For months, I’ve been grinding lower stakes tournaments.
$6.60s. $11s. The occasional $16.50, 22, 33, or even 55. But I hesitated to buy-in to a tournament that cost more than 100$ – at least online.
Like many tournament players, I dream about regularly playing $55s, $109s and eventually even bigger events. But unlike many dreams in poker, this one shouldn’t be rushed.
This weekend I finally won a $109 ticket and decided to use it in one of ACR Poker’s regular Progressive Knockout tournaments.
I knew it would be my toughest test yet.
The First Surprise
Before the tournament even started, I spent some time looking up the registered players.
I expected a few regulars.
Instead, I found dozens.
Many players had Ability Ratings in the 90s, thousands of tournaments played and long-term ROIs between 20% and 40%.
This wasn’t just another Sunday tournament.
This was a field full of experienced grinders.
Instead of being intimidated, I became curious.
How would my game hold up?
A Dream Start
The first orbit couldn’t have gone much better.
I picked up pocket aces, flopped well, and within the first twelve minutes I found myself among the tournament chip leaders.
For a brief moment I was sitting inside the Top 4.
It was tempting to think:
“Maybe I actually belong here.”
Then poker reminded me why it is such a humbling game.
Small Mistakes Become Expensive
Against recreational players, marginal decisions are often forgiven.
Against good regulars, they rarely are.
One interesting hand came against “Moonlounger.”
Holding ATo, I flopped top pair and eventually lost almost 40 big blinds. Looking back afterwards, I wasn’t even sure whether I should have 3-bet preflop or played the hand differently after the flop.
That hand alone taught me more than several smaller tournaments combined.
Every decision mattered. In the end, he held KK, and I was really surprised to see that.
Running Into the Top of Their Range
Some hands simply aren’t avoidable.
AQ against AK. I raise with AQo UTG and get re-raised by NamCam. I head seen pretty wild 3-bets before, and of course I could have anticipated AK, AA, and KK. But those were the three exact hands that I would lose to in this situation. I think it was a bit unlucky to run into AK here – but it is what it is, and so I fired another bullet!
I had some other interesting situations, when I had to play with pocket eights against pocket aces. Against a player who had 98 ability, and of course his Aces were holding.
Then, my kings getting no action when desperately needing a double-up.
Slowly Finding My Rhythm
After the rebuy, something changed, however.
Instead of worrying about the buy-in, I focused entirely on making good decisions.
I stole blinds.
Won small pots.
Avoided unnecessary confrontations.
Gradually I climbed back into contention, and I was able to double up with JJ against AKo.
At one point I had rebuilt to around 185,000 chips and was sitting comfortably in the middle of the remaining field. Even more satisfying, one of the strongest players at my table—the same player who had eliminated my first entry—had already busted, while I was still in the tournament.
That felt like a small personal victory.
The End
Unfortunately, tournament poker rarely gives fairy-tale endings.
My final shove with A3 ran into KJ that hit a J.
Game over.
No cash.
Two $109 buy-ins gone.
But Did I Really Lose?
Financially?
Yes.
From a learning perspective?
Absolutely not.
In fact, this tournament gave me something much more valuable than a min-cash.
It gave me clarity.
The Biggest Lesson
Before playing this event, I wasn’t entirely sure where I stood.
Afterwards, I knew.
I can compete.
I don’t feel outclassed.
But I also know I’m not yet ready to make $109 tournaments my regular grind.
There is still too much to learn.
Too many spots where stronger regulars have an edge.
And that’s perfectly fine.
Back to the Process
Poker rewards patience.
Not just during a tournament.
Over an entire career.
So my plan is simple:
- Continue beating the $6.60s, $11s and $16.50s consistently.
- Build my bankroll properly.
- Add $22 and $33 tournaments once the bankroll comfortably allows it.
- Continue studying.
- Review difficult hands.
- Earn my shot at $55s and $109s instead of forcing it.
This experience strengthened my confidence rather than damaging it.
Sometimes losing is exactly what you need.