Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I recently made a $100 deposit into Pokerroom. My main goal is to clear my reload bonus, and hopefully build the BR a bit in the process. With my small initial BR, I have listened to the advice of many on this site, and started with the 25/50¢ games. I have been playing short-handed games (5-6 players). So far, I have a few hours played, and I am up a couple of dollars.

It seems like I will be able to clear my bonus pretty easily, and hopefully play break-even poker at the worst. But I am now wondering how realistic it is to think that my BR can grow substantially from these games. The pots are so small in general. Is it a better idea to jump to the 50¢/$1 games? Or should I just stick with this level and try to build slowly? I know you want bad calls in general, but for 25¢ after the flop, it's certainly tough to defend your top pair vs. an inside straight draw, for example. Or should I move to full games instead of short-handed? Or should I shut up and just play poker?

I guess I am really just looking to hear some stories of people who may have started in a similiar way (with a small initial BR playing micro-stakes) and have built their BR into a respectable amount.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I deposited the min deposit into UB and then withdrew all but $3 and am building my bankroll through penny NL games..

I'm up to $65, and growing.. It's just discipline and bankroll management. I am soon to move from 1c/2c NL to 5c/10c NL.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I initially won $1.32 in a freeroll on Paradise and have gone from nano limits to 1/2.

It takes a long time and lots of patience to properly move up in limits and play within the bankroll.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

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Would I rather be playing higher limits? Absolutely! Do I have a credit card bill, student loan, car payments, a mortgage, home equity loan, a wife and a toddler? Absolutely! So my situation right now, does now allow me the luxury of dropping $1000 into an online poker account to play in a $4/$8 game or higher. I play in my low-stakes home games, and I consistently profit from them. If I win $30 one night, $25-27 of it generally goes to the checking account to pay bills, and I may keep $3-5 for my BR.

As you can imagine, it's taken me a while to scrape up the extra $100 for an online BR. So that is my story and my situation.

So, I know what you are saying. My hourly rate is nothing to brag about at this point - but it IS a profit as opposed to a loss. But do you feel that no one should or can ever build a BR by starting at this level?

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

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Oh but playing poker can be fun, can't it?

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I started at pacific 5c/10c and now play 20/40 and 30/60.

Krishan

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Honestly, I would recomend a part time job to build up some extra savings and help pay the bills. because you need the money, the opportunity cost of playing poker for quarters is high and probably irresponsible depending on your situation. A part time job will also help you save up a $600 roll for 1/2.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Just keep working your way up...that way your skill level will increase at a comparable rate to your bankroll. Also, get away from pokerroom when you finish the bonus, the rake will eat you alive.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I left 50 bucks on Stars and ran it up playing 5c/10c. I've now got enough to comfortable play 5/10 from the original 50. At the time I think I was playing 6/12 maybe 10/20 live by then so the stakes were pretty much meaningless to me. I challenged myself to see if I could win $100 playing 5c/10c in a week. That helped me not lose interest and then I just moved up from there and whored a little along the way. You can do it, it won't happen over night. Its up to you how much you work at it and learn the game. If you're looking for immediate money to pay bills with this isn't going to be it.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I went from losing $100 quickly at party's .5/1 game to reading and learning the game and since party only had .5/1 as their lowest game and me being a broke college student. I reloaded another $100 and started over. Read, studied the game and PLAYED lots of hands. Went from .5/1 to 2/4 within 2-3 months and thats only playing 4 days a week. Just stick with it, your time will come to move up to the bigger games...

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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Honestly, I would recomend a part time job to build up some extra savings and help pay the bills. because you need the money, the opportunity cost of playing poker for quarters is high and probably irresponsible depending on your situation. A part time job will also help you save up a $600 roll for 1/2.

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I have several PT jobs already. I don't think my playing poker is irresponsible at all. I just explained how disciplined I was in saving up this small BR. Playng poker is first and foremost a form of recreation for me. But obviously, it would be nice to be able to build a BR from it.

As some have said, the patience learned from building a BR from micros, can be a good thing in the long run.

And yes, I know Pokerroom has a bad rake. For now, from my Mac, it's my only choice. I am looking into FullTilt as my next venture.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

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What the #@%#$%# are you doing in the micro limit forums if this your attitude towards people playing at micro limits.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

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What the #@%#$%# are you doing in the micro limit forums if this your attitude towards people playing at micro limits.

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thread was originally in Internet Gambling forum not that it really makes much difference.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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25/50 CENT games... honestly your $/hour rate cannot be worth your time.

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What the #@%#$%# are you doing in the micro limit forums if this your attitude towards people playing at micro limits.

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EXACTLY some of the best players have grinded their way from the micros to the Big Games!

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Just my 2 p worth but surely its worth learning the game from the ground up , playing at nano limits so mistakes that you will and can make , will only cost you small amounts of money.

Once your BR is ready hopefully alot of these mistakes will have been ironed out.

I made a $10 depoist at betfred and play .01/.02 PL before quickly moving to limit at stars.

Hva enow got BR of ~$450 not massive but at least if I do go bust , I only in theroy lose $10.

My point is it took a long long time to grind enough money over at stars to enable me to clear a couple of bonuses etc.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I built my roll from 60 to 700 in less than 2 months at the .25/.50 tables at Party. It's doable and doable quickly if you run well.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

You just have to multi-table, and have patience. Started playing limit 3 weeks ago after terrible varience in NL, and had $50. Playing .25/.50, I'm at 140. It's a long road, but its worth it

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Yes you can build a bankroll at these limits, but it is a grind. I had the luxury of being able to start out pretty much at 1/2, and obv you can build money faster there. I think the most important thing is: don't cash out your bankroll!!!! The best way to build at micros is through bonuses, so you need to build up the cash to take advantage of that. Take advantage of all the good signup bonuses (Paradise, Party, Bodog all really good. Pokerroom and skins are really good bnouses too IMO.) Good luck.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Thanks for all the responses everyone. They are exactly what I had hoped for - cases of people verifying that it was not a pipe dream, and could be done. So, what are your thoughts on when to move up to 50¢/$1? Is 300 BBs the standard number to wait for?

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I started playing both .50/1 and .25/.50 after about 5 weeks, but I was running crazy good at the beginer tables at party. When I finally made the switch I cashed out all but 400 and started playing .50/1 full time. My goal isn't to move up in levels but keep taking money out. I suppose at some point I'll move up, but I'm not interested yet.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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I started at pacific 5c/10c and now play 20/40 and 30/60.

Krishan

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THAT's what I wanted to read! Someone starting at the bottom and leaning / working their way up. I think we're a dying breed?

Ian

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all the responses everyone. They are exactly what I had hoped for - cases of people verifying that it was not a pipe dream, and could be done. So, what are your thoughts on when to move up to 50¢/$1? Is 300 BBs the standard number to wait for?

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Yes. Play it safe and grind it out. When you get close maybe take a shot. I started taking shots at .50/$1 when I was at about $200-$250. I still play one table of .25/.50 and one table of .5/$1. Eventually I'll move to .5/$1 exclusively but I need a little more $$ to feel comfortable. Stay with it.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

check out the Microlimit FAQ stickied in this forum. It has alot of the answers you are looking for. 300BB is the standard suggested BR but don't be afraid to move back down if you hit a bad stretch. Its more a matter of what you're comfortable with than anything else.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I will chime in on this. I hope you have seen this thread by MrWookie on building a bankroll for newbies. I followed the guide almost to a tee except that I started in October playing .05/.10 games at Pacific by depositing $30. Once I had a bankroll for .10/.20 I moved to Stars. From there I just followed the guide. I am a recreational poker player with a job and a family and not a whole lot of free time. I try to play on the weekends and any time I can VNC to a PC at home. We are in April now and my banrkoll sits at a comfortable level to play 1/2 games.

Playing at lower limits allowed me to take advantage of bad players. You will notice that as you move up the limits the players are still bad but there's not as many as you would see at the lower limits. It's true that BR won't grow substantially at those levels, but if you combine it with good play and bonuses it can be turned into something more significant.

I would also encourage you to read this forum and contribute to it in any way you can. It benefits both you and your peers who are making the same steps. It's definately a growing opportunity in anyone's micro career.

When I first started I was sceptical of success stories that I have seen on these forums. Today, I see that it can be done with dedication and hard work.

Here's my success story after 21K hands in a graphical depiction.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2327/22k8rt.jpg

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I started with a small BR also and once I realized the importance of BR by taking huge swings in limits I should not have been in, I spent six months 5 to 6 days a week building my BR properly at Poker Stars in the .05/.1 games. If you are serious you will stick to the guidlines and pay your dues.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

No success to report yet, simply my story.

I was primarily an SNG player. A change in my available playing time drove me to play ring games instead in order to be able to play without worry of when my session would end.

I moved to NL ring and could not tolerate the variance. I have about $200 on Stars and could safely play .25/.50, but I am playing .10/.20 with $10 I have on Royal Vegas just to prove to myself that I can work myself up to .25/.50 before moving up and combining the rolls. I am technically underrolled on Vegas, but it's a disposable roll so I am not concerned.

I only have about 1500 hands in but I am running at 8BB/100 and hope to be able to work my way up also.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

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I started at pacific 5c/10c and now play 20/40 and 30/60.

Krishan

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THAT's what I wanted to read! Someone starting at the bottom and leaning / working their way up. I think we're a dying breed?

Ian

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Nope defin not like I said earlier I started at betfred with $10 currently playing .5/1 over at party with roll well over $400.

I think it is well learning from the bottom up

PS Still reading your site keep up the good work

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all the responses everyone. They are exactly what I had hoped for - cases of people verifying that it was not a pipe dream, and could be done. So, what are your thoughts on when to move up to 50¢/$1? Is 300 BBs the standard number to wait for?

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I started at .5/.10 and after about one year, Without having put in a penny more than my original $25, I'm considering taking shots at $5/10.

Don't worry about bonus whoring at the nano levels - find a site like Stars where bonus won't be wasted and the players are generally bad, and play to learn.

300 BB is fine, 500 is better.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I started with $50 at stars. I am and will always be a recreational player. That $50 is now $600 and gaining upward momentum (just had a downswing but bonuses saved the day).

I donked around on 2c/4c and 5c/10c at stars built up to $80 using nothing more than the OhGeeMcTee? preflop chart from SSH and realising that all 3 fold/call/raise buttons could actually b used.

Eventually I hit a glass ceiling at $90 and got frustrated.

Then 2 things happened
1) I found 2+2
2) I found ulitmate bet

For anyone playing 5c/10c who thought you couldnt clear bonuses at that level.....I say go to Ultimate Bet. I found that despite ppl saying the bonuses clearing slowly there (true for higher levels) and despite what their UB points pages say....I was earning their bonus at the rate of 7-8BB/100 (thats still just .8c a hand but for the stakes its awesome). In a few months I had cleared over $100 in bonus to go with a decent winrate.

From there I jumped to 25c/50c at Paradise and found the games to b softer than the 5c/10c UB games. Did a signon bonus, a reload took lots of winnings and used that as a launch pad for 50c/1.

To conclude, the key for me was spending alot of time in the nanos to learn the ropes in a no pressure environment.

thats my story 2 date....

Battler

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Well, as the OP, I wanted to just post this quick follow-up. I just finished playing slightly under an hours worth of 25/50¢, two-tabling. I ended up with a $15 profit in my little BR. Hey, in about 3 hours of play, my BR has grown 18% - not bad! Still nothing to brag about, I know. But tonight's session gave me a boost in confidence, and showed me that you CAN build a BR by starting at this level.

P.S. I almost risked some of tonight's profit, by signing up for a SnG. I actually DID sign up, but removed my name before it started. I do plan on rewarding myself, with SnGs, because I do enjoy NL Tourneys very much. I plan on treating myself to a small $5 SnG, for every $25 I profit in the cash games. Sounds like a fair deal.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

Do yourself a favor and check out www.kingscascade.com

Best straightforward advice on BR management, when to move up and when to move down. Bottomline line move up only when you have 300 BB at that level. Drop back when you go below 200BB. I turned $50 into $600 in 2 months at those levels and learned A LOT about the game.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all the responses everyone. They are exactly what I had hoped for - cases of people verifying that it was not a pipe dream, and could be done. So, what are your thoughts on when to move up to 50¢/$1? Is 300 BBs the standard number to wait for?

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Do a search on "+move +up -re:" (subject only) and you'll find threads on this stuff. There's also some classic threads-type threads here and there that might have useful info.

300BB is enough. If you're willing to move down, go for it. Generally you're ready to move up when you feel psychologically ready to move up. You get there by being comfortable at your current limit and have the bankroll. If you multi-table, always always start your move-up by just playing one table at the time at the new limit. IOW, take a small shot. See how it goes.

Re: Building a BR through Micro Games?
 

I deposited $100 @ paradise in March of 2005. I started @ .05/.10 and as of now I play 2/4 and have taken shots at 5/10. When you are rolled for it, bonus whoring is a must. I also withdraw ~$500/month for fun stuff, so my bankroll doesn't really get much higher than $1200.

If you are patient and willing to learn, poker can be a nice hobby, and side income.

Good luck,
Ben