Any flaws with this BR/Small Stakes strategy?

SFBAY23 · #1 08-22-2006, 05:23 PM

I'm starting to slightly move up in stakes and play mostly live limit holdem at the moment. I was pondering the other night a possible extension system for my money management/stake selection and wanted to see what flaws any of you can point out. Just a thought:

I've read lots of debate here regarding bank roll size, so for this I am assuming a roll of 300BB. For argument sake, let's say I'm playing 5/10 limit holdem.

For each session I buy in for 20BB, and if I get down to 10 or 15 BB I buy in for another 10BB. So for a given session I'm prepared with 30BB.

So here is the proposed structure: I buy in at 5/10 for $200 and let’s say I rebuy for $100. Now in the event that I drop down to $120, instead of playing with 12BB I switch to a 3/6 table where I will be better rolled at 20BB. In the event of another swing, drop down to 2/4 if needed. Basically dropping down in stakes as needed during the same 'session/evening' in order to be better rolled for that game using an original 30BB stop/loss limit.

W. Deranged · #2 08-22-2006, 05:52 PM

There are two big problems with this:

1. By forcing yourself to move tables a lot, you force yourself to play at a lot of tables with unknown players. In live poker, knowing the table is incredibly valuable, and, in theory, your winrate should improve the longer you've been at the table all else being equal if you're a winning player.

2. You should always be seeking to play the highest limits your bankroll and skill level will allow. This system simply means you are too often playing at a limit below what you can play at, and hence you're hurting your hourly earn.

SFBAY23 · #3 08-22-2006, 06:01 PM

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There are two big problems with this:

1. By forcing yourself to move tables a lot, you force yourself to play at a lot of tables with unknown players. In live poker, knowing the table is incredibly valuable, and, in theory, your winrate should improve the longer you've been at the table all else being equal if you're a winning player.

2. You should always be seeking to play the highest limits your bankroll and skill level will allow. This system simply means you are too often playing at a limit below what you can play at, and hence you're hurting your hourly earn.

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Good points. Thanks. It's not often I drop down that much during a session, but was just curious about the thought.

BenA · #4 08-22-2006, 06:27 PM

I think that your system is an attempt to assuage some psychological problem that you personally have with losing a certain ammount of money. If you keep dropping limits, you get to ensure that you only lose so much, but you will also weaken your winning potentialities. Look at it this way, if you are at a good 5/10 game where you have an edge, but lose $200 (EASY to do), moving down makes it incredibly hard to win much of that back.

I think that you should be buying in for more than 200$ in a 5/10 game, unless you are prepared to buy a couple more racks. 20BB goes quick sometimes.

phosix · #5 08-22-2006, 08:31 PM

yeah dude if you are good enough to play at the limit play as high as you can. 5/10 live can be a gold mine dont give it up. i cant get 2-3 bb per hour on average. plus you get more multi action. where in 10/20+ you have alot more heads up action which i am still workin on. so it more difficult

i do the same and buy in for 200 i just always reload if i cant capp all rounds of betting. but if i can do that ill just keep my stack and look like a losing player. if the game is very passive though i might come with a nickel. ( to scare them into folding)

RatFink · #6 08-22-2006, 09:15 PM

If you are playing live and no cap once heads up, 20BB isn't enough of a buy-in. You want to be able to maximize those moments. Running out of chips on the river holding quads sucks.

Dropping down within a night will usually allow you to lose less for the night, and get more poker in for your dollar if that is your goal. But in terms of winning regularly, anytime you suffer normal variance at 5/10 you need to get hit in the face with the deck at showdown poker playing 2/4 to recover, while generally overcoming a tougher rake.

SFBAY23 · #7 08-22-2006, 09:18 PM

All good points. Thanks everyone. I'll stick at the highest limit for my BR.

SixForty · #8 08-22-2006, 09:25 PM

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yeah dude if you are good enough to play at the limit play as high as you can. 5/10 live can be a gold mine dont give it up. i cant get 2-3 bb per hour on average. plus you get more multi action. where in 10/20+ you have alot more heads up action which i am still workin on. so it more difficult

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Interesting.

At my home casino, it's the exact opposite. The 5/10 game is the tight/passive nit-fest rock-garden, while the 10/20 game is just as loose/aggressive juicy as the 2/5 game! Heads-up pots at the 10/20 seem quite rare! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

BenA · #9 08-22-2006, 09:29 PM

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At my home casino, it's the exact opposite. The 5/10 game is the tight/passive nit-fest rock-garden, while the 10/20 game is just as loose/aggressive juicy as the 2/5 game! Heads-up pots at the 10/20 seem quite rare!

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Where is this wonderful place?

SFBAY23 · #10 08-22-2006, 10:19 PM

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yeah dude if you are good enough to play at the limit play as high as you can. 5/10 live can be a gold mine dont give it up. i cant get 2-3 bb per hour on average. plus you get more multi action. where in 10/20+ you have alot more heads up action which i am still workin on. so it more difficult

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Interesting... I actually have not been to all the card rooms in my area, so should probably shop around a bit more.

Interesting.

At my home casino, it's the exact opposite. The 5/10 game is the tight/passive nit-fest rock-garden, while the 10/20 game is just as loose/aggressive juicy as the 2/5 game! Heads-up pots at the 10/20 seem quite rare! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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