Help Me Make a Poker/Bankroll Decision

Ok, I currently am sitting on 40 Buy-ins for 200NL. Lately I have been jumping around to all different types of 100NL games (FR, 6max, and HU) and next month I think I want to stick to just one. I feel really good about my FR game and feel like i am dominating almost all of the regs currently playing 100NL FR. I had a sweat session with Chuck yesterday and played 6max, where I feel I am definitely a winning player, but I could use a little bit of work still. We also discussed how switching constantly from FR to 6max to HU is probably screwing with my play a little bit since each game requires a different style of play. If I play 6max next month I think I will stick specifically to 100NL as I will definitely feel uncomfortable at 200NL 6max, but if I play strictly FR, then I will take a shot at 200NL and rake the FPPs. So, what should I do?

I would stick with your best game. If you feel you are better at full ring than you should stick to that. You have plenty of buyins for 200nl at full ring. Which ever makes you more money is what you should stick with. And i believe full ring at 200nl would make more than 100nl 6max. Hope this helps.

After reading Ace on the River, one of the main points I got from the book is to always play where:
a) you are comfortable
b) you know what you can dominate in

If any type of game ever makes you uncomfortable, simply don't play it.

I know what you mean about switching between FR and 6 max screwing with your game. I used to play 4xFR SnG's at a time and switched to 1 6 maz at a time. After dominating them and going back to 4xFR I really went downhill becasue the overall approach and play type was so different. Stick to 1 game type and rip it up.

HU is out of the question imo. FPPs are too hard to accumulate, plus the contrast in variance between your regular FR game is going to asplode your head.

When I moved from FR to 6max, it was mainly because I felt (and still do) that 6max both requires more skill, and that it would improve my game much faster to prepare me for the higher limits and a better winrate. My choice was either to stick with FR where I was making good consistent money, or switch to 6max and risk some vicious initial swings, but long-term make way more money.

fwiw I went from around $28/hr in FR pre-august to about $63 (including this month's disaster) in 6max/small amount of HU since august and had my best two months ever in Aug/Sept.

Chuck, not trying to like one-up you or anything, but I played FR this month and made a similar hourly (slightly higher, but I also ran well this month) and not only more vpps/hand but more hands/hour. I contribute a lot of my FR success to my 6max stint but when it comes to grinding out the profits I'd say FR is the way to go. That said, I wouldn't ever stop playing 6max completely. I'd do mainly FR and mix in some 6max to stay sharp. I really don't think the games are all that much different. I think the major difference is actually just how opponents treat the games, and understanding how to react to those types of players is important at both games.

It's not just the profits I'm talking about though. You just don't develop as a player in FR anywhere close to the rate you do at 6max. It's completely debatable which will benefit you the most in the long term though. A million fpps & hands/hr and similar profits but with the downside of playing too mechanically vs lagging it up at 6max, making fewer fpps but improving times a million as you find yourself in so many marginal spots. Take yer pick.

Prob 200nl FR if you are looking to grind out a good $$/hr + rakeback, but i tend to agree with chuck. I took a huge hit to my $$/hr when i moved to 6max from FR (this was at 50nl) because it took some time to adjust etc/i didn't run very well, but i stuck with it because i wanted to improve and i didn't want to be playing FR at higher limits. The situations are more marginal at 6 max, so you potentially have a greater edge and i really wanted to develop that. Idk i could be wrong, but from what i've seen of you it seems you do better in FR so why change what works unless you intend to be playing msnl 6max, in which case nl100 is probably the best time to hone your game.

And yea i wouldn't play HU except to add some flavour unless you really want to specialise as a HU player.

Well, I'm hoping to be playing in the midstakes games sometime next year (2/4 and 3/6) and I'm just not sure how many good FR tables I will be able to find there. I know that 6max is definitely beatable at those stakes. I dunno, I think im gonna mess around at 100NL 6max next month. I am kind of bored with FR tbh. Who really knows though, I change my mind all the time with what I want to play.

And i don't really think there is anything that wrong with that. I switch it up kinda often...and for me it just tends to be that if i am running really bad at like 6max, playing HU gives me a chance to "start fresh" and idk pyschologically it just helps with confidence. But i don't think you should be going FR, HU, 6max, HU, FR, because FR is definitely a different kettle of fish.

all good advice, like to see how this swings... I think you are itching for some 6max 100; cant hurt from what I see...

Ok well i just played a 6max session and tilted like a monkey so maybe I will go back to FR. Its so crazy to me that I can play FR and lose 5 Buy-ins in a half hour and not give a shit at all but as soon as i play 6max I start breaking things over like half stacks.

i just played a 6max session and tilted like a monkey

Click to expand...

So many things wrong with that sentence.

1. Monkeys don't tilt as bad as half the players on CC!

2. If 1 session is enough to tilt you then 6max is to be avoided.

Maybe you should start at 50nl 6max and really work on your game while the stakes are small. If you plan to go the 6max route then STICK to it, up and down, and realize that you're going to be worse before you get better.

So my advice to you is to pick one of the following:

1) Play the HELL out of 200nl Full Ring. We're talking your normal ridiculous 30k+ amount of hands. Make a boat load of money and enjoy being a baller. Re-evaluate once you've taken a few bucks out to have a good time with your money.

2) Move to 50nl 6max and study the hell out of the game. Once you show a consistent winrate move to 100nl 6max and go from there. You will be much less susceptible to tilt when playing such a low limit as compared to your bankroll. Look at it as temporary on-the-job training.

**** 6max imo.