Bankroll building...

So its been about two years since I made that first 50 dollar deposit in online poker. I feel proud to say that I never had to put any more money into it.

Since then I have been playing on and off, having a bunch of fluctuations, but thankfully its been an overall steady increase. I hate to look like the person who wants a get rich quick scheme, but I wanted to know from those who have had great success, what is the quickest way to build your bankroll through the lower limits? I really hope the answer isn't bonus whoring...

I feel very lucky that I have made an overall profit, but sometimes it feels like it is going unnecessarily slow and that I will never graduate to the middle limits. Are SNGs the answer? How about depositing more money so I can roll myself in higher games?

Originally Posted by YuujiA

what is the quickest way to build your bankroll through the lower limits?

Play more hands (if you are a winning player).

What games are you playing and are you in the US?

The time you put in at these lower levels is necessary to build experience and become good enough to beat higher stakes games. If you rush and jump ahead before you're ready, it'll do much more harm than good and you'll probably lose a big portion of your hard-earned bankroll in the process.

i play NLHE ring, Sngs, and some OMaha rings. I do few MTTs in hopes of that big cash, but my results are tantalizingly close at best... maybe I need to do more or need to continue reading up on it

If you are US then get rb somewhere and 10-table full ring playing non-fancy abc poker. If you are non-US then do the same while bonus whoring everything in sight.

Originally Posted by martindcx1e

If you are US then get rb somewhere and 10-table full ring playing non-fancy abc poker. If you are non-US then do the same while bonus whoring everything in sight.

so sexy.

sweet

The get rich quick scheme to poker is this:

There isnt one.

Winrate + hands played = profit. Its just that simple. Get out of microstakes ASAP, though. Microstakes is an investment. You're making shit money on the hopes to make big money later. Minimize your time spent on the former, and maximize your time spent on the latter.

how low are microstakes? does .10/.25 nl count? cuz thats what my bankroll dictates (ala the chris ferguson experiment)

Dont forget to mke the most of frequent player points and freerolls. I started with a $100 deposit jan 2006 and used these strategies to build up to $3k. I still only 0.25/0.50 NL 10 seat ring (i lost two much when i stepped up but will try again sept) and target myself 15 hrs per week have developd into winning 10bb/100 hands, i play party and use my points to enter their steps system. Most of my bank roll came from three cash places doing this.

u just got to grind homey

Originally Posted by YuujiA

how low are microstakes? does .10/.25 nl count? cuz thats what my bankroll dictates (ala the chris ferguson experiment)

I have this question as well. Are we expected to be able to beat .05/.10 and .10/.25 before we can consider moving up as long as our BR allows? Because honestly while I could sit all day every day and pick my spots at these lvls and very likely "profit" the pace would be slow going. Im not comfortable multi-tableing more than 2 to 3 at a time though.

But is that the general consencus though? That we should be able to adjust and beat the micro-stakes before even considering something as high as .50/1.00?

Originally Posted by YuujiA

how low are microstakes? does .10/.25 nl count? cuz thats what my bankroll dictates (ala the chris ferguson experiment)

if you are using the "jesus experiment," then you are going to need to learn how to play POST-flop, eventually. i recommend learning before the stakes get much higher. you can still short-stack at higher levels, but eventually, you will either lose action or get forced in pf with the lower portion of your "pushing range."

and, yes, 25NL is still "micro."

and, if you dont want to bonuswhore or use rb, then you are leaving money/profit/br building on the table. maybe youre not "counting" on this as profit to measure yourself by, but passing it up completely is foolish, imo. i hope thats not what you meant by not wanting to hear the bonuswhoring answer.

Micro emplies there is nothing offered below it, therefore it depends on the site. PS offers $2nl, AP offers $10nl as it's lowest.

$10nl and less=micro stakes
$25nl/$50nl/$100nl=small stakes
$200-$600=midstakes
$1000nl+=high stakes

Originally Posted by speedcake

But is that the general consencus though? That we should be able to adjust and beat the micro-stakes before even considering something as high as .50/1.00?

yes unless you are rich and/or don't care about the money it is usually best to learn at $10nl or $25nl. the play at $100nl isn't too terribly different than at $25nl, but it is just a more expensive learning curve.

Originally Posted by martindcx1e

Originally Posted by speedcake

But is that the general consencus though? That we should be able to adjust and beat the micro-stakes before even considering something as high as .50/1.00?

yes unless you are rich and/or don't care about the money it is usually best to learn at $10nl or $25nl. the play at $100nl isn't too terribly different than at $25nl, but it is just a more expensive learning curve.

ok cool. ty for the reply.

I actually watched some of the microstakes vids and can really see now that they are beatable. And I think the biggest problem I have is Ive tried playing way above my BR, and that includes when I'm playing 10$ NL at full tilt. I feel like I've been playing a bit with scared money rather than being able to focus on the poker and learning the game.

really freakin glad I finally came across a site like this though :P btw, second post. yay me!

Originally Posted by speedcake

really freakin glad I finally came across a site like this though :P btw, second post. yay me!

welcome aboard man. discipline + willingness to learn + ftr = you make money