We're real suckers for ROI stories around here, and this is one of our favorites of the month.

Two or three years ago, kaoz12345678 (which we believe translates to English as "Michael") started playing on PokerStars for play money chips. It was fun, and over time he won a million play money chips in ring games and SNGs.

As anyone who has ever played with play money knows, it's fun for a while, but after you develop some skill, you'd sort of prefer to be winning some real cash. So, Michael sold his play chips to a buddy for $10. We're not sure what the exchange rate is on these things, but Michael seems to have made the best of it.

With $10 in his account, Michael went to work in what he called, "the lowest of low stakes." It was 0.01/0.02, the lowest possible amount he could play for.

He maintained some pretty strict bankroll management, always making sure he had 20 buy-ins before moving up in levels. Since then, he has climbed farther up the ladder. Now he plays .50/$1.00.

Now, you might be asking yourself, "Well, why should I care if some guy plays .50/$1.00?"

Well, here's the thing:

Michael has managed to build his $10 bankroll up to $11,000 without ever depositing a single dollar. What's more, he's achieved Platinum status in the PokerStars VIP Club and earned more than $2,000 worth of gift cards.

So, for anyone who might be stuck playing for play money and thinking about what could happen if you play for real cash, think about Michael. You'll find him in the Platinum section of the VIP Club sipping on a cool drink and fanning himself with gift cards.

PokerStars is ready to give you $1,000 just for playing. We'd tell you more, but it's time for...

Lightning round trivia!

Do you know who is on the American $1,000 bill?

If you answered, "There is no such thing as a $1,000 bill," you responded exactly as we did when we conceived this trivia question. As it turns, out however, the United States actually did issue a bunch of $1,000 bills back in 1929. While a Richard Nixon order officially took the bills out of circulation years later, there are still thousands of them out there among bill collectors.

The real answer, by the way, is Grover Cleveland.

But, wait! There is still that matter of PokerStars wanting to give you $1,000!

PokerStars has just announced a brand new program for 2010. VIP Stellar Rewards is a way you can use one (yes, ONE) FPP point to cash in on your frequent play.

Here's how it works.

After you earn your first 750 VIP Player Points in 2010, you go to the VIP Store and pay one FPP. PokerStars will give you $10. Simple as that.

But, wait! There's more!

Eighteen more times throughout the year, depending on how much you play, you can go back to the store as cash in for various amounts. Over the course of the year, you can earn $10, $50, or $100 multiple times. If you make it to Supernova, you will have picked up an extra $1,000 in Stellar Reward money. That's all in addition to the regular (and, frankly, quite awesome) benefits you get from being part of the PokerStars VIP Club.

So, now you know both who is on the U.S. $1,000 bill and how you can get an extra grand in 2010.

For more information, check out the VIP Stellar Rewards page.

At 34 years old, the PokerStars player simona75 has done something only a select few PokerStars players do in a year. He's made it to the level of Supernova Elite. This marks him among the top 160 or so most active players at PokerStars.

So, you might think it odd, then that the man from London describes his activities in this order.

1) Chess International Master
2) Computer programmer
3) Play a bit of poker on the side

Back when 2009 started, he didn't have any plans to make it to Supernova Elite. A couple of years ago, he had quit his job to do some traveling and then work on a Masters degree. By the time he finished that, he realized the job market, in a word, sucked.

"So, I found myself playing a lot of poker," simona75 said. "Around March or April I realized I could get to Elite and made the decision to go for it."

This is not a decision people undertake lightly. That is, simona75 made this decision when spring was still in the air. He didn't achieve the goal until just a few days ago.

"It was tough at times," he admitted. "I tilt regularly and when you tilt with a full stack on 16 tables simultaneously, it's not pretty! But I'm proud to have got there and pleased that I did it."

Now that simona75 has made it to Supernova Elite, has a chance to play in two free big live PokerStars events. For a guy who loves to travel anyway, it's just an added bonus.

"I've never been to Vegas, so am particulary looking forward to the WSOP," he said.

Not bad for a guy who only plays poker "on the side."