Advice Needed on Bankroll/Stake of the Game...

[Jay.Yang]

I played 10k hands @ 10NL in the month of March and with a winrate 9.6PTBB/100 @ PokerStar. I started with $50 and build my roll to $250 after 10k hands. I know 10k hands is a really small sample, but I do analyze my game at this moment using Pokey's famous thread on how to use PT. And I think my number seems not far off:

- 15/8.5/3.8
- VSIP @ UTG = 9.91; @ BTN = 21
- Attempt to steal bind = 28.7

I felt that with these stats and with my roll ($250), I should be able to take on 25NL since it should not be much different from 10NL. So this weekend, I decide to take a shot @ 25NL. However, I was immediately down 4 BI in 1k hands @ 25NL. I am not too worried about my game because I ran into some bad luck so far. However, since I only have $150 left (6BI), should I stay @ 25NL and give myself one more chance or should I go back to 10NL and grind?

Any input is much appreciated. Thanks!

[myheadhurts]

[ QUOTE ]
I played 10k hands @ 10NL in the month of March and with a winrate 9.6PTBB/100 @ PokerStar. I started with $50 and build my roll to $250 after 10k hands. I know 10k hands is a really small sample, but I do analyze my game at this moment using Pokey's famous thread on how to use PT. And I think my number seems not far off:

- 15/8.5/3.8
- VSIP @ UTG = 9.91; @ BTN = 21
- Attempt to steal bind = 28.7

I felt that with these stats and with my roll ($250), I should be able to take on 25NL since it should not be much different from 10NL. So this weekend, I decide to take a shot @ 25NL. However, I was immediately down 4 BI in 1k hands @ 25NL. I am not too worried about my game because I ran into some bad luck so far. However, since I only have $150 left (6BI), should I stay @ 25NL and give myself one more chance or should I go back to 10NL and grind?

Any input is much appreciated. Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically, it depends on your willingness to put more money in. 20 buyins is generally considered enough to withstand the variance to stop you going busto (assuming you are a winning player).

At the start of the year, my bankroll fell below $100. I ground my way back up from NL5! Basically I promised myself I'd never pay another penny towards playing poker (lets just say I have an addictive personality, and need the limit), hence the need to grind.

I will say, however, I'm a MUCH better player for having done the grind, and I'm glad I did it. I'd also say that if you can't build you bankroll up to at least $350 very quickly at NL10, you probably should play at NL 10 until you can.

[sh58]

drop down. you need the bankroll and the skills. 20 buyins. i believe discipline is important, and you should adhere strictly to bankroll limits (20 buyins for a limit is a good amount).

if you buy in with less than 10 buyins, you are really gambling, cos you need average luck or you are in trouble.
i don't believe there is alot of difference in skill at the lower limits, but you obviously want to elimate as much luck as you can.

an average winning player, if he has only 15 buyins, will probably have a 10% chance of going broke. with 6 buyins the risk will be alot higher.

this article is quite good

http://www.pocketfives.com/5C57520F-...240CB3E59.aspx

[futuredoc85]

if you had that winrate over 40k hands id tell you to go for it. as is take a shot w/ 15 buyins and move back down if you lose 4-5.

[Fonkey123]

Chen-Weitzman formula ftw.

[Jurrr]

Drop down. You may not realize it, but you may not be playing your A-game.

[Jay.Yang]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I am dropping down until I reach $450 - $500.

sh58, thx for the article link

[RiverMustelid]

450-500 seems a bit conservative - ABA was prepared to take a shot every time he hit 10 buyins I think, but drop back if it didnt go well. Sounds as though this is more or less what you have done.

Build yourself above 10 again and take another shot.

Best of luck

[ez game]

If you are a big winner at NL 10 like your stats indicate(even though the sample size is pretty small)I would move down to NL 10 again since you have only $150 but I think waiting until you have $450-$500 for 25 NL is overly conservative. If you build your bankroll back to about $300 you should step up to NL 25, and if you get down to about the $200 range move back down to 10 NL.

[GiantBuddha]

[ QUOTE ]
ABA was prepared to take a shot every time he hit 10 buyins I think

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't he supposed to be one of the best players, making his BR requirements significantly lower? I actually think taking a shot with 10 buyins is really good for your game, but in this case, it sounds like you took a shot, it didn't go well for whatever reason (play bad or run bad) so go back down until you've rehabbed your bankroll. It all depends on what a bankroll really is to you. In a certain manner of speaking, you can't have a bankroll at NL10, because you can't support yourself playing NL10, therefore it's not really a bankroll. It's kinda just the money you have on there to play with.