Building your bankroll

Hi all.

I`ve been playing poker now for 6 months, and my bankroll is poor.

When I started within 2 months I had gone from $500-$4000 based mainly on MTT wins and placings.

Over the past few months I have hit a brick wall.

Some of the reasons are I got greedy and started playing higher buyin games, I will play most days a mix of MTT and SNG`s.

I don`t do well in cash games as I don`t have the patience - perhaps I should give up poker, I don`t know.

In SNG`s I do ok, but June and July I lost.

Here are some stats - about 6 weeks worth.

SNG`s Played 53 in money in 21
Staked $1,095 Winnings $1,080 Loss of $15

MTT Played 73 in money 11
Staked $2,228.90 Winnings $1311.24 Loss of $917.66

I can see from my stats when I play smaller limit MTT ($30 buyin or less) I do better than bigger stakes. I decided to go bigger stakes because of the fish in the low limit. The same is what follows in SNG`s.

So, how do you guys set out a strategy to increase you payroll???

In August I am going to drop back to $10 or less buy in MTT and $20 or less buyin SNG`s.

Have any of u guys got any futher advice???

Cheers guys.

Ronaldadio

Further advice:
Stop moving away from the 'fish'.
If you can't beat them at a lower buy-in, you sure as hell won't beat them at a higher buy-in.

Fish said:

Further advice:
Stop moving away from the 'fish'.

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Thats it in a nutshell.

If building your BR is the main goal don't try to push yourself at the higher limits as much. Build it back up wherever the 'fish' are and try to go back up when you are ready.

You did it once so you know what you are doing. I would read some more just to put the right thoughts in your head and slow down until you hit your next upswing!

My advice, learn to play a h/l game.

Ronaldadio said:

I decided to go bigger stakes because of the fish in the low limit.

Click to expand...

I think you should aim for the fishes and stay away from the sharks playing higher stakes.

Bankroll

I agree stay away from the sharks, I tried playing in the higher limit games and the same happen to me. So stay in the lower buy-ins for now, build your bankroll back up and try again...

I started playing poker 2 years ago, and I still play micro limit even though I'm winning. I think it is best to try and master the lower levels before trying to win at higher levels. Poker takes a lot of time and practice. To me after 6 months of playing, your just getting your feet wet. Swim with the fishes, rather than get eaten by the sharks.

Also, I would recommend examining your play when you move up in limits. What plays used to work but don't now?
What plays are others using that work?
Are you playing some hands that worked for you in the past, but now you're having to pay too much to see them so they've become less profitable?

Taking time to do some analysis using a tool like Poker Tracker or Poker Office can help you find some of the holes in your game.

as usual... my .02

People have said it already, but to reiterate.

Ronaldadio said:

I decided to go bigger stakes because of the fish in the low limit.

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This makes absolutely no sense.

There's certainly nothing wrong with trying to move up, but specifically related to the goal of making money, why move up unless it will lead to making more? Your results show you do better against the fish at lower limits, and your attempts to move up have been unsuccessful. This seems like a pretty clear indication your game is not yet ready to move up. And the next implication is that you need to figure out what improvements are required in order to succeed at a higher level.

best advice is when you move up a level .................try and work out an everage and if you drop below it ..........dont be afraid to drop back down and go back to lower games to build your bankroll and your confidence back up ......then try again

you'll master it eventually

I play alot and there have been times when I feel like I hit a wall also. It seems like no matter what I play or what kind of hand I have I get beat. So I usually try and take a break for a few days or a week. Then I usually do alright when I start playing again. Cause if I am losing and not having any luck it just makes it worse to keep playing and losing. But I know it is hard to stop. But like I said when I seem to hit a wall and am low on my luck~ I just take a break from playing. But that's just me. Well Have a Good Day & best of Luck 2 U all!

You've got to learn to play at lower limit tables. You also have to learn that to make a lot of money in this game you have to wait. You can't make 1000 dollars in one night, unless you win a big tournament. Play within your limits. Its no shame to make money playing at .25/.50 NL tables, just sit back and wait for your hand. The players usually play pretty loose so wait till you have your winning hand and make them pay for it. Think of it this way if you have 600 dollars in your account, 5 percent of that is 30 dollars. Thats the max buy in for most .25/.50 games. Now if you play 3 hours and make 25 dollars an hour by winning 2 or 3 pots an hour that means youll make 75 dollars a day. if you play for a week with that goal in mind you will make 525$. Thats almost matching your bankroll. Try it, biuld up patience and it will pay off for you. - M.C.