Moved up to 1/2

Well, finally decided to move up in ring games to 1/2 limit. I've been playing .50/1.00 for a few months and I figured it was time. Played a lot of hands at Titan this weekend and overall finished up about $50. I usually bring a roll of 35 to 50 to the table at this limit as you can have some pretty big swings. At times I'd be up 100, other times down 30 but the bankroll seemed about right. Don't see a dramatic increase in "discretion" at this level as some folks still play and call with anything. I think table image or personna is a bit more important here as folks will fold especially if their roll has shunk.

Took some time early Saturday morning to watch our esteemed colleague Grumbledook play at the 5/10 limit table. All I can say is that I may never get this far as having 60-100 invested in a single pot is more than I could fathom. Played mostly on Titan and a little on FullTilt and should have cleared a good chunk of the Titan bonus - I hope. Probably stay at this level for a while and see how things go.

BTW, I much prefer tourney play but I use the ring games to fund the tourneys. Played the $15 freezout on Titan last night and no matter what I had someone had better. Lost on just about every hand possible. After losing my $15 entry, I immediately went to the rings and got it back with a little interest...

I am playing $1/$2 limit at the moment as well, and you are right about the swings.

I was at a 6 seat table and everyone left and I was heads up with this guy who caught the luckiest run of cards I have ever seen in my life, took about $70 off me in about 30 mins, incredible

The worst was when a community of AA47J is shown and my A5 goes down to his A4! unreal, this is heads up!

I think $1/$2 is pretty good but you still get idiots limping in with 2 4os and stuff and catching lucky cards. As soon as I can get my bankroll a bit higher, I will move up to $2/$4 and eventually $5/$10 in time

Good luck, sounds like you are doing ok

Dave, I think you're going to have a nasty shock re the bonus - to get the full 6 pokerstars you need to pay $2/4 not $1/2 (it's blind amounts that count - nasty huh!). I deposited $400 with a view to grinding it all - 2 weeks later i'm half way through first $10, and have given up. You'll have to pay $500 in blinds alone to clear $100 bonus on 1/2 table (10 player - will be more on 6) - I imagine you'll pay more in rake than you'll get back, but if you're winning anyway i suppose it's just a bonus. Like Colin, I lost $100 on 1/2 in about hour and a quarter - lost the 3 big pots I contested when I was 85 - 95% favourite at river. I didn't win a single hand in last 30 (and that was 6 player table!).

Nice to hear from you again Colin and you're right in that the level of play is only a bit better. The reason you need a good bankroll is to absorb those downward swings and keep going. Saturday I was down to a little over $4 out of 50 before I started to win my share. Eventually left the table with about $80.

Thats another point is knowing when to leave the table. I had taken $35 up to over $115 when I got in a bad run of good cards. Very playable hands, helpful flops, and you're still second best. This is the worst kind of run as you're getting good cards, playing them right and still losing. Flopped a str8, beat by a flush; flopped a boat, beat by a bigger boat, etc. When I got to $75 I realized it was time for me to pack it in for the night...

Thanks Dave,

Been so busy with moving house and getting a new job that I havent been around the forum as much, hopefully be back full time soon

The straight you just mentioned reminds me of one of the big hands I lost to.... I had AK preflop and it went raise/raise/raise/raise me and this other guy. The flop comes Q J 10, rainbow flop. So we raise each other again, pot is at about $30 before the river, another J comes on river and we both raise through to showdown, he turn over JJ, his quads taking the near $60 pot!