What level should I play?

[pzhon]

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To figure out what level you can play based on your bankroll do (BB*100)*20.

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This is a very common suggestion, but it is wrong. It is like saying the time is 4:00 whenever anyone asks.

For lower stakes games, an expert does not need anywhere close to 20 buy-ins. In tougher games, an expert may need 50 or more buy-ins. The "20 buy-ins" guess is an assertion that all games are equally tough, which is absurd.

If you are not an expert, or if you sacrifice your win rate to play a lot of tables, you need more buy-ins to be as safe. If you are a losing player, you can lose any amount. The OP did not indicate that he could beat NL $25. Having a bankroll of $500 would not give him the skills to beat NL $25.