Bankroll: In the beginning...

I started playing Poker less than two years ago and I knew nothing at the time. To say I was green is an understatement. I deposited the minimum amount and used that money at the most micro of stakes. I played in freerolls, micro cash games, low stakes SNGs, read books, etc, etc. This money was meant to be a learning experience and have fun.

Now that I am having success at these micro stakes, I am thinking about BR management. I must confess that I am completely in the dark on what stakes I should be playing. I read Chris Ferguson's BR story and other threads on this site but cannot find a good starting point. 5% for cash games and SNG seems way too conservative but this comes from someone with no idea what he is talking about.

I am looking for advice. I currently play .10/.25 cash games and 1.25 SNG. What bankroll should I have to survive the ups and downs? Am I playing too low stakes for the SNG? I just don't know if I should be playing at higher stakes and make more money or go lower so I am not playing above my means. My goal is to have fun, make money and never have to re-invest/re-add to my bankroll.

For 25nl, the usual advice is $500, and if you have that much then the sng's you are playing are too low. Plus, the rake is absurd at the $1 level. I'd step up to a minimum of $5 for sngs. They take 25% for rake at the $1 sngs, yet only 10% for rake at the $5 level. Big difference.

I do not have a $500 BR so I guess I need to go down to lower stake cash games. How did you come up with that number?

If you want to have fun play lower stakes because you get good players in the higher stakes and if you lose the fun will turn to loss and frustration. Stick to lower stakes where you will play people at the same level as you.

RK

Did you read the ENTIRE article Chris wrote on bank-roll management?? You can find it on FT--is that one you're refering too?? 'Cuz when I read the whole thing, he summed it all up pretty well, I thought! Oh! And I made one deposit at Ultimatebet awhile ago, and by following what I learned from Chris' article on FT, I havn't had to make another deposit to date!Actually been playing with everybody elses money!

I did read the ENTIRE article but still had questions. Send me the link and I'll re-read. Maybe I read the wrong one????

20 buyins or 5% of your BR on the table.

I jumped to $25NL when I had $250 but I play a fairly conservative game that does not really suffer from huge swings.

canokie, the most important thing is your ability than having a good BR. If your BR is at $300. I'd grind it upto $400 and then put $100 to oneside to try 25nl and if you lose the $100 , then move back down to 10nl and then fire again.

You don't even have to lose it. Just see how 25nl plays inrelation to the standard of your game. If say, after 1k or 2k of hands u start losing foir a small amount or only breaking even. Just look to evaluate your game, do more reading and try to improve. So you can start to beat it.

If it is becoming too frustrating. Which has happened to me, just move down and then back up with a fresh mindset. Just say phil ivey went bust and only had a $300 BR. Realistically speaking, he'd probably look to play 25nl or even 50nl at a push. As he's going to know he's far superior to these guys and to lose 4buyin's and especially vs amateur players. He'd have to run really sick from the start.

The lower the stakes, around below 25nl below(if your a pro especially) the variance is going to be really low. As generally, your going to get so many opportunies to get your money in ahead. Unlike the higher limits where you will need 20buyin's for sure.

That is my take on it. Granted, i've only played 20nl and below. I ain't good and look at me for 30k at 2nl..my worse swing was 3 buyin's...what $6. You telling me, i need a 20buyin rule for that limit. I'd be semi comfortable with 5.

Despite ignoring anything about BR management, I've been playing at the .25/.10 NL level and doing OK (increased my BR by 25%). I have that nagging feeling that I am playing at levels my bankroll cannot sustain. It almost feels like I'm playing with scared money and that is never good. The effect of this nagging feeling has made me play less often and less time when at the table.

Now speaking of buyins, if I'm playing .25/.10 NL which has a max buyin of $25 that means I need a $500 BR ($25x20=$500). Have I got that right?

should I use a 5% rule for tournaments? What about sng vs mmt?