Cash game buy-in

[Calissa007]

Hi everyone

My question is this.

I dont like to buy in for the max amount. I like to buy in for 60%. If the table isnt going good for me then I stand the to lose less in an all in situation. If I hit a couple of hands then Im quickly up to the max buy-in. Then instead looking as tho im up 40% and winning. I look like i just bought in, or havent been winning much.
I'm talking about playing online.

Do you guys think it really hinders me to be low stacked right when i buy in?

 

[c9h13no3]

Yes. Buying in low stacked leads to getting your money in earlier in the hand, which is where you usually have less information, and less of an overall edge.

Plus, if you consider yourself better than the table, then you want to win the max when you win (since it should happen more often than losing). If you're in over you're head, then buy-in short. But I far far prefer buying in for a full stack. Especially since some your most profitable plays (set mining, playing suited connectors) are almost impossible to play with a stack of 50BB's or less.

 

[Calissa007]

I consider a better player. Just not as lucky as the rest of the table.

You mean getting a high % of my stack in the hand earlier than someone with a larger stack?

 

[phisig6057]

I absolutely agree that you should buy in for the full amount. Buying in for less puts you at a disadvantage because you are not able to extract the max value form a good hand. In addition, once you have more than the max buy-in for a table people seem to respect you a little more. I've found that when my stack is 3-4x the max I get a LOT more people folding which helps me steal more blinds and bluff. It sounds like you may be stretching to play at higher stakes than your roll can handle. If this is the case, drop to a low limit table and buy in for the max. I know that it seems hards to believe, but "luck" is a illusion. Streaks or Runs only exist in the past. Make sure to consider position, number of outs, pot odds, expected value, etc and play smart. If they are playing recklessly they will suck out on you sometimes but you WILL come out ahead in the long run if you play smart.

 

[Calissa007]

LUCK IS REAL!!! lol and somehow i missed out when they were passing it out.

I've started buying in for the max now since im up a bit. Yes I do play above my bankroll but its the only way to get points to release my bonus.

 

[Alessandra]

It probably depends on what limits you play and whether it's a full ring or short handed. Personally I like a bigger stack when short handed.

I think once I read on a FT pro tip that for omaha (great for clearing bonus points!), it's best if you buy in for the min amount as it prevents you from being out played. But maybe that only applies to pot limit or something.

Anyway good luck!

 

[CrackaNACtion]

well myself i seem to be more patient and calm when i dont buy in for the max amount. when im around average i play much better poker when i got less money cause it makes me wanna chase less. but many people have diff views this is just mine!

 

[Alessandra]

This is kind of stupid, but I remember in the youth of my poker days, I used to always buy in max because it was easier for me to see how much profit I made lol. Ah, to be young again.

 

[SavagePenguin]

If you are easily chased off, buying in for a low amount might be best for your game, as you become forced to play aggressive with your big hands.
You become pot committed early which forces you to play, *and* big stacks are more likely to look you up because the call is cheap.
I used to do it, and had success.

I've had more success since I started buying in for the full amount though.

 

[bustme]

It has some advantages and dissadvantages to play as a small stack.

But its more safe to play as a full stack. ( easier decisions preflopp)

You can have success with buying in as a low stake, but it is harder because you are forced to play looser.

 

[zachvac]

It has some advantages and dissadvantages to play as a small stack.

But its more safe to play as a full stack. ( easier decisions preflopp)

You can have success with buying in as a low stake, but it is harder because you are forced to play looser.

This is not right. If you buy in real short it makes decisions easy. The only question is would you stack off with the hand. If you would, you can either shove or put in a pot committing raise, if not you fold. You play tighter when you're shortstacked, not looser, because you don't have implied odds to draw on many of the hands we're calling with deep-stacked.