Bankroll Management / Session Tracking

Hi. I've been playing poker quite regularly now for the last 6 weeks and have decided to actually properly manage my bankroll and keep a record of my sessions. I started in March and had a pretty good run cashing in many of the SnGs and MTTs I entered. So at the beginning of April I decided to actually start recording sessions on PokerDominator. This month hasn't gone too great so far but looking at my stats has given me an idea of where I'm doing well and where I need work.

So here are my questions:

* Since I did not keep any records of my sessions in March, is it best to leave them out so that my current stats stay exact from the period 1 Apr onwards, or should I at least put in reasonable assumptions to reflect my profits from March.

* Secondly, I play on UB where the max buy-in for ring games is 200bb, whereas on other sites I believe its 100bb. So at my peak bankroll of $450, I decided to try the 0.05/0.10NL games. Was this a mistake with the max buy-in at UB being 200bb meaning I only had 22 buy-ins, whereas on other sites I would have had 45? I soon found it was, even though I was doing pretty well I took 2 big beats ( KK vs AA, and AA vs AK, he flopped the straight) which cost me 2 full buy-ins and any profit that I ad made. So I quickly dropped down to the 0.01/0.02 games where I have been pretty consistent with a 0.48c/hr win rate. But I guess my main question here is when should I move back up to the 0.05/0.10 level? $500?

*Lastly, most of my early profits came from cashing in alot of tournies. However this month I've been finishing just outside the money in many of them and so my biggest losses have come from the buy-ins, whereas my cash game profits have been alot more consistent. But the losses from tournaments outweigh the cash game profits. Should I stick to my more consistent but smaller profits cash games or carry on with the costly tournies (max buy-in $5) with the hope of some big payouts?


Sorry for the wall of text, but any answers or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

People say 20 Buy ins or whatever typically meaning 100BB, So you were fine buying in. Also, you dont need to buy in for 200BB, buying in for 100BB is fine as well. While its bad to buy in for like 50BB, you dont need to max the table if its over 100BB.

You are fine to move up as long as you feel comfortable with the stakes with anything over 200.

entropy09 said:

*Lastly, most of my early profits came from cashing in alot of tournies. However this month I've been finishing just outside the money in many of them and so my biggest losses have come from the buy-ins, whereas my cash game profits have been alot more consistent. But the losses from tournaments outweigh the cash game profits. Should I stick to my more consistent but smaller profits cash games or carry on with the costly tournies (max buy-in $5) with the hope of some big payouts?

Sorry for the wall of text, but any answers or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

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When playing tournaments you have to expect variance(lots of min cashes or loses then a big cash), it just depends on, as a player if you want to play this way and if you can handle the variance. Some only play cash so they don't have to deal with variance. Imo if you can handle it, then do it...it's your decision but it sounds like you enjoy the consistency of cash games(although cash games have swings too!)

KingCurtis said:

Some only play cash so they don't have to deal with variance.

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Excuse me, KC? I beg to differ!

widowmaker89 said:

While its bad to buy in for like 50BB, you dont need to max the table if its over 100BB.

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Hmmm, I was under the assumption that you should always buy-in the maximum so that when you get into those situations where you have the nuts and someone else has the 2nd nuts you get most value. But I guess it works both ways, where you can lose more when you have the 2nd nuts.

KC - cash can have some wicked variance. It really depends on your winrate and some other factors, but don't think for one minute that cash games only has limited amounts of variance! I've had multi >25 buy in swongs.

kleitches said:

Excuse me, KC? I beg to differ!

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err so do i!!. and to the op get some more experience ! 6 weeks and your worrying about limits ! as for mtts they are subject to the most variance in my experience!!! and sngs !!,cash has plenty of variance too ,dont be fooled into thinking there is an easy way " oh i can just win back my money in a tourney!!" a month and half is a ciggarette break in your life so get some hands under your belt ,be happy when your up