My main poker game is fullring cash games, currently at $25NL while I build my roll.
I’m not a tournament player because I get so frustrated with playing for hours only to lose a coin flip or get sucked out. Also, at my low level of bankroll, even finishing on a final table of a small buy-in MTT wouldn’t be a huge payday, so I wouldn’t be concentrated enough on it anyway.
But having said that, I can see the upside of playing a major big buy-in tournament. One where the money does matter and the top prize is a life changing amount of money. Now, that would keep me concentrated and on my A game for hours on end !
My problem is that on my current bankroll, I can’t justify the $215 buyins for the major tournaments. Then I came across the pokerstars step tournaments which is basically a series of SNG single table tournaments, whereby the top 2 finishes move up to the next step, 3rd place and sometimes 4th place get another go at the current step, and 5th place you either move down a step or win a few dollars and 6th-9th crash out completely of the step system. Winning a step 4 ticket can be used to enter any major $215 tourney on stars (Sunday million etc) and so it was my goal to win a step 4 ticket.
I used to play SNG’s years ago and was pretty good at them with an ROI of about 7% over a large sample. So I figured I should have at least a fighting chance of doing it.
I played 3 “steps special 60 FPP’s” (first 10 places get a step 1 ticket) and finished 7th in one of them to earn me a single step 1 ticket.
I won my first step 1 tourney (after being down to 200 chips at one point) which gave me a step 2 ticket.
My first step 2 tourney, I finished 3rd (for another go at step 2).
Same again for my second step 2 tourney. I finished 3rd (for yet another go at step 2)
On my 3rd attempt (last night), I finished 2nd, earning me a step 3 ticket.
I played my first step 3 ticket this evening. It finished a few minutes ago, and I came in 2nd for a step 4 ticket !! 
I played so tight at the beginning. I raised QQ in UTG at one point and folded it to a 3bet and an all-in behind me (they turned over AK and AA).
So I now have a step 4 ticket (worth $215) for an initial investment of 180 FPP’s 
I have decided to play the Sunday Warmup this Sunday.
Come on, ONE TIME !!!
