admin

Note: For information about Grinderschool or to ask site-related questions not about this deal, please see the Grinderschool Thread

Pretty awesome guys. That was very cool of you luckyslev1n.

I would be all over this but I play 25NL

This is sweeet!

great work slevin and GS

is this open to someone getting crushed at stars $11 FR NLHE SnG's?

Shit, I apply. No sense turning down this offer when I'm grinding the micros.

I have had an operation on FTR now for going on 5 months (5 months would be March 15 coincidentally), and I started with $10 and have steadily ground it up to $100+. I am currently grinding 5nl and as I have had a membership to GS before, I can vouch that it really is a fantastic site for beginners.

Only problem was, I was grinding 2nl when I had a membership (last month) and I have (finally!) moved up to 5nl, and as there are a few videos at that level, I would love another crack to look them over. Plus I can start looking ahead to 10nl and I know there are PLENTY of videos on there for that stake.

Thanks for considering me, and hopefully enough beginners realize what a great opportunity this is and apply!

this is very cool to see. good job slevin.

Thanks guys, I can't even remember how much my game has changed since I found FTR and then Grinderschool. FTR gave me the passion that I have for the game today I've received so much help here, and GS really clicked everything into place I can't reccomend the membership enough. Was trying to think of some small way I could give something back and this seemed ideal, good luck everyone that applies!

Originally Posted by flomo

is this open to someone getting crushed at stars $11 FR NLHE SnG's?

Yes. That's who it's meant for!

This is fly a great offer to be taken. ESP since I've a 10nl in the works

props to slev.

This is a terrific offer and very generously done by the sponsors.

I'm tempted to put myself forward, but not sure it's completely fair. I did build up a $1800 bankroll at 25nl but cashed it out to spend and building up again now from $100. I am at 10nl so in the strict sense you could say that I qualify.

I do know that I need to spend a lot of time studying the game (and I am studying the game), but this is something I need to do (and do do) by simply putting in a lot of work myself. I've steered a bit clear of training sites beyond obviously reading and posting on FTR because I believe access to quality instructional material is not in itself going to cause me to improve. It's what I do with the knowledge that's important and between forums, free videos, books and articles I have quite a lot of material to digest as it is. But I have more or less decided that I will be signing up to a training site of some form or description at some point in the next couple of months so I am ready to declare an interest.

This is a very good offer and think slevin is VERY generous for doing so. That being said i'd like to apply. I know i have not been here long. I have been playing online for around 3 months now, just started slowly making some of the $120 that i donked off in the first 2 months. BR is at $36 at the moment. Please take me into consideration for this offer as i feel i could greatly benefit from it, and want to learn all that i can. Thank You, Rob

nice one slev, your a good guy.

I'd apply but I'm already a member over there.... I do want to thank Gary for not holding a grudge... he got a hard time over here from a bunch of folks (me included somewhat) so I thank him for being a big person and offering this.

o snap respect to LuckySlev1n!

Kudos to you Slev, nice one.

good offer.
I'd like to apply.
I've been trying now for a while to swtich over to rings from SnGs and have had a terrible time. An opportunity like this might really help me get things figured out at a deeper level.

I would like to apply for this. I have been breaking even with my $100 at FT for about 6 months now. I would really like the help to get myself out of this rut. I mainly play tournaments but am realizing there is more cash to be made at ring games when you have a small roll. Everytime I get into cash games I do well for awhile then boom it's gone.

get this spam outta mai forum

I don't have the freeroll passwords damnit!

Respect.

I would officially like to apply for this. I started with $25 at 2NL and now am at 10NL with $200. I participate in the forums and am committed to becoming a great poker player!

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

get this spam outta mai forum

I don't have the freeroll passwords damnit!

this post is art.

and sadly very funny

I would also like to apply. I have made numerous deposits on various sites which have all ended in failure unfortunately lol. I joined Grinder School before but I don't think I got the nearly enough out of my micro membership as I didn't devote enough time to watching a lot of the vids so another shot at it would be awesome!!

I'm commited to becoming a better player now and I am becoming devoted to visiting this site every day and am trying to post more and more. I also have so much mre respect for the GS coaches now than I did when I had my previous GS membership as I've read a lot of their excellent posts throughout the last few months on FTR!

..... I'll stop begging now :P

I would like to apply. Been playing for a little over a year now. Play the $5.50 S&G's mainly with 1 semi failed attempt at the $11.00's. I feel I have a decent understanding of some basic concepts and am a winning player. But I know I could learn alot from Grinder School and what I already may know would be reinforced. When it comes to cash I am really lost. I know the cash game is where the money is at and would love to try and transition to that but really do need the "schooling".

Also, I'll play the blind card. I found out like 2 years ago that I have a rare genetic eye disease called Choroideremia. It's basically the opposite of macular degeneration. I am losing my peripheral vision and will eventually be blind. I am lucky though as mine seems to be progressing slowly. I am really close to legally blind now and know at some point I will no longer be able to do my job as I work in a warehouse where I have to drive a forklift and all that. Luckily I work in a HUGE warehouse and am in my own area so I still drive now but am really careful to look around a lot before I do my work. Anyway, I would like to think someday I could use poker to supplement my income when I am no longer able to work. Luckily since it eats the outside of the vision and tunnels down until blindness I will have my central sight until the end so I can still see a computer screen. LOL

I only mention the blind thing because it is a driving force that makes me want to learn and get better so I can still provide a good life for my family. I don't feel sorry for myself and want anyone to feel sorry for me. There are a million worse things I could have then this.

I have read alot and am this site everyday. I should post more I know but I play on Sportsbook and the hand converter doesn't work with it. But I have sent some tourneys to Tai and he has pointed out some major leaks, I would love to gain the insight that Grinder School could give me to plug some of those leaks.

I was one of the hardest on Slev. Glad to see you have seen the light Lucky and I am sorry for flaming (although at the time you totally deserved it LOL ) But very cool of you to do this.

Wow what a great idea! I'd like to officially apply for this:

This past summer is when I really started to think about depositing money on an online poker site. I did some research and eventually discovered FTR. Lurking in the shadows for a while I read a lot of the strategy portion of the site until I figured out that also joining the forums would be extremely beneficial.

After being a member here for a while I decided it was time to start playing. Initially I played small stakes SnG's, but after trying cash games I decided cash would be my focus. I played break even at 10NL with a starting BR of $100 (before I really understood BR management). During this time I posted hands here, read books (HOH 1-3, ToP), and worked hard on improving my game.

In early September classes started again for me and I played hardly any poker and was seldom seen on FTR because of my course load. December is when my poker urge got me playing again and I basically picked up right where I left off. My BR as of today is $336.64.

FTR has been incredibly important in my progress as a poker player and part of the reason why I think I would get tons of value from a Grinderschool membership is how much the free videos here at FTR have helped me (Spenda's, Jym's, Renton's, Sauce's videos were all great). The difference in my game right now to when I first started is amazing. I'm at a point right now where I feel I learn something new every day/on the verge of conquering the micro's. Grinderschool would definitely help push me up to 25NL, 50NL and higher.

Thanks for reading,

KF

Great idea guys. I would apply and I probably should but in the end I can afford $30 and I would rather this go toward someone who really needs it.

(That being said and how unselfish I am, I deserve it)

I want to Apply.
I have been a member here at FTR for 3 years now. This is the year I would like to break outa the 10NL game. I grinded my way to a nice BR at first then took a shot at the "BIG Game" one night and did not fare well at all.

Then deposited $100 more and have grinded it back fluctuating between 550-750. Everytime I have moved up to the 25NL I seem to loose a few Buyins, then drop back down to 10NL grind back up and repeat.

So I have a pretty good grasp on the starting hands from which positions, Betting amounts, watching players and taking notes. I usually play 2 tables lately so I can really pay attention to everyone and take notes on them. I have been playing without my HUD since the poker network I was on merged and it stopped working. I still have PT2 which I have been importing hands still.

I have recently been thinking about getting a membership somewhere to see what the hell I am doing differently than those that are winning regularly.
Please,please.

First, thank you for the incredibly generous offer. I'd like to apply for this.

I realize first-off that the fact that I've really never posted here on FTR could be an issue, and if you don't mind I'd like to address it. In short, I come here looking for advice from the people who really know what they're doing, and it's dawned on me that I'm not one of those people! I guess I figured no one wants advice from the guy looking for the same thing, and I'd just as soon not risk leading someone in the wrong direction. I've lurked here for quite a while, though, and would love to become a part of another community like GS.

As for my game, I play the micro-level of PokerStars' NLHE SnGs/MTTs and once in a while stray over to the cash tables (usually after I win some money and don't mind losing a few cents). I'd say I'm just above break-even, but really don't like the idea of not excelling at what I love to do. In all aspects of my life, I try to be the best at whatever I put my mind to, and I'm ready to devote myself to bettering my poker.

I'm a full-time college student, so both money and time are tight for me. If I'm home, I usually have a tournament open, and during weekends poker is pretty much all I do. I've gotten a few of my friends hooked and they look to me for advice, and I want to be able to give it to them. I would love to be good enough so that I could have not only have fun while playing, but make some money on the side too.

There's no substitute for experience, but there are definitely ways to supplement it and that's why I'd like to join GrinderSchool.

Thank you for your consideration of my application, and I hope to be fortunate enough to receive one of the subscriptions!

Taicho

<<Posts 890!
<Team Player
< Created the most Epic Thread of all of FTR history, ictures that make you LoL

Originally Posted by mrhappy333

<<Posts 890!
<Team Player
< Created the most Epic Thread of all of FTR history, ictures that make you LoL

Contest over imo lol.

So true tho, that thread is the nuts.

Originally Posted by dranger7070

Originally Posted by mrhappy333

<<Posts 890!
<Team Player
< Created the most Epic Thread of all of FTR history, ictures that make you LoL

Contest over imo lol.

So true tho, that thread is the nuts.

not for long i'm going to post spoon's thong pic in there

and post it a thousand times


(not really)


WTF
this is free money being given away, why are there not shi t loads of entries

good thing it is not callen freerollschool.com

lol no joke. But I'm not gonna complain about less competition

I'm torn.

A lot of people here attack me, and say "Shit you've been here 4 years, why aren't you playing mid-limits?" My only reply is: "I haven't taken my game seriously." It's beginning to gnaw at me though, because they are right.

On the other hand, I had a GS account, and I watched a lot of videos, and I can't honestly say my game was helped. In fact, I believe my game may have suffered. I leveled this charge at GS and their reply was cogent, and believeable. "Ragnar4 was only a microstakes member. We are certain that if he were to join and view the real content, his game would improve markedly".

This leaves me at quite the conundrum: Do I forge ahead using the books I have, and a few hours of 1 on 1 training I have left, and not throw my hat in the ring, for fear that if I do win a minor scholarship that it won't help my game. OR do I choke back my own pride and take a shot at the prize. Is it possible that CodeRed was right, and that only the full content of videos can help me? To top it off I'm moving, and won't have online content for what may amount to a month or more. (Which I'm certain the Grinder School guys will accomodate)

I've had this quandry for a few days now, but I feel that it is worth my time to have an additional resource at my fingertips and to take a 2nd shot with Grinderschool so this is my application:

My name is Doug Reid, and I have been playing poker with the intent on being a winning player since 2002. My father introduced me to Ultimate bet, and I found a 3/6 limit live game near my hometown that was the only action around and it was juicy. I can honestly say that I am Breakeven at 3/6 limit over the several hundred hours I logged there. Mostly because of a few good early sessions and a stop loss technique that helped me.

My current blog is my first "serious" attempt at playing NL poker with every resource available, with 100% accountability. As you can see, I blew through the 2nl games, and I'm making serious headway at 5nl. If it weren't for a nasty downswing/tiltfest I'd be at 10nl by now.

I am a fierce competitor and when I'm not playing poker seriously, I am student of the game. I own Theory of Poker, No Limit Holdem, SSH, Brunson's Poker Bible, King Yao's Math of Poker, The Tao of Poker, Hold'em for Advanced Players, Betting and Bluffing in Poker, The Idiots Guide to Betting and Bluffing, The Everything Poker Book, Mike Caro's Most profitable hold em advice, and Caro's Book of Tells, Ken Warrens Winning at Holdem, Killer poker, and Killer poker online, on top of which I am consistently adding to my library, as I just purchased "professional no limit" and I'm eyeing Negreanu's newest book. When I had a winning session playing 3/6 limit, I would immediately go and purchase a new book, instead of bankrolling the money.

The preceding paragraph is easliy why I am most deserving of not only a scholarship, but the top scholarship available. I'm willing to work, and learn, and have obviously put a lot of time and effort already into a seroius poker library which I read and re-read (ok, not Vorhaus, he's a hack) all of my books searching for a little bit more information.

Live advice and instruction has been, by far, the most helpful. I'm always more focused when I hear a real voice talking and describing the flow of the game, than when I'm trying to read and imagine, so while I cannot guarantee that I will benefit from the topmost scholarship, I can guarantee this: If given the opportunity, I will make it my own personal goal, and challenge to benefit the most possible from the videos available, and to prove Code Red right in the gauntlet he threw down when I suggested that GS hadn't helped my game in the past.

I truly believe that I can make the most of the scholarship available.

Glad to see we had some excellent interest in this thread. I'd like to clarify one thing though: just watching videos without the motivation to put what you've learned to work won't help much. Starting a blog and using it to take notes on so you can type out your thoughts for others to read and critic is probably one of the most effective methods that I've seen.

I hope to see everyone on Grinderschool though

Starting a blog and using it to take notes on so you can type out your thoughts for others to read and critic is probably one of the most effective methods that I've seen.

A blog along the lines of "thoughts pertaining to poker specifics" or something more like "making sense of GS videos" or..?

Not so very clued up on blogs and the whole blog semantic... any examples?

EDIT: I just noticed jeffreylipsey.com (lovely bunny!). Are there any that you've seen set up and used effectively by your students or FTR members that cover the GS videos?

EDIT: OK maybe there is still room for an answer here, but since there is a forum for BLOGS and operations... I oughta visit other places than the BC...

thanks for the oppurtunity to apply i think its awsome your doing this.

i've been playing mostly low limit Sngs and a bit 10nl and i'm slowly grinding out a profit, and its thanks to everyone on FTR, especially guys like taipan, ginger, drmc, lucky slevin, gator, tlr,etc who take the time to look through whole tornaments and hands over and over for not only me but everyone else here. i try and throw out some of my thoughts in response to other posts, but have no where near to knowledge theose other guys have. i would love this oppurtunity to continue to study the game so that eventually i can help others here with confidence that i'm stearing them in the right direction.( as well as grind out a healthy profit )

i also want to try ring games but have very little experience in cash games i think this is a great oppurtunity that i will use to its maximum benifit.

hey i'd be thrilled to get this oppurtnity, but either way thanks

Man is this still a go even though Slev drunked off his roll. I'm sad. Not overly suprised but sad.

Get his check cashed quick.

Shit, i just took myself out of the running didn't I??

This is definitely still a go. Just over one week left.

- Jeffrey "JGB146" Blake, Grinderschool Admin

I would like to apply. I have been reading FTR forums for a couple years now, but have only been applying to the local home games. I saw this post and finally registered a user here just so I could apply.

I would like to start online micro stakes, but starting with some coaching would definitely help my chances at being successful. The home games go well when I am playing well, but I don't think I am consistent enough.

Thanks.

After watching the free GS videos and the videos by BigSpenda here on FTR and it makes much more sense when its in video form and has a voice as opposed to just reading. Its helping me tremendously. I think this scholarship would skyrocket my success with the micro limits. In hopes up moving up to higherstakes. Good job on the videos Grinder School, I mean just the free videos are amazing i can't imagine with a full membership!

Originally Posted by Deuce Blue

Man is this still a go even though Slev drunked off his roll. I'm sad. Not overly suprised but sad.

Get his check cashed quick.

Shit, i just took myself out of the running didn't I??

Hehe this wasn't paid out of my bankroll so it's safe of course.
I'm absolutely nothing to do with judging of the entries GS are doing that, so you're ok. Even if I was, you'd still be in the running

Originally Posted by Ragnar4

I'm torn.

I had a GS account, and I watched a lot of videos, and I can't honestly say my game was helped. In fact, I believe my game may have suffered. I leveled this charge at GS and their reply was cogent, and believeable. "Ragnar4 was only a microstakes member. We are certain that if he were to join and view the real content, his game would improve markedly".

I can only speak from my own experience, but I can honestly say that the micro stakes subscription is definately more than capabale of standing by its own merit. There are dozens of videos available to watch, aside from lecture videos where concepts are explained, you get the benefit of watching winning players crushing their stakes, come down to 2nl, 5nl, or 10nl (or sngs if that's your flavour)and play optimally. You get not only to watch them doing this for hours, but you get to hear their thinking as they do it and explain why they are doing certain things. It really is the best thing anyone wanting to improve can do for their game.

I recently made the mistake of buying into a few $50 dbl up sngs, lost three and now have to rebuild my bankroll, ldo. Before that for the week and a bit I was griding 2nl and 5nl. I played about 14,000 hands and averaged 17BB/100 over the sample. This isn't a brag, I didn't make any amazing plays, and I didn't run particulary great. I just followed the advice from the GS videos. The micro subscription is first class IMO and very worthwhile. I certainly won't be upgrading until I hit 25nl, at which point I wont think twice about paying a bit extra and taking the full membership. Gl!

Less than a week and no one else has shown interest! Come one people apply!! this is an AMAZING deal. Just hope im one of the lucky few who get this chance. Moving into new apartment friday or else id buy a membership. But the bill need to come first! Good Luck everyone!

Originally Posted by Schya

Less than a week and no one else has shown interest! Come one people apply!! this is an AMAZING deal. Just hope im one of the lucky few who get this chance. Moving into new apartment friday or else id buy a membership. But the bill need to come first! Good Luck everyone!

Please don't tap the glass. LOL

HAHAHA

I'd like to apply for the scholarship.
Some background on me. I first started playing poker just over two years ago.It all started as a result of reading a computer magazine here in the uk called Micro Mart.Some of the writers and forum moderators were play money poker players and the fact was mentioned several times in the magazine and on the forum.
The impetus to take up poker was that my wife had to go into hospital for 3 weeks due to complications before the birth of our son and for a week after he was born.This left me with plenty of time at night after coming home from visiting to fill in , so I downloaded Full tilt and headed to table 409 (? i think, its been so long since I went back) which was a pot limit play money table.Other members from the forum that were there were MM_BJM , MM_daver and footnote75.The observant will notice that thats what the MM in my username traces back to MicroMart.
The first night I reloaded the play money 3 times and then I managed to grow my play money up to about 300,000. I had sussed the game and could beat the opposition and apart from the chat and cameraderie , I wanted to challenge myself with some stronger opposition. Then I found the freerolls and started to take part in them.Failing dismally , I kept plugging away until I got further and further into them.Eventually, I started to cash in them and was learning all the time.I found a real sense of achievement the first time I Final tabled and eventually I got to the stage where I was disappointed if I didnt cash regularly and I was starting to win some.

When my Mother in law found out that I had taken up Poker she had visions of me gambling away all my money and ruining my sons future and she asked me to promise not to put any of my money onto a Poker site. I agreed mainly because I had no intention of playing for cash at that time, and was enjoying playing for play money.

I opened an account on Pokerstars as I'd seen a freeroll in one of the magazines advertised so i entered that. Came nowhere and the size of the field scared me being up against 10000+ others.I carried on playing the other freerolls that I had been playing and unfortunately (?) missed the free 5$ that pokerstars put in my account as it came when I was in a busy week at work. Cursed my bad luck and swore that i must check my emails more often. About a month later I got another email from pokerstars inviting me into 2 tournaments over a weekend with each one having quite a large field.I took part in the saturday one and after an initial loss of half my chips by trying to be a bit too aggressive knuckled down and eventually made the final table with the smallest stack. All the final table experience I had gained in the other freerolls helped me and eventually was headsup going for the win. Pushed all in with AKs and lost to AQo when he hit his queen.It was something like 86$ for second place and was followed up the following day with a 27th place for another couple of dollars.

Also last summer , Inside Poker magazine was running a series of freerolls and buy ins on William Hill with the top 40 point scorers getting into a tournament for a carribean poker cruise with tournament buyins. I entered them and I think it was the 4th out of 10 , was an omaha freeroll. I'd never played it before and was googling the rules just before it started and was chatting about strategy to use with footnote75 before it started. I'm not sure whether it was beginners luck , but I was a massive chip leader for most of the tournament finally making some questionable plays( in hindsight ) to finish 4th and a $100 prize which was then biggest payout . I still like playing omaha and there was a nice freeroll on Pacific that I was entering last autumn which was responsible for the $19 that I built up on that site , Winning one of them. I carried on playing in the Poker gods series and even entering buy in tournaments for the first time and eventually managed to finish in the top 40 and enter the mini tournament going for the cruise as first prize. Got knocked out by the guy who finished second after he rivered me and he went on to agree a chop so that they both went on the cruise. I think I read that the winner actually went on to finish in the top 10 of the main event on the cruise for a nice payday.
Whilst I had originally started playing the freerolls for a bit of a challenge and was a relaxing way of playing poker, It started to get a bit frustrating playing for hours and winning very little, and I wanted to take the next step.
I found a site giving free poker stakes and decided to sign up in order to try playing different cash games with the "free" money before committing any of my freeroll winnings.

My dilemma was that I didn't know which way to go . All my experience was with freerolls and therefore by definition MTTs. I'd read that tournaments could be quite hard on the bankroll and I had my promise not to put my money onto a poker site as a hindrance.I'd taken a long time to build up a bankroll on freerolls and didn't want to lose it learning how to play cash games.

I used the free poker money to enter a variety of games , some MTT's , SNG's and tried playing some ring games. On the site I was on the SNG's only paid the top 2 and I din't manage to cash in them. I cashed in a MTT and doubled the 2$ buyin but generally was losing on the rest of the ones I entered. I didnt fair much better on the ring games . I even tried playing some cash omaha and had a disastrous time at it.

Anyway , most of the free money disappeared and i was down to 10$ left so decided I needed to learn a lot and improve my poker a lot before i was going to risk my bankroll. I read about stoxpoker , cardrunnersand other poker sites in the poker mags I was reading. Visiting them I found that some of them had free poker videos with commentary on why individual plays were being made. This was a revelation to me and i started to search the net to try and find as many free instructional videos as i could.
Then on a fatefull day back in November googling for poker videos I discovered FTR. I introduced myslf with the following post

Name: keith
Age: 41
What do you play? mainly Holdem freerolls and tried some micro cash games and some omaha freerolls
At what stakes do you play? cash 0.02-0.05$ but mainly freerolls

How long have you been playing? 2 years
Where do you mostly play? William Hill,Pacific poker, Full Tilt,PokerStars,VC Poker,pitbull,, red kings

Why did you come to FTR? found the videos and decided to look into them more. Most ofthe videos that i have seen seem to be aimed higher up the stakes levels rather than at the bottom micro micro levels for people trying to get the bankroll off the ground.

Do you have any goals (and how can we help)? Mother in law made me promise not to put any personal money into poker. Upside is , I'm not going to go broke chasing losses , downside is having to grind out the freerolls trying to build a bankroll.Now looking to start playing real money but need to decide which way to go , cash , sngs or MTT tourneys

I was amazed at all the strategy posts in the digest and and in the strategy section . I'd been to other forums in the past such as 2+2 but it seemed a massive site and couldnt really work out where to get started. Here at FTR it was a simple deicsion and immersed myself in absorbing as much information out of all the posts. Pokerstars then did there promotion with freerolls in the run up to xmas for new depositors. Talked it over with a friend (footnote75) who I've talked poker with ever since I started way back at full tilt. and we both decided to deposit so that we could take part in this promotion. Except I had my promise to think about so I cashed out the deposit from William Hill and generally spent December reading the posts and articles on FTR and taking part in the pokerstars freerolls.Mixed in with this I was starting to play some 2NL . I found that I could do OK at despite having got my bankroll up to 150$ with the frerolls , I decided that 2NL was the place for me to learn to play ring games rather than the 5NL that I was theoretically rolled for. It was a safety first approach so that I could gain experience.

After about 500 hands I was up about 5$ and found Robb's first 5000 hands post . THis was designed to work at 10NL which I wasn't rolled for so I decided to make a compromise and move up to 5NL and try to follow his guide.I kept persevering trying to make it work at 5NL but seem to run into bad beats and my big hands never got paid off.And followingthe quide I didnt seem to play that many hands as there were so many callers/raisers at 5NL so that it was usually 3 or 4 seeing the flop rather than 2 or 3 .


I'd taken part in all of the group sweat sessions and was bowled over by listening to Spenda talking poker theory. Erpel had been taking part as well and I can't quite remember how we started except that I remember we were chatting on skype and I said that I'd just lost another buy in and we sort of started a sweat session.
This was the turn around in my fortunes. He was able to spot where I was going wrong and listening to him talk about what my bet sizing should be in various situations completely opened my eyes to where i had been going wrong.I'd already realised that playing following Robbs guide was too restrictive at 5NL so I had loosened up my starting hands.But the experience I gained at playing his tight starting range will become more important , hopefully, as i move up through the levels.
In that first sweat session with Erpel I made about 6 buyins which completely amazed me. The following night I watched him play 4 tables of 10NL and we discussed his play. Actually he discussed it and I asked questions lol .
I voluntered to be the subject of the third group sweat session and would like to thank the people who turned up to give me advice.Erpel and I then did another session and invited Slevin to take part. He didn't have a mic but he was able to type and could hear what we were saying. During this session Erpel and I both took it in turns to play .This was where I finished at roughly +75$ on the graph above.
The following night was a real roller coaster , I started off by gaining 3 Buyins and hitting the peak on the graph and then it all stated going wrong. Whatever I did seemed to go wrong and I finished up losing 4 buyins before i closed it down.
For the last week I seem to have been treading water until I had an AHA moment yesterday . I had been trying to work out what I was doing differently for the last week compared with what I had been doing before hand.It all came down to table selection. Before I had been choosing table on table looseness whereas lately I had beeen looking for tables with plenty of money on them. With the looser players the strategy I had learnt at FTR so far was sufficient to beat them. By choosing the tables with more money on them I was effectively picking tables with better players on them who were buying in deep and knew what they were doing.
As I gain experience and knowledge , I hope that I will be able to beat the better players at this level as well, rather than marginally losing against them. I went back to my previous strategy last night and started to see a slow improvemnet in my non showdown winnings whereas they had decreased under my previous strategy , and I eneded up over a buyin as I was starting to target the fish again. I was also playing a slightly safer game and turning down some of the preflop coin flip situations that I had been getting into.
WHatever happens , I know now that I'm a much better poker player than I was three months ago. I also know that I have barely scratched the surface of what there is still to learn to progresss through the limits. Each stage is a new challenge , but ultimatelyI know that bankroll management will mean that I'll never putting money into poker. My poker interests will all come out of my bankroll. If I have to drop down I will. I have the patience from my freeroll days , but also the determination never to go back to frerolling because I've blown my bankroll. I'll still be trying to learn as much as I can away from the tables so that I can apply it on the tables. Hopefully , once I feel that my bankroll is likely to be able to sustain a membership ,I'll be looking to possibly take out a subscription for Grinder school. I enetered my first FTR freeroll last month and luckily won it after airles had to leave , but that 50$ is now earmarked for the lite version of Holdem manager once my poker tacker and holdem manager free trials expire. This was an immense achievemnet for me simply because it was against players that I know are vastly superior to me and I did get lucky with some of my cards.Thanks for reading this , my poker will be on hold for the next two weeks due to work commitments ,but I want to use the little time i do get studying my own game and articles. Hopefully , If you consider me for the scholarship it will start in April when I will hopefully be able to make the most of the opportunity that Slevin has generously provided for us to take part in.

First off hats off to Luckyslavin what a cool thing to do!

Hopefully it's not to late to throw my hat in the ring. I would like to apply. I messed around on the different sites and threw a little money here and there. Never really winning but enjoying the game. Then I stumbled upon FTR and starting reading and paying attention. I soak up all I can and tweak my game as I gain knowledge. Seldom do I come away from a good study session on here without making progress. I've been consideringg GS for awhile and spoken with many who have benefitted from the site. I think this would really allow me the opportunity to take the next few steps. I'm doing well at 2nl and am about to move up to 5nl and would really like to do so at the same time as starting at GS.

Thanks for your consideration!

PS: If selected I would give back as well!

Thanks so much for this opportunity!

I live in Phuket, Thailand and ran into a guy a couple of weeks ago at a party who plays online professionally. He just travels around and plays. I talked with him a while and started to get really excited about the idea.

I've never been a huge poker fan - have just played penny ante games with friends. I always had fun, and never lost too bad, and often did fairly well. But the thought of doing it professionally or for any kind of money never occurred to me.

I have, however, been seriously interested in trading stocks online for quite a while. I did a lot of studying and a very small amount of real trading (not doing too badly), but had to stop, because I have never had the $30-50,000 disposable money to do it properly. As I spoke to the guy at the party, I started realizing how similar playing poker online and trading stocks are:
- the importance of bankroll management
- the importance of knowing the game
- the importance of managing one's own psychology and state of mind (i.e. having a sound strategy and being able to stick to it)

The big differences between poker and trading stocks is that you can safely start of with a very much smaller bankroll and the odds are massively more predictable and manageable in poker!

So, now I'm hooked. It's become the main focus in my life besides work. I'm a complete newbie, but I've discovered this forum and am going through the recommended steps. I want to do this "right", in a disciplined and committed way. I haven't even played for real money yet, though I'm going to open an account probably today with about $70, but I may not even start playing for money for another week or two. Have too much studying to do first, I think. My plan is to focus on NL ring for now, until I've got some basic skills under my belt.

I haven't posted much here, because I've just joined and have so much learning to do on my own first.

I'm pretty much living paycheck to paycheck now, and am hoping this might develop into a great way to supplement my income, which would impact my quality of life in a huge way. For the same reason, it would be hard for me to pay a monthly subscription fee for this kind of thing, right now.

I just ran into this today - the last day to apply - and I'm hugely excited about it. If I'm lucky enough to be chosen, I might be an interesting experiment, because I'm so new. Also, I promise to not take the opportunity for granted and really dedicate myself to using it to the extent I have time (which is a fair amount in the evenings after work and on weekends). I also promise to do something similar in the future to repay the good fortune. I think it's really amazing and encouraging to see such a kind and generous action on the part of someone in this community, and I truly believe that what goes around, comes around.

So, thanks Gary and Jeffrey for doing this.

Glenn

Hi, I would like to be considered for a scholarship.

I have watched every free FTR and Grinderschool.com video at least a dozen times. I have learned more from these guys by watching them in action than reading all of my poker books combined! I have always wanted to join but never seemed to have the money to do it.

With the economic downturn last year I lost my business and have been struggling to keep food on the table for my family for the past 6 months. Things are getting better now and luckily I have been able to grind a small amount of money on micros to help us out. Unfortunately I have had to cash out every couple of months (usually to buy formula/diapers etc) and have never been able to make it past micros.

So now my bankroll is $86 and I feel I would hugely benefit from a membership to grinderschool.com. I have become a student of the game and been a regular contributor to the boards since I joined in late '07.

I hope I can one day soon I can afford to sponsor something like this and give back.

Thanks for this great offer!!

Outlaw

i would like to apply to slevin's scholarship.

i'm hobby player at present. Cashed out a few times for easy money during the whoring days. I'm currently playing $11 SnG's on stars "au natural" without any software.(tracking, HUD, replay, ICM, WHizzies)

my graphs
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i can play approx. 2 hours 4-5 nights a week. if i get chosen for a scholarship i would prefer to be active at grinderschool next november or december when i could have a some more time to take advantage of the site.

ooh don't we find out today??

Alrighty, we have our winners. In choosing who got this, I looked at the factors I mentioned previously (who would benefit the most by receiving this), but also factored in the players who promised to do something similar when they are able. In the end, I've decided to add a couple extra spots in hopes that some of these guys will see enough success to enable us to do this again.

So with no further adieu, the winners are:
* Deuce Blue (two month full subscription)
* Ragnar4 (one month full subscription)
* kfaess (one month micro stakes subscription)
* Erpel (one month micro stakes subscription)
* lockpull (one month micro stakes subscription)
* Keith_MM (one month micro stakes subscription)
* flintyglint (one month micro stakes subscription)
* Outlaw (one month micro stakes subscription)

Winners, please create an account on the Grinderschool forums with the same name you have here and send a pm to me (JGB146) so that I can authorize your account.

If you didn't win, thanks for applying. I hope you still consider Grinderschool in the future. And if all goes well, someone else will fund a similar opportunity again, so you may have another shot then!

Cheers!
- Jeffrey "JGB146" Blake, Grinderschool Admin

A big thanks to Grinderschool and a HUGE thanks to Slevin for offering this to us.

Thanks! I can't wait to get started studying those videos!

thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!

Hey to the winners I hope you will each start a thread or use the same one and keep us posted on your progress, opinions etc.

Luckyslavin you rock buddy!

Congrats everyone.

I didn't win

Wow, woot, thanks!

I guess it's good I decided to go into a poker study month already.

Thanks to Slevin and Grinderschool for the scholarship and I'll be doing my best to make the most of this opportunity.

Thank you slevin and Grinderschool, I will definitely make the most of this opportunity!

I can't believe you guys went above and beyond what you said you would do in the original post, very generous.

I'll be creating a grinder school acct very soon.

TY again

Wow. I am so happy. Thank you so much!!!! I will make the most of this opportunity for sure. I'm swamped at work now or I'd be checking everything out. Thanks Slevin and thanks judges!!