Moving to a higher level

As recently as three weeks ago, I had never heard of the acronym BRM. Then I joined CC. I spend some time yesterday evening researching the subject, and found some interesting articles. Maybe I was unlucky, but I didn't find an answer to my specific questions in any of them. I apologise if this is covered elsewhere on this site, but would appreciate opinions on when it is safe to start playing for higher stakes. My specific questions / comments are as follows.

Note: I play almost exclusively Hold em limit ring games at 10 seater tables. I have just moved up to 50c / $1 (from 25c / 50c).

1) The general consensus seems to be that my bankroll should be 300 BB's as a minimum. So, before moving to $1 / $2 I would need a minimum bankroll of $600. I did find a very interesting article which suggested calculating the size of bankroll by using ones standard deviate over the past 30 sessions, risk factor that you are comfortable with etc. It seemed a little over the top, but was obviously extremely thorough and well thought out.

2) Assuming that I am able to make a decent profit at my new level, how many hands should I play before moving to the next level? Lets assume that I do quite well, and quite quickly increase my BR to $600. My view is that I should play at least 7,500 hands before moving to the next level irrespective of whether my BR is sufficient for the higher level. Is this about right, not enough or too many?

3) More tricky this one. I was making about 7.5 BB/100 hands at 25c / 50c. Assuming that the games at 50c / $1 are a little harder (a few less fish, a few more sharks, slightly tighter, slightly more aggressive etc) it would be reasonable to assume that my BB/100 will drops somewhat. If it dropped to (say) 6.5 BB/100 I think it would be a no-brainer that I'm okay to move up. Even allowing for the fact that it will drop again at the next level, it's worth trying - I can always move back down if necessary. However, lets say that my BB/100 hands drops to 5. What then? It's safe to assume that it will drop further at the higher level. Is it worth the additional risk of playing at the higher stakes if my actual return were going to be reduced to say 3 BB/100 hands? As an example, lets say I manage 5 BB/100 hands at 50c / $1. That's obviously $5 per 100 hands. Lets say I could make 3 BB/100 hands at $1 /$2. That's $6 per 100 hands so. Do I take the extra $1 profit (and the additional risk) and play at $1 / $2 or the lesser risk for not much less money at 50c / $1?

4) What other considerations have I overlooked completely?

Thanks for any input. Regards

Boltneck.

I also play limit at the levels close to where you play. I have just moved up to $1/$2 and find that there are just about as many less than perfect players (**cough**fish**cough**) as at $0.50/$1.

Levels are not a strict thing. You can move up for a session and back again without the bankroll police coming to get you. I find that my win rate is such that I don't WANT to move down. I think that is the standard you should use.

I play at Full Tilt Poker and have color coded many of the players so that I search out the tables where I think I can win. If I can't find a $1/$2 I like I will play a $0.50/$1 for a while. The same players can be found multi-tabling both. Be flexible.

Great article, AG. + rep

may thanks AG - exactly what I was looking for

Boltneck

excellent string

Thanks AG very informative

can someone explain the concept of Big Bets? Can you find the exact number compaired to blinds or is it more of an estimate?

In fixed limit poker, a table described as $1 / $2 will refer to big bets and therefore $2 will always be the big bet. The blinds will be 50c / $1

In no limit poker, the games tend not to be described in term of BB's but either blind size or max buy-in size. So, in the above example it would be either 50c / $1 NL, $1 NL or $100 NL (the later typically being the max buy-in). In the case of a 50c / $1 (blinds) NL game, the big bets would normally be regarded as $1 / $2, but of course there is no such thing in NL!

When using the term BB in NL, for measuring win rate for example (BB / 100 hands) the BB figure should I believe be 2 x the big blind - $2 in the above example.

Good piece AG, my eyes always perk up when i scroll down and see that u've had some input on a thread

Boltneck i'm loling right now because I understood your signature haha should i be ashamed or proud?? hehe

I know this is over 1-1/2 years old, but deserves a nod anyway. Good article AG.

whatever u do , do not try to get back what u lose in one day quickly.
Moving to a higher level will affect your playing ,more adrenaline and maybe wrong decisions ..so be careful!

thanks for this post it helped me decide on my bankroll management tactics

Just a great article. Thank you very much for sharing.

I went to http://www.thepokercamp.com/articles/ and found other very interesting articles from that same person and a few others.

I now have a new bookmark to a place I can go.