A good limit to start

#1 14th November 2008, 5:34 AM

I won $1 for finishing 17th and $9 for finishing 1st in free rolls last week. I sat down at the .05-.10 tables hoping to increase my bank roll and move up to bigger steaks. It was a long process and I played smart poker, I was aggressive and tight where I should’ve been. Long story short, after running into many donkeys and being on the wrong end of several bad beats, I'm now broke!!

Due to the economy and kids, I don't have the disposable income right now to deposit any money into a poker account. My question is what is a good limit to start out at? A limit where people will take the game more seriously and quit beating me on four outters. I enjoy playing the game and I've gotten rather good at free rolls. I can usually finish in the top 100 or so of a 4000 or more tournament. Any advice is appreciated.

#2 14th November 2008, 5:46 AM

Hard to do much of anything with $10. What limits? Even $1/$2 can be tough tables unless you're rolled for it.

It's a grind, but study some good BR management threads and ideas. Here's a link to how Ferguson turned -0- into $10,000.
Online Poker at Full Tilt Poker - All Promotions: Chris Ferguson Challenge

Probably not what you wanted to see. I've been working on it for a number of months now and have 4 small BR's on 4 sites, and I follow the rules. Patience. You can't turn the proverbial sow's ear into a silk purse overnight.

If you can do well in FR's, stick with it. Let your balance build a little before you run off and donk it away. Let a balance build. Leave it in the cashier, it won't spoil.

GL, whatever you decide. But first and utmost, study the good BR management theories. they work.

#3 14th November 2008, 5:48 AM

Does anyone else find it kind of ironic that he's complaining about the people at 10NL being donks after coming from a freeroll background.

I would have thought that after playing freerolls that 10NL players would look like sharks lol.

#4 14th November 2008, 5:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileyl

Does anyone else find it kind of ironic that he's complaining about the people at 10NL being donks after coming from a freeroll background.

I would have thought that after playing freerolls that 10NL players would look like sharks lol.

No, it's actually more like still playing in FR's. That's one of the reasons I still stick with 'limit' games with small BR's, and low buy-in MTT's - but they STILL resemble FR's. Only difference is that in a limit games you have better control over your swings.

#5 14th November 2008, 8:14 PM

I started with Freerolls. I think that this is the better beginning. Dont spend money and keep trying to win some free money to do your first deposit.

Regards

Fabricio

#6 14th November 2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadanick

Hard to do much of anything with $10. What limits? Even $1/$2 can be tough tables unless you're rolled for it.

It's a grind, but study some good BR management threads and ideas. Here's a link to how Ferguson turned -0- into $10,000.
Online Poker at Full Tilt Poker - All Promotions: Chris Ferguson Challenge

Probably not what you wanted to see. I've been working on it for a number of months now and have 4 small BR's on 4 sites, and I follow the rules. Patience. You can't turn the proverbial sow's ear into a silk purse overnight.

If you can do well in FR's, stick with it. Let your balance build a little before you run off and donk it away. Let a balance build. Leave it in the cashier, it won't spoil.

GL, whatever you decide. But first and utmost, study the good BR management theories. they work.

Hey thanks nevadanick!! That's a great story! Loking forward to reading Chris's BR management article too, when I have a little more time. Good advice on waiting longer too. It just seems when I have the money sitting there it is so tempting to try and sit down on a micro limit table and turn it into something more. I will slow down and use the advice in the artile. Thanks again!! Best of luck to you... See ya at the tables!

#7 15th November 2008, 3:54 AM

cant get to high enough limits to get rid of the tables being filled with donks, I would try sit n gos

#8 15th November 2008, 4:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerking123

cant get to high enough limits to get rid of the tables being filled with donks, I would try sit n gos

Are you saying the low buy-in SnG's are donk-free ...

.

#9 15th November 2008, 5:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadanick

Are you saying the low buy-in SnG's are donk-free ...

.

not donk free but much beter than ring games. I find that a lot of times they get serious after the first blind raise

#10 15th November 2008, 5:15 AM

yup, sng's i think are the way to go and just play tight as you're building...of course there are still gonna be donks but either let the donk knock himself out, or everyone else and you can still make money.
Sure it takes a little longer but it's a somewhat safe way to go

#11 15th November 2008, 5:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadanick

If you can do well in FR's, stick with it. Let your balance build a little before you run off and donk it away. Let a balance build. Leave it in the cashier, it won't spoil.

FYI, I just won $7 finishing second in another freeroll!! So, I have money again!!! I'm going to take your advice and sit on it untill I build it some more! Thanks, again

#12 16th November 2008, 2:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggaLos

FYI, I just won $7 finishing second in another freeroll!! So, I have money again!!! I'm going to take your advice and sit on it untill I build it some more! Thanks, again

Good for you. Wise choice, imo. GL !!!

#13 16th November 2008, 2:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerking123

cant get to high enough limits to get rid of the tables being filled with donks, I would try sit n gos

Ummm, don't you want the tables to be filled with donks. LOL. It always makes me laugh when I hear people say this.

#14 16th November 2008, 3:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggaLos

I won $1 for finishing 17th and $9 for finishing 1st in free rolls last week. I sat down at the .05-.10 tables hoping to increase my bank roll and move up to bigger steaks. It was a long process and I played smart poker, I was aggressive and tight where I should’ve been. Long story short, after running into many donkeys and being on the wrong end of several bad beats, I'm now broke!!

Due to the economy and kids, I don't have the disposable income right now to deposit any money into a poker account. My question is what is a good limit to start out at? A limit where people will take the game more seriously and quit beating me on four outters. I enjoy playing the game and I've gotten rather good at free rolls. I can usually finish in the top 100 or so of a 4000 or more tournament. Any advice is appreciated.

$10 BR = .01-.02 NL tables. Period. Gives you a BR cushion if you lose some. Some sites like FTP don't have 2NL, so you'll have to play $1 SNG's until you build up to about $100 to try 10NL again.

#15 16th November 2008, 3:54 AM

i agree with mr sticker said but if you have infinite bankroll available from which to depsoit, BRM (bank roll management) is less stringent. in this case though a venture outside the limits MR Stick advises will be suicide.

#16 16th November 2008, 4:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileyl

Ummm, don't you want the tables to be filled with donks. LOL. It always makes me laugh when I hear people say this.

of course not!! they call and raise with anything, and if you have to wait for a hand on the final table, the blinds have a big impact on your stack.

#17 16th November 2008, 4:29 AM

Yea, apparently playing on small stakes tables are a great way to lose all your money, and faster than you'd think. Lost $5 in a week playing on 1/2 cent tables. If you have a small bankroll, wait til it builds up more so you can at least play .50/1.00 tables. I find those easier to make money on.

#18 16th November 2008, 4:33 AM

I played freerolls and dollar sit-n-go's till I got a lot of cash ....like 50 bucks
before I started playing cash games. Just be patient and keep plugging away.

#19 16th November 2008, 4:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjyff

Yea, apparently playing on small stakes tables are a great way to lose all your money, and faster than you'd think. Lost $5 in a week playing on 1/2 cent tables. If you have a small bankroll, wait til it builds up more so you can at least play .50/1.00 tables. I find those easier to make money on.

I think it is because people risk it thinking its only $.30 but it adds up pretty fast. I had $50 and went to a 1/2 nl holdem table. Made about $100 pretty fast (in 10 mintues or so). Then after i started to lose some so i stopped that day. Next days i went to .5/.10 blinds and ended up losing everything in a few weeks. I was chasing flushes and bluffing a lot, i said to myself that its only .30, i can afford to lose it if i don't make my hand...guess i couldn't

#20 16th November 2008, 5:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerking123

of course not!! they call and raise with anything, and if you have to wait for a hand on the final table, the blinds have a big impact on your stack.

LOL! So you'd rather play against people who only play when they have the nuts and fold when they don't? Dude, you can't win their chips if they don't put them in. Gimme donks instead of solids anyday!

#21 16th November 2008, 6:28 AM

I like solids ....
When playing pool at least.

On topic: listen to the advice these people give, they know better than you, just face it, and they have learned from experience just like you some day hopefully will.

#22 16th November 2008, 6:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerking123

of course not!! they call and raise with anything, and if you have to wait for a hand on the final table, the blinds have a big impact on your stack.

Ummm, so by your logic you would rather play Tiger Woods in a golf match for 500 bucks than some random 30 handicapper. (disregarding the fact that playing with Tiger Woods would be well worth the 500 bucks)

The point of poker is to make money by exploiting other players mistakes. The more mistakes they make and the larger they are the more money we make. Obviously calling and raising every hand is a mistake and one that is very easy to exploit. So why on earth would you want to play against player who makes less frequent and smaller mistakes?

#23 16th November 2008, 3:29 PM

If there's a whole table filled with donks, you can't bluff hands or try to take down small pots it's mainly all in or fold (which in my opinion is not a good way to win). But angainst a normal player you can do everything from checking to bluffing to going allin

#24 17th November 2008, 5:14 AM

You should think about playing freerolls until your roll is a at least $20 if your gonna play ring games. If you are good at freerolls though, you should be alright at small stake MTT. You should try a few of those and maybe you can increase your roll in just one night. You might wanna try grinding out SNGs, tha takes for ever but its fairly easy to come out ahead most nights. Good luck, I hope this helps

#25 17th November 2008, 9:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileyl

The point of poker is to make money by exploiting other players mistakes. The more mistakes they make and the larger they are the more money we make. Obviously calling and raising every hand is a mistake and one that is very easy to exploit. So why on earth would you want to play against player who makes less frequent and smaller mistakes?

Isn't the point of poker also to enjoy playing the 'game' of poker? That includes all it's facets - cards, reads, tells, position, stacks, money, etc, etc. Sure, I'd love to play on a table with Chris Ferguson, but wouldn't expect to win, just as in your Woods example.

Maybe some players will go to limits where they are 2 or more steps above the competition, but that's not 'poker'. To me, playing on tables where the competition is relatively equal is far more enjoyable. Even at those tables, there are usually a few players who shouldn't be there, hoping to get 'lucky'. They are the better players' ATM machines.

If you're reasonably successful playing at $1/$2 or $2/$4 games and you are properly rolled, would you really play only 5c/10c tables because they are 'easy' and the competition is weak?

#26 17th November 2008, 9:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadanick

If you're reasonably successful playing at $1/$2 or $2/$4 games and you are properly rolled, would you really play only 5c/10c tables because they are 'easy' and the competition is weak?

I play the highest limit I am rolled for that I can beat.

#27 17th November 2008, 9:18 PM

Limit rulez for bankroll management. Cuts down on variance and getz u da skillz dat killz. Patience and proper BRM is the key to continues success. Gl.

#28 17th November 2008, 9:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c9h13no3

I play the highest limit I am rolled for that I can beat.

That was my point to rileyl, who seemed to be suggesting that playing many levels below your ability to take advantage of 'donks' was the way to go.

#29 17th November 2008, 9:40 PM

I think you misunderstood Rileyl.
I think all he's saying is that the donks are what make us money and saying you want a table where
there are only solid winning players, is about as stupid as openshoving 73os.
Not that we should hang back at lower limits than what our br can handle just because we can win.

Unless you're playing CC 2nl of course in which case 73os is the new hammer and obv NUTZ.

#30 17th November 2008, 9:40 PM

i think the best blinds to play at on a cash table is atleast 25-50 cents.....thats where they play a litle more serious but i think 1-2 or 50.-1 is the best blinds to play at....

#31 17th November 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eNTy

I think you misunderstood Rileyl.
I think all he's saying is that the donks are what make us money and saying you want a table where
there are only solid winning players, is about as stupid as openshoving 73os.

^^^This.

I'm going to play at the limit which gives my my biggest winrate. (While being rolled for it) Obviously if I can beat 25NL for 6pt BB/100 I'm not going to play 2NL just because I could beat it at 13pt BB/100 because there are tons of donks. That would be stupid. What I was saying is exactly what Enty pointed out, except it's even more stupid than openshoving 73o (atleast you have fold equity lol) It's more like calling an all in from the biggest nit in the world for 200BB's with 72o.

#32 17th November 2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadanick

Are you saying the low buy-in SnG's are donk-free ...

.

Thats Funny..Thats what I usually always play. I play the SNG $3.80 Sup Turbos and everytime, there is a donk that ruins it for everybody. And you only start with 300 chips..The prize is high, but really hard because donks, most of the time, get their cards to beat when you finally get sick and tired and call their all in. Good post Take Care Ray

#33 18th November 2008, 2:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileyl

^^^This.

I'm going to play at the limit which gives my my biggest winrate. (While being rolled for it) Obviously if I can beat 25NL for 6pt BB/100 I'm not going to play 2NL just because I could beat it at 13pt BB/100 because there are tons of donks. That would be stupid. What I was saying is exactly what Enty pointed out, except it's even more stupid than openshoving 73o (atleast you have fold equity lol) It's more like calling an all in from the biggest nit in the world for 200BB's with 72o.

Would you mind explaining 25NL 6pt BB/100 and 2NL 13pt BB/100? I feel kind of dumb asking, but I've never seen it before. I assume NL is No Limit and BB is big blind. But I have no idea what pt or BB/100 is. Thanks in advance.

#34 18th November 2008, 3:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltMonkey999

Thats Funny..Thats what I usually always play. I play the SNG $3.80 Sup Turbos and everytime, there is a donk that ruins it for everybody. And you only start with 300 chips..The prize is high, but really hard because donks, most of the time, get their cards to beat when you finally get sick and tired and call their all in. Good post Take Care Ray

well there not really "donks" your playing super turbos, starting with only 300 chips, you have to double up fast or your going to be blinded out. Thats why they go allin, they know their going to be low stacked soon.

#35 18th November 2008, 4:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggaLos

Would you mind explaining 25NL 6pt BB/100 and 2NL 13pt BB/100? I feel kind of dumb asking, but I've never seen it before. I assume NL is No Limit and BB is big blind. But I have no idea what pt or BB/100 is. Thanks in advance.

25NL is 25$ No Limit, or No Limit Hold'em played with a big blind of 25 cents. Thus 2NL is played with a big blind of 2 cents.

PTBB stands for "poker tracker big bet". Its two times the size of the big blind. The 13PTBB/100 means that if he plays 25$ NL, he wins $6.50 per every 100 hands. Its the way you measure your edge at that particular game/stake level.

I really wish people would state their win rates in big blinds/100, its so much easier. No one plays limit anymore (well, some do), so expressing it in big bets is kinda silly.

Similar Threads for: Texas Hold'em Poker > A good limit to start
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Library v.4	aliengenius	General Poker	16	11th November 2008 9:33 AM
a good night at 10/20 limit casino table	luckykikker	General Poker	0	8th February 2007 3:01 PM
Using Limit Hold em Tactics to No Limit Hold em	t1riel	Cash Games	4	2nd May 2006 3:12 PM

Play Texas Hold'em Online Poker \| A good limit to start
Full Tilt Poker is the online poker site the pro's play at. US players are welcome - use Full Tilt Poker referral code CC600 for a $600 bonus.	PokerStars is one of the best sites to play online poker. They accept US players & using PokerStars marketing code CARDSCHAT you get a $600 bonus.