Initial Buy in amount
Quick question for everyone about buying in at the tables to start.
I play $10-$20, and usually buy in for $500, with another $500 in bankroll if I catch a string of bad cards, but still feel that the game is good. I have seen many players who buy in for $1000 or more at the $10-$20. Does this provide a psychological advantage? I also have a friend who will only buy in for $300, so (according to him) it forces him to play his best, because he feels 'shortstacked'. I personally don't like this strategy. I like to feel that I can survive a few suck outs without going broke, and also, I don't like being 'all in' at a limit table, especially with the best hand. There is nothing worse to me then winning a main pot of $100, while a worse hand wins the $250 side pot!
So... What does everyone buy in for at a casino? and at what limits? My wife just started her poker journey, and plays $2-$5. I have recommended for her to start with $100, so she feels comfortable at the tables, and one or two losses won't cut her stack in half.
On the flip side, I have also seen players buy in for the minimum, then keep buying in, until they hit a few hands in a row, and have 3-4X their buy in.
I play $10-$20, and usually buy in for $500, with another $500 in bankroll if I catch a string of bad cards, but still feel that the game is good. I have seen many players who buy in for $1000 or more at the $10-$20. Does this provide a psychological advantage? I also have a friend who will only buy in for $300, so (according to him) it forces him to play his best, because he feels 'shortstacked'. I personally don't like this strategy. I like to feel that I can survive a few suck outs without going broke, and also, I don't like being 'all in' at a limit table, especially with the best hand. There is nothing worse to me then winning a main pot of $100, while a worse hand wins the $250 side pot!
So... What does everyone buy in for at a casino? and at what limits? My wife just started her poker journey, and plays $2-$5. I have recommended for her to start with $100, so she feels comfortable at the tables, and one or two losses won't cut her stack in half.
On the flip side, I have also seen players buy in for the minimum, then keep buying in, until they hit a few hands in a row, and have 3-4X their buy in.
Comments
so if im played 2-4 i sit w/ $100
if im playing 4-8 about 200 and so forth
this way if you lose a big pot or a few, its not going to cripple you, and you still have some breathing room and such
I think it does. Not in terms of somehow "dominating" my opponents, but in terms of my own comfort while playing. I can withstand losing a few pots and still have a good amount of chips remaining. If I gain some kind of advantage this way, it's probably due to the fact that some of my opponents are concerned their small stacks, and I am not.
Of course, if a massive buy-in does actually freak out my opponents, that's a nice side effect. :cool:
Me neither. If the size of your stack affects your play in limit cash games, this is a *serious* leak in your game.
I believe that buy-in amounts are not nearly as important as "easily avaialable money" amounts (i.e., more cash, ATM, Neteller, etc).
Here's some more discussion of this from a previous thread:
http://pokerforum.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=1331
ScottyZ
i don't agree w/ this..... you shouldnt need to be shortstacked you play his best, he just needs to be disciplined more i'd say but to each their own style.....if it works, i won't knock it
Less is ok. But do you want to be the Monster at the table or the Mouse?
On a personal sidenote... I've been at very loose tables with a huge hand but only got paid a limited amount based on my stack size.
Having more chips at the table translates into being able to bet (and get paid on your premium hands).
Just my opinion though....
How about online play? I find sometimes buying for less makes you look like prey to the big stacks, which can work for you, if they try to 'push you around'. Depending on the limits, I like to keep a slightly lower initial stack online then in real life. I have tried it both ways, for example, buing in for 2K at the 5-10 table online, but I find online players (especially at higher limits) love to push small stacks around. Being an agressive player myself, I like getting lots of money into the pot, (when I have a hand, of course) and having a big stack at my table, who is a gambler that sees me as weak because my stack isn't too big, can help get the pots big when I am a favorite to win them.
I wouldn't treat online any differently in terms of buy-in amount.
Also, I would almost *never* want to artifically induce opponents to go out of their way to "push me around" in limit poker (or pretty much any kind of poker). Aggressive players are generally more difficult to play against than passive players, even if they are playing sub-optimally and aggressively.
ScottyZ