CanOkie
Enthusiast
Silver Level
This is going to seem very silly to some people...And I feel very foolish that this is an issue for me.
I'm a bankroll nit and I don't know how to shake it. I'm sitting on a $280 BR on PokerStars, but I find myself constantly playing 2nl and $2 or less MTTs/SNGs. My BRM plan is as follows:
-30 buy-ins for ring games @ 100BBs
-30 buy-ins for SNGs
-50 buy-ins for MTSNGs and MTTs
So, its clear that I'm pretty much rolled for 5nl, $9 SNGs, and $5 MTTs but for some reason I cannot bring myself to play at these stakes. Even though I am over-rolled for the micro-stakes and properly rolled for higher stakes, I feel so uncomfortable. I don't know if Im scared of losing money or if I expect that I'll do really bad and I don't trust myself to play higher stakes. Maybe its just very hard for me to move out of my comfort zone since I've been playing micro-limit for the longest time. I know my confidence in my game is very low, which is one of the reasons why I try to stay as low as possible-thats something I have to fix.
I have no problem playing these small stakes, but would like to be able to build a bigger bankroll and play higher stakes. Im not comparing myself to other players, but its a bit frustrating, sometimes, seeing other members moving up in stakes/build BRs at a nice rate while I feel like Im stuck in the same place.
I don't want to think that I'm only "good" enough to play micro-limits, but if thats all I am good for I should get used to it.
So, how would one overcome this? Has anyone ever gone through this or feels similar?
Philthy, I completely understand where you are at. I moved up from .05/.10 NLHE to .10/.25 because others were seemingly moving up due to their successes. I became impatient and frustrated. I also paid no attention to BR. Even though I did well at the .10/.25 limits, my gut feeling was that I was playing above my means.
I learned all I could about bankroll management and quickly discovered, I was playing unprotected so my gut was right. Now I listen to my instincts and I've found that my first impressions or feelings are usually correct. I believe I've found a good balance between my new found bankroll nit behavior and following my instincts.
I've created a "move up" plan based on BR management which fits my playing style (tight aggressive). Now I feel much more comfortable playing and not worried about loosing my buy-in b/c my BR can handle the ups and downs.
btw - I did drop back to .05/.10 ring games. Mentally, I know that I can drop back just as easy as I can move up. This thought process has lessened my frustrations and impatience. Also, it does NOT matter how others are performing with their BR. Just b/c others are moving up doesn't mean they are doing it for the right reasons or doing well. Their success could also be an illusion. Heaven forbid.....they could be lying too Bottom line: I've learned other people's BR doesn't matter. My recommendation to you is: Know your playing style, follow your BR management, continue to do things to improve (play well, books, Cardschat forums) and trust your instincts. That's is about all you can do. Good Luck