Start from $0?

I want to try it for the challenge. Has anyone here ever done this by playing in freerolls? Carbon has the play money steps tournaments which I didn't know existed until reading about them here. Just won step 2 ticket on my first try. I didn't realize that the top three finishers get a #2 ticket at the first step. When heads up, I was wondering why the guy kept going all in. He just wanted it to end, because we get the same thing! haha Once I get my $1, I plan on chipping away at the 0.11c super turbo 6 player sit n gos. Try to build up a little scratch.

BTW, I just left bodog and joined carbon. Man that software update stinks!

TBH I preferred just deposting some starting capital as I really couldn't be bothered wasting my time going from 0 to 50. I do honestly think its better if you deposit some of your own money then withdraw your 50 when you get to 100 just to speed up the BR building.

I'm sure there are many members on this forum who have done this. I've done it on quite a few sites in the past & still to this day have a handful of sites with smaller rolls on them, all of them acquired initially from some kind of freeroll score.
On Carbon I won $2 in a freeroll & then ran that up to over $1k & actually rarely ever played on that site (mostly priv. tournaments, CC games, etc.).
Did similiar on DoylesRoom years ago & more recently was building small bankrolls on 888Poker, CakePoker, Intertops, PartyPoker & 32Red (& soon to be on BlackChip Poker too).
I don't bother with them much though these days... just occassionally when feeling like playing for fun.

I think if you go about it in a discplined way it is more than possible (the 'challenge' that is). If you search around on older threads on the forum you'll see there's quite a few of these in here.

Good Luck on the challenge!!

There are many from the forum who have done just that. Myself included went from $0 to $1.4k on ftp b4 black friday

I've done it, so have a bunch of others. Some have even made it past the magic $10K mark.

That said, it's a major grind and if you've got the money as well as a means of depositing it, then it's a lot easier / quicker / better to start with a deposit.

I cashed for $8 in a Cardschat freeroll at Cake. Up to $160. Was as high as $190.

Ive tried it before but it just takes to long.Especially when your grinding of a freeroll that had close to 1,000 people registered, and if you do happen to come out in the cash you play a small tourney buy in and if you loose you go right back to grinding out the freeroll.I would rather make a minimum deposit and go from their

I have done it on several sites and if you feel you are up for the challenge, it is well worth doing. What an achievemant if you can make it to 10k.

However, you cannot do this. Sure, you may win and increase your roll, but ultimately you will never achieve your goal unless you follow strict bankroll management guidelines, and I would suggest doing that right from the very start.
If you don't have several buy-ins to a tournament, then don't play it. Stick to freerolls until you are properly rolled to play a small tourney.
GL

Cool. Nice to hear some others have done it before. BTW, speaking of deposits. On carbon, whats your preferred way of deposit? My VISA didn't work. I have used a prepaid visa before that you get at the grocery store. But only on pokerstars in the past. Just have to make sure is says "this card can be used internationally" on it. Anyone using prepaid visa's on carbon successfully? Also, the western union way looks simple too but it says to send money overseas to some name I can't pronounce! Is this standard? Anyone have any problems with that?

It can be done , I did it on pokerstars before BF , up to around $500 when they made me cash out. It takes patience and strict BRM to make it work. Had a small roll on Full Tilt and $200 on UB as well as about $900 worth of UB steps tickets.
Poker is a way for me to relax and building from zero was a personal challenge (and a bit of an ego builder when succesful) , I wish you well on your journey.

i have used a netspend visa card and they actually reward you when you put money on the card.it does vary but have put a 100 and got 15 for free..as far as the grinding i havent had to deposit in over 3 years from playing frs but will deposit for special games etc..personally i dont wait for the big brs so i take my money and run when i can,lol.

It's definitely possible, but as others have said it is easier to just deposit if you have the means. I built a few small bankrolls before black friday from just freerolls, but have also deposited in the past.
Have you tried the Minted Step SnG freerolls yet? I'm trying to build from 0$ right now on there since I have no BR and way to deposit atm, and it's only to step 5 this month.

One example of a famous player who started out in freerolls and has gone on to win millions is Annette Obrestad. I'm sure there are others.

IMO, even though there isn't nearly as much money out there in freerolls as there used to be, it's still relatively straightforward to build up from $0 to hundreds or even thousands without ever reaching into your pocket. All it takes is being good enough to beat the micros plus some discipline and enough time and will to do the necessary amount of grinding.

It's easier once you have enough bankroll to move money around and deposit on various sites when they offer attractive bonuses. It also helps to focus on one site, or one at a time anyway. Otherwise, it's very easy to end up with accounts all over the place with only small amounts in each.

There are several people who have done it and one from this site is quite an active member, I think he started literally with freerolls and won over 40k+ from cash + tournaments.

He had a post about it a while ago but I can't actually remember his nick name of the top of my head unless I saw his nickname again.


Personally I couldn't have the motivation to do it, I'd have to deposit something at least.

Probably BelgoSuisse, though IIRC ChuckTs won a hell of a lot from nothing as well.

Minted Step SnG freerolls? Step 5? Don't know what you're talking about... I've been playing the "convert $250 PLAY MONEY to Fun Step 1 ticket." Make it to step three and place first for a whopping $1! Just made 1st place on third step on my second try. Got my dollar, muahahaha! Now I'm focusing on the 6 player super turbo SnG for 11 cents. Super fast 3 minute blind rounds but people play loose from what I can tell. Which is perfect for me! Played my first one 15 minutes ago and took 1st! Now have $1.31 in my account. This is going to be interesting and fun!

That's the one, Belgo. =]

I've done the zero to hero thing. I think the key to it is discipline and patience, since it's really hard to make a little bit of money a lot in a very short amount of time. Good luck!!