I was just running some numbers regarding rakeback and spoons suggest bankroll requirments per level and it got me wondering if we should include rakeback as a factor when determining when to move up.

As an example, if we're rolled for $50NL we should have $1750 (35BI) and not move up to $100NL until we have $4000 (40BI) or need to make $2250 before moving up to $100NL.

Looking at rakeback calculators and using FullTilt as an example, if we play 1500 hands a day at 6-max we're getting back $862 in a month, or over a 1/3 of what we need to add to out bankroll to move up.

The question is, given the number of hands less we have to play to meet our bankroll requirements for the next level from including rakeback in our bankroll calculations, are we harming ourselves by not playing those extra hands.

If we're a 4ptBB/100 winner at $50NL it would take us 21550 hands to make that $862 in winnings....how can this not be a hindrance to improving our game?