Variance/Moving Down

Over the past few weeks, I have been experiencing a difficult downswing. With a 1K BR on Full Tilt, originally built to 3K and cashing out for expenses, I find myself now with around $750. I was thinking of cashing 500 and leaving myself with a new place to start for the summer. The only thing stopping me was my hope to play regularly this summer at a certain limit. I'm just afraid that if I continue to go through this time of variance at these limits, my BR will continue to decrease. Is there anything wrong with taking to myself most of what I've made and starting fresh with a smaller BR and smaller stakes?

Not at all. And if you're worried about a downswing, and feel like it's a lot of money, you most likely will play badly and the variance will turn into normal. From what you've put here it's a great idea to just cash out and rebuild. Assuming you've still got the skills, you'll be back up to where you are before you know it.

I have done this a couple times myself. I built a BR of 700 on Bodog, decided that I would be devastated if I lost a significant portion, so cashed out 600 and rebuilt. Also at Stars, felt myself tilting slightly, really didnt want to lose any more money. Cashed out 800 and started back from 100 again. I cant really see myself doing this anymore though, since I dont think I could take playing at those small stakes again.

I would say, definately if you have any doubts or are worried at all about losing money, cash it out. It feels very good having the money in your hands/in your bank account. You can always redeposit later if need be.

GL with whatever you decide.

unless you're actually a losing player at your limit, you shouldn't move down so long as you're rolled for it

I cant bring myself to withdrawl. I hate to lose a dollar and somehow if I looked and all of that money was gone I would feel like I lost a part of me. Anyone else feel like that?

Well you have to define "rolled". If you couldn't handle or would be devestated in real life if you lost your poker BR, you can't really call it a BR. Similarly if you can easily reload you have a bigger BR.

Actually I like the feeling of cashing out and turning the abstract-seeming poker chips into real money. Especially when I then use it for poker-related stuff. Nice to feel like poker's paying for itself (and then some )

Good to hear some feedback...I may start fresh with a 200$ BR then. I've built it through 6 max SnG's and a few MTT's that I was rolled for at the time. Starting fresh from 200....I obviously cannot play the $20 SnG's that I've been making money at. Is moving down to the $10 games still out of my BR? That's only 20 buy ins...

$10 SNGs are def outside of a $200 BR...
i dont see why you want to move down though, imo the best part about playing is getting to a point where you can make money at higher stakes, not beating tougher games and then moving down to where you started.
remember, if you think it's just the variance that's hurting you, you don't necessarily have to start everything over again, as long as you think you're beating the game

Sitting in a situation very similar to the OP, and in the midst of what I have to consider a negative variance swing, I have mostly cut down on the amount of games I play.

I have yet to cash out anything, and I like Zachs idea about turning the abstract into something tangible.

But I too have found more success at the $20 sng's, than at the 5 and dime games. It was because I was probably stretching my br that I stopped playing so many $20 sng's.

This calls for me to put on my thinkin cap.

So...if I'm beating the $20 game, I should continue to play it, even with a BR that doesn't allow this limit?

no, you should play the highest level limit that you beat, that you are rolled for