quick question about micro stakes at pokerstars

I hear about people talking about 2NL and 5NL and 10NL etc. Idea being that at any limit you are buying in for 100 x bb so no one can buy in for a large stack.

On pokerstars, the smallest max buy-in is $5 at 0.1/0.2 NL.

This is 250 BB!!

Then there's 0.2/0.5 where the max buy in is $10

I thought there'd be tables that max out at 100 BB to level the playing field. Or does this not kick in until like 25NL?

Am i missing something?

10nl and up you can only buyin for 100bb. At 2nl (.01/.02) and 5nl (.02/.05), PS lets players buyin for 250bb. Why?? I don't know, but you shouldn't worry about it. Buyin for 100bb so you can learn to play with a 100bb stack, as that is what you will be using at 10nl+ (I assume). Letting the donks at micros buyin for 250bb shouldn't be an un-level playing field. It's just more money on the table for you to take, as I'm sure most don't play a deep stack correctly.

At 10nl the maximum buy-in is $10. I would think that 2nl and 5nl have those higher buy-ins so that more pots get raked.

yeah, fair point.

I'm probably still thinking in terms of tourneys where i have a knee jerk reaction to larger stacks than mine. And maybe they won't be playing their stacks right either.

Still having flash backs to live games where i'd buy in for all i could afford (50xBB) and people would sit next to me having bought in for about 300xbb and i'd have to be all-in just to see the turn card. And they knew it. But this is micro so i guess i should chill a bit.

Originally Posted by wonderland

yeah, fair point.

I'm probably still thinking in terms of tourneys where i have a knee jerk reaction to larger stacks than mine. And maybe they won't be playing their stacks right either.

Still having flash backs to live games where i'd buy in for all i could afford (50xBB) and people would sit next to me having bought in for about 300xbb and i'd have to be all-in just to see the turn card. And they knew it. But this is micro so i guess i should chill a bit.

Easy money.

what's easy money... me at the live table or do you mean micro stakes?

Originally Posted by wonderland

what's easy money... me at the live table or do you mean micro stakes?

The live scenario you described is what I was referencing. If that much money is going in that quickly, then you could just wait for a hand and pump it in.

Originally Posted by wonderland

what's easy money... me at the live table or do you mean micro stakes?

Both imo?

But wonderland, you really need to begin differiating between cash games and MTTs, and SNGs. They are not the same game. In this case, just because someone has a 250bb stack doesn't mean he is going to be able to "bully" you out of pots. You are going to be making plays based on whether they are +ev or not. If he is donking around with his larger stack and calling bets lighter, then you should adjust and bluff less, but valuebet more often and generally thinner.

Also, the reason that in the live games you were allin by the turn was because you were shortstacking. Sure they may have been buying in deep, but you were buying in short. Therefore, your game plan has to change as well. Playing a 200bb stack is not the same as playing a 100bb stack, and 50bb is different than both as well. Also the "all I could afford" kinda hints that you were rather underrolled for the stakes you were playing, which as we all know isn't good.

As ever, wise words from the FTR bunch.

Totally fair point about being under-rolled. But check this out for obscure reasonsing, although valid: i was in vegas and it was my 30th birthday. Ha, one time where playing by the book goes out the window.

Later that night, on a dare, i walked into the casino floor (golden nugget) wearing just a pair of shorts and asked the floor manager/pit boss if he had any grey poupon. There was jack daniels involved in that equation.

But aaaanyway, i see your point. The first time i played live i was so uneducated that i played. The vegas time i was educated enough to know that i should stop playing after a few hands because i was going to lose, i feel a lot more educated now. Just need some more knowledge and a ton of hands to see it all come together.

Keep up the good work wonderland.

ha... i've been so steeped in theory lately that i've been nervous about playing until my knowledge is very solid. But i will occasionally dip in, force myself to see some theory in practise.

Just played for like 5 minutes and won half a buy in.

There were two 8s on the board and i'm betting every street. He raises me on the river and i think hmmm, no straights, no flushes... he MUST have a higher set than me... so i gulped and called. Fuck had A3 and the board had A3 on it... idiot.... i BLATANTLY had that 8. As you say... easy money.

Originally Posted by wonderland

ha... i've been so steeped in theory lately that i've been nervous about playing until my knowledge is very solid. But i will occasionally dip in, force myself to see some theory in practise.

Nh on the studying bro... can never do too much...

that being said, nothing... and I mean absolutely nothing... beats getting hands in. So pick a level you're nice and rolled for and dive on in. Play what you know, and find out what you don't... then know that, and go play some more. It'll make the studying soooo much more relevant and a lot more fun.

If you're worried about donking out, then my suggestion is just tighten up on your pre-flop starting hand requirements. Play premium sh!t, keep the post-flop decisions as basic as possible, and have a f-in blast!

Originally Posted by sarbox68

nothing... and I mean absolutely nothing... beats getting hands in

gold, jerry, gold

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

Buyin for 100bb so you can learn to play with a 100bb stack, as that is what you will be using at 10nl+ (I assume). Letting the donks at micros buyin for 250bb shouldn't be an un-level playing field. It's just more money on the table for you to take, as I'm sure most don't play a deep stack correctly.

qft

cheers for the encouragement sarbox, i shall do that.

i'm barely rolled to play anything, finances are BAD these days. Hence all the obsession with making a living playing poker! but i've been winning lately and hope that i can sort of wangle a bankroll up. Not too far to go to be playing properly but for now i want to be as careful as possible until my bankroll is juuuust right.

Then i shall start seeing some hands! and head for the next stakes.