[RustyBrooks]

I've had this conversation with a poker-playing friend many many times. So many of the big-name poker players are just guys who took a chance of going broke and rocketed up through the stakes. For each of them that makes it, dozens that try (who are as good or better) get slapped down. Variance is a bitch.

But as long as we're talking about the kind of money that can be rebuilt *relatively* easily, and as long as we're not talking about living off playing, bankroll requirements can be somewhat more... fluid. Taking occaisonal shots above your roll is no big deal.