20 Big Blinds now what?

[gotmarc]

I'm going to start live play at a casino. I normally play NLHE microstakes and buy in for 100 big blinds.

At the $1-$2 NLHE in Pechanga you can only buy in from $40-$80 or 20-40 big blinds.

I don't know anything about the players so if I chose to buy in for $40 how should I adjust? Obviously I can't raise preflop with 7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

I was thinking of maybe pushing with J [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]J [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] or better and limping with small pocket pairs. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[Niediam]

Read the chapter in Getting Started in Hold'em on playing shortstacked.

[Mr.ScragglyBeard]

Hey,

Just out of curiosity, why would you choose to buy in for only 20 big blinds? I mean, if it only costs you another $40 bucks to be reasonably stacked, why wouldn't you take that option?

I want to make sure my post doesn't come accross as bitchy - I'm genuinely curious why you would buy in for the minimum. Are you trying to work on playing short-stacked? Also, how commonly is the buy-in capped at 40 BB's? Is that a pretty standard practice in NLHE B&M games?

[mvdgaag]

Play a very tight range and keep away from suited connectors and small pairs. Big pairs and hands that make TPGK, like AK/AQ go up in value. Play them fast.

[ QUOTE ]
Read the chapter in Getting Started in Hold'em on playing shortstacked.

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Also check out his website:
http://www.notedpokerauthority.com/

[gotmarc]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey,

Just out of curiosity, why would you choose to buy in for only 20 big blinds? I mean, if it only costs you another $40 bucks to be reasonably stacked, why wouldn't you take that option?

I want to make sure my post doesn't come accross as bitchy - I'm genuinely curious why you would buy in for the minimum. Are you trying to work on playing short-stacked? Also, how commonly is the buy-in capped at 40 BB's? Is that a pretty standard practice in NLHE B&M games?

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm buying for $40 because that's about 5% of my total bankroll and I'd like to see how the tables generally play before I start playing "deeper."

[bearwiredpair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hey,

Just out of curiosity, why would you choose to buy in for only 20 big blinds? I mean, if it only costs you another $40 bucks to be reasonably stacked, why wouldn't you take that option?

I want to make sure my post doesn't come accross as bitchy - I'm genuinely curious why you would buy in for the minimum. Are you trying to work on playing short-stacked? Also, how commonly is the buy-in capped at 40 BB's? Is that a pretty standard practice in NLHE B&M games?

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm buying for $40 because that's about 5% of my total bankroll and I'd like to see how the tables generally play before I start playing "deeper."

[/ QUOTE ]

When Mr.ScragglyBeard posted the question I knew what your answer was going to be. I myself use to follow the same logic. Just recently I have started looking at it differently.

What changed my thinking...

My goal is to play perfect poker. I want to make as FEW mistakes as possible and I want to force my opponents to make as MANY mistakes as possible.

Being short stacked from the moment you sit down is going to cause you to make marginal decisions that will cause you to make mistakes and If my goal is to make as few mistakes as possible why would I enter a game short stacked.

Plain and simple: If you enter a game short stacked you have already made a mistake.

The luck vs. skill factor is way out of wack in these games.

You can beat these games if you are playing a short stack strategy but if that is not your goal then you are wasting your time and money.

It took me about a year and a half of losing money and major frustration before I understood this.

Save up your money and play a game that allows you that 100BB buying or better. You will thank yourself you did.