Posted Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:01 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
I deposited $50.00 at PokerStars in April after playing with play money for a couple months. I’ve gone down to as low as $4.00 in my BR but recently built it back up again to $55.00. I play the micro tables ($.05/$.10) & the $3.40 S&Gs so I’m not putting a big chunk of my BR at risk. My problem is I’m nervous about going in to some the larger tables & putting my entire BR on the line, but I would LOVE to actually make money at this. So I guess my question is what limits should I be playing? Should I just stick to what I’m doing & hope I don’t go on a serious down swing again or go in to one of the larger limit tables and play super tight?
Thanks in advance! :D
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Posted Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:07 pm GMT by mooseontheloose
Actually, you already are playing over your head.
The SnG BR is usually 20-30 times the buy-in, which means you'd want $70 minimum to play what you're at. You also want I think 10-20 times the buy-in for cash games, most people will suggest at least $100 before you begin the $10 NL games.
So really you should be looking at $1 SnGs and $5 NL with that bankroll. If you honestly feel you should not move down, I strongly disagree with a move up in stakes. You're already risking it, your next move up in cash games is $25 NL - that's two buy-ins and your BR is gone. Even if you play super tight, you can't avoid bad beats, suckouts, etc. regardless which is why you need a BR that can handle downswings - they happen.
Others with more experience than myself will chime in, but I would still like to say once again that moving up would be a very bad idea at this point.
Posted Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:27 pm GMT by UrAteUp
Stick to the levels your at and hang in there. Build your bankroll up to about $100 or $150 and move up to the next level. Keep building and working on it and soon you should be able to feel comfortable playing in higher and higher stakes. As you go up you will want to pay more attention to your game and the players playing at your level. Also it wouldn't hurt to study the game in depth and learn more about it. Things such as position, starting hands and bankroll management are all key things you will need to learn to make money at this game. I play more for recreation then to make money but I am happy to say playing the micro limits I have cashed out about $400 in the last couple months which is nothing I know compared to others on this forum and others who play poker but I am happy with it.
Posted Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:22 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
Thanks guys! :D
Posted Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:06 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
I'm now up to $134.00. :D
It's funny, I seem to do better in the 2 table sngs than the one table sngs. I'm not really sure why. Anyway, thanks for the advice! This forum is great!
Posted Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:34 pm GMT by weirdofreek
See this post as an excellent example of why you shouldn't play over your BR. Good hand beat by a better one. If your whole BR is on the table you may be scared to play because this may happen. I know I would be and it would severly restrict me.
http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/forum/t19772/prime-example-why-you-dont-over-extend-you-br
Posted Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:44 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
I have a friend that keeps pushing me to jump in to bigger limit tables & the thought of putting even half my BR on the line freaks me out.
I should mention that we originally deposited money one day apart & I'm still playing on my original money & he's had to reload 4 or 5 times. 
Posted Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:50 pm GMT by Fat Tony
If that's the case why would you even consider listening to the guy when it's obvious that he doesn't have a clue?
Posted Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:54 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
1. He is a good friend & the one who got me into poker.
2. His upswings were really good which made it tempting.
3. I didn’t do it because I came to this forum & got the advice I really needed.
Posted Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:38 pm GMT by lwestatbus
| 0neEyedWilly wrote: | | 3. I didn’t do it because I came to this forum & got the advice I really needed. |
This really is a great place and you are asking all of the right questions. UrAteUp was right on target. I know because I am running about one 18 months ahead of you on exactly the same plan.
To paraphrase what UrAteUp said, you need to let your winnings at your current stakes finance your move to higher stakes for two reasons:
1. If you have won enough to do this you are, by definition, winning and this is a strong indicator that you are ready to do well at the higher stakes.
2. You are playing with found money instead of with your investment. While money is money, using your winnings to finance your education just seems better to me.
Here's my advice:
1. Track your performance any way you want but also track it on a monthly basis. Set some number of months as a target (let's say 3 as an example). If you are ahead for the month, 3 months in a row, then move up one level in stakes. (I find as I get up in stakes the swings become more extreme and I've modified my criteria to not strictly require 3 months in a row as that is tougher to achieve. Made my last move with win-win-lose-win.)
2. One more piece of advice: Stick with one and only one game. Let it be FL ring, NL SnG, FL SnG, or whatever, but do one thing only. I stuck with FL ring (cash) games except that I'd do one $5 + .50 SnG at the end of every month for grins. (I recommend against NL cash games as it is way to easy to evaporate your BR in a hurry. Pick games where your buy-in is more likely to buy you a longer period of time in which to play and therefore learn.)
3. Play your friend!!! And don't tell him about the Forum.
GL--I think you'll do well.
Posted Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:29 pm GMT by 0neEyedWilly
Thanks a ton for your input.  
Posted Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:27 am GMT by UrAteUp
| 0neEyedWilly wrote: | | 1. He is a good friend & the one who got me into poker. |
If a good friend wanted you to jump off of a cliff with him would you do it? I assume the answer to be no. So why commit poker bankruptcy to your bankroll?
| Quote: |
2. His upswings were really good which made it tempting. |
For every upswing their must always be a downswing...it's cause and affect...ying and yang dude.
| Quote: |
3. I didn’t do it because I came to this forum & got the advice I really needed. |
Now your thinking. Best move you could have done. Listen to your head and a few smart people who come to this forum.... 
Posted Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:01 pm GMT by supafrey
| Quote: | | I recommend against NL cash games as it is way to easy to evaporate your BR in a hurry. Pick games where your buy-in is more likely to buy you a longer period of time in which to play and therefore learn.) |
This part is silly. There's more money in NL and the game is much bigger. Not to mention easier to win, even at the smallest of stakes. Learn to swim by trying not to drown.
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