Always starting out behind...

[idiom8]

I play almost exclusively brick and mortar 1/2 NL. My sessions are generally 4-8 hours long and i come out ahead 75% of most sessions. My question is this: even though i come out ahead most of the time, i seem to always begin by losing a buyin. Now i have experimented with different size buyings including the 300 max and 100 min. I have also bought in for 200, and bought in for 200 and then reloading 50 or so dollars at a time to keep my stack at a decent level. No matter which method it seems i'm always stuck 200-500 before i make my comeback and normally win a couple hundred.

I'm puzzled by this, and what i may be able to do to get off to better starts.

thanks,

OP

[poker_bill]

I'm guessing you're playing looser in the beginning, and tighter after being down a buyin. If so, tighten up in the beginning.

[SellingtheDrama]

Been there, I play 2/5 and 5/10 NL and tend to always have to top off or fully rebuy.

A large portion of this for me is just varience - I get my money in a good situation and lose. But because I haven't built a cushion, my stack is under the buyin amount.

Think of it this way (I'll use a $200 max. buyin game as the example).

I lose a hand early for $100. I rebuy because I want to have the chips on the table. I then go and win $500 racking up $700. Profit $400.

I win a few hands early, getting my stack up to $700. I lose a hand and am at $600 and rack up for the night. Profit $400.

I win a nice pot early getting up to $400. I lose the same pot, so I'm at $300. I then go and win another $300 and cash out for $600. Profit $400.

It's just a matter of which order the hands happen in that determines if you rebuy or just lose profit from your stack.

Secondarily, you may be playing a bit too loose and gambling in the beginning. I have this problem if I am impatient to start a session. I've gotten better at it, but its still there. The trick is to recognize it and find some way inside yourself to stop it.

[GinaSD]

Just curious, what is the buy-in range for your 1-2nL game? I find sometimes the max buy-in is simply too low to overcome variance/std. bet sizing for more than a few hands without going bust.

Oceans 11 has a 1-1 game where the buyin is 20-40 dollars. (aka 20-40 bb). The 2-2 game (40 - 100 dollars or 20 - 50 bb). 7 times out of 10 I end up refilling or rebuying before I see profit, simply due to having to play so short to start.

[idiom8]

buyin range is 100-300. i have tried buying in for 100, 200,and 300 and get many of the same results....

[blackeye30]

i think these guys hit the nail on the head with saying you probably subconsciously play looser initally since you are "ready to play", try being extra careful with your early play and play a tighter initial game

[SellingtheDrama]

[ QUOTE ]
Just curious, what is the buy-in range for your 1-2nL game? I find sometimes the max buy-in is simply too low to overcome variance/std. bet sizing for more than a few hands without going bust.

Oceans 11 has a 1-1 game where the buyin is 20-40 dollars. (aka 20-40 bb). The 2-2 game (40 - 100 dollars or 20 - 50 bb). 7 times out of 10 I end up refilling or rebuying before I see profit, simply due to having to play so short to start.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd go nuts playing in those games. Atlantic City (see NJ does do something right!) has the following games:
1/2 blinds 60-300 buyin
2/5 blinds 100-500 buyin
5/10 blinds 500-2000 buyin
10/20 blinds 1000-5000 buyin
after that its uncapped

[cooker3]

Buyin for as much as you can