To all of the winning players

[IOS]

Just a few questions for all the long term winning players.

1. What was your starting bankroll?
2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?
3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?
4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

I'm curious to everyone's answers because I am contemplating my next move. I'm tired of busting my roll, I know I am capable of becoming a winning player. So what would you recommend me doing? (From lowest risk to highest)

1. Saving up $1,000 and 4 tabling $25NL
2. Depositing $100 and 4 tabling $25NL until I reach $1,000
3. Depositing $400 and 4 tabling $100NL until I reach $1,000 then 4 table $25NL

I've never tried doing any of the above. I've always made a deposit and pretty much risked 100% of my roll in single sessions. Like I would deposit $100 then 4 table $25NL, make $50 dollars. Then in my next session I would play 2 $50 tables and 2 $25 tables (risking my whole roll). Sounds stupid huh? I did not lose my roll due to bad playing, but mainly due to tilt (sounds like an oxymoron). So I am fairly confident I can choose any of the 3 choices and succeed.

Whatever I decide to do, I've decided to make a deposit on Jan. 1, 2006. My new years resolution would be to never bust my roll again. I will also purchase PT. One last thing, I do have a fulltime job, I am not playing poker to pay the bills. I am just tired of depositing hard earned money.

[Vrax]

Just a few questions for all the long term winning players.

1. What was your starting bankroll?

$29

2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?

After clearing $100 bonus. But yes, from that point ALWAYS bankrolled properly.

3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?

0.

4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

8 months.

I'm curious to everyone's answers because I am contemplating my next move. I'm tired of busting my roll, I know I am capable of becoming a winning player. So what would you recommend me doing? (From lowest risk to highest)

1. Saving up $1,000 and 4 tabling $25NL
2. Depositing $100 and 4 tabling $25NL until I reach $1,000
3. Depositing $400 and 4 tabling $100NL until I reach $1,000 then 4 table $25NL

(1) idea includes proper bankrolling, if you can save $1k easily outside of poker (ie. have a good job), then you can go for it. But if you are not so rich and still wanted to be consistent winner, then I suggest:

Depositing $100, bonus whoring it to $200-$300 then play $10NL - the safest. As many tables as you want but optimum would be 4 .

(2)-(3) ideas are like going to casino and playing craps. $400 and 4-tabling $100? How will you rebuy after KK vs AA situation or some other king of legit "beat"? How will you rebuy to full stack after piddling away 20% of it after raisnig PF few times and being forced to fold when your AK miss or JJ hits AKT flop and heavy action? When AA runs into set (you still lose 20-30% of stack after that tough fold)?

Following those ideas you are asking to go broke again.

Listen to Rilla. Please.

[DoGGz]

Just a few questions for all the long term winning players.

1. What was your starting bankroll?

$200

2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?

I don't ALWAYS, but mostly.

3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?

Never. Not hard to beat the low stakes

4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

Since Spring 2004

[Miffed22001]

It can be frustrating but micro limits has it worths.
It teaches you discipline and without it you will suck at poker.
I busted $400 before i became even a breakeven player so it could just be experience you lack.
So put in 200 play 10nl or else grind those sngs till u have 500 for 25nl.
Br management is teh nutz when it comes to poker, those who dont use it go bust

1.Starting br $150
1.Originally i didnt i do ALWAYS now follow br rules
3.I busted twice. Once through a nasty run of beast etc folowed by a nasty tilt and econd time on tilt.
4. NL pasrt time from sept2004 to may2005 full time since

[MannerBoy]

1. What was your starting bankroll?
2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?
3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?
4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

1. 150$
2. no but best i advice i can give is FOLLOW BR MANAGEMENT... PLEASE !
3. never.
4. since 1st june.

[AHiltz]

1. What was your starting bankroll?
$50

2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?
Nope

3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?
3

4. How long have you been playing NLHE?
Little over a year

I was a losing player for the first few months. Played at Stars and busted my roll 3 times. Was down about $200. Started reading more, found this site and look out.

From ring games and whoring +1000 and from SnG's +450 over the last 6-7 weeks.

[Les_Worm]

I recommend depositing $200 and playing 10NL. Keep 20 buyins in your roll.

[Irisheyes]

1. What was your starting bankroll?

Free $10 on Royal Vegas Poker

2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?

Not at the start because I only had $10 but ever since I built to $200 I ALWAYS play with 20 buyins.

3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?

Once, I got a free $10 on RVP and lost it in my first session. That was the first time I played though.

4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

Since June/July this year.

Best plan is to deposit $200 and play 10NL

[Sed]

1) 50$
2) yep
3) never have, never will
4) ~1 yr online, 2 yrs live

The hard part of BR management is that it is far easier to deposit a buyin or two at a level that interests you and you feel comfortable playing at than to properly roll yourself for that level.

I started out at 2$ nl and am pushing on the door of 200nl after cashing out several thousand. The time you spend in the micro-limits will make you a better player. If you don't have the discipline and BR management to win at those levels you'll never be a winning player in the higher levels.

- sed

[Irisheyes]

The time you spend in the micro-limits will make you a better player. If you don't have the discipline and BR management to win at those levels you'll never be a winning player in the higher levels.

- sed

Amen bro.

[r8ed]

I can tell you are itching to play 25NL or higher but your bankroll is holding you back. Best bet is to casino whore with $200. Talk to EasyT or eeeee. That will get your bankroll up to $400+ most likely. You will be more properly bankrolled to play that level. Don't jump up levels until you have the bankroll and the skills. Each level you go up, the better the players. Everybody wants to get rich quick, but earning your way up is the best method.

[edudlive]

Just a few questions for all the long term winning players.

1. What was your starting bankroll?
2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?
3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?
4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

1) $104
2) I started playing 10NL with only 10 buyins (sparringly) until I had the real 15 buyin amount. I'm a hard ass about BR managment, so I almost never play outside of it.
3) never
4) since August 19th, 2005

I'm curious to everyone's answers because I am contemplating my next move. I'm tired of busting my roll, I know I am capable of becoming a winning player. So what would you recommend me doing? (From lowest risk to highest)

1. Saving up $1,000 and 4 tabling $25NL
2. Depositing $100 and 4 tabling $25NL until I reach $1,000
3. Depositing $400 and 4 tabling $100NL until I reach $1,000 then 4 table $25NL

1) This is ok, but you should probably save less and start at 10NL...nothing beats experience
2) you'll go broke
3) you'll go broke even faster

I've never tried doing any of the above. I've always made a deposit and pretty much risked 100% of my roll in single sessions. Like I would deposit $100 then 4 table $25NL, make $50 dollars. Then in my next session I would play 2 $50 tables and 2 $25 tables (risking my whole roll). Sounds stupid huh? I did not lose my roll due to bad playing, but mainly due to tilt (sounds like an oxymoron). So I am fairly confident I can choose any of the 3 choices and succeed.

Whatever I decide to do, I've decided to make a deposit on Jan. 1, 2006. My new years resolution would be to never bust my roll again. I will also purchase PT. One last thing, I do have a fulltime job, I am not playing poker to pay the bills. I am just tired of depositing hard earned money.

Tilt = bad play, admit that to yourself and you can make one more step toward the biggest part of NLHE...emotion control

Deposit $100-$200 and sit at the 10NL tables is what I say. Your stay there (if you're any sort of decent player) will be short to say the least. If you just can't bring yourself to play those stakes then deposit a grand and 4 table 25NL.

[bdawg56kg]

1. What was your starting bankroll?
2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?
3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?
4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

1. $50
2. Nope. Went down to $5 in my Stars account, then won a few sngs, then had a good run at 25Nl and never looked back. (This was before I found out about rillas BR management thread)
3. 0, but I lost half my BR getting caught in the Newbie Circle of Death. Since then I NEVER played out of my BR. 30 buy-ins minimum.
4. 8 months or so online


How much can you save up and deposit? If you can save up $500 that would be ideal. You could start $25NL and bonus whore party and all the ex-skins, which would be a HUGE boost to your starting BR.

The time you spend in the micro-limits will make you a better player. If you don't have the discipline and BR management to win at those levels you'll never be a winning player in the higher levels.

- sed

Truer words were never spoken. Think of it as a learning curve. You have to start out at the micro limits to learn the basics of TAGG play and camping. When you move up you gradually adjust and open up your game, so you can continue to beat the higher levels.

[IOS]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I pretty much contradicted myself with comtemplating options 2 and 3. If my goal was to never bust my roll, how could I even think about those. I'll admit it, I guess I was trying to get rich quick. But, history will repeat itself.

At this point I'm pretty much convinced that bonus whoring is the best option. Unfortunately, I already whored Party Poker once. Since that's probably everyone's first choice, I'm stuck on where to start. Full tilt has a nice promo going on now. For anyone that's played on the full tilt, do they have 6max tables?

Can you post a summary of your whoring experience?

I'm kinda confused at the whole process. Do you just make a single deposit on one site (probably the one with the best bonus) then cash out every single penny as soon as you clear it. Move on to the next site, and repeat the process.

Thanks again everyone for bringing me back to earth, lol.

[Les_Worm]

Don't bother with Full Tilts bonus. Its too hard to clear and not worth it.

http://www.bonuswhores.com/bonus-whoring-101.php

(you'll have to copy/paste the link.)

[gengar]

At this point I'm pretty much convinced that bonus whoring is the best option. Unfortunately, I already whored Party Poker once. Since that's probably everyone's first choice, I'm stuck on where to start. Full tilt has a nice promo going on now. For anyone that's played on the full tilt, do they have 6max tables?

They have more 6max than PP actually, 2/4 and up for limit HE. I think they also have 6 max for NL .25/.5 and up. Either that or .5/1, I don't remember. Haven't played at FT in a few weeks.

But as Les_Worm mentioned, while the bonus at FT is extremely attractive it is not worth clearing because the play there tends to be really tight. Fishers are extremely sparse even at lower limits... I cleared something like $320 or $360 out of the $600 bonus, got enough points for my hoodie, and went running back fast to PP. Considering how much more money I would have made playing at PP or other sites, that wound up being one expensive sweatshirt!

I know you are convinced you want to whore, but just my thoughts - I used to bonus whore all day long... but honestly I think better advice is just to get used to finding good spots that are relatively reliable and consistent. There will be a point after which bonus whoring just isn't worth it compared to what you'll make during normal play while clearing them.

[Dislexsik]

On what site with many players can u play 10NL?

[Les_Worm]

On what site with many players can u play 10NL?

UB and Stars are two of your better options.

[IOS]

Gengar thanks for your advice, I only plan to bonus whore a couple sites. Anyone want to recommend one? The first site I will start with is UB. But their bonus payout is retarded. $1 at a time for every 10 ultimate points you earn. Why can't they be like Stars lol, just pay you all at once. For a bonus whore newb, what sites do you recommend I start with?

[Les_Worm]

Read the bonus whoring 101 link I gave you and it will walk you through which sites to deposit to and how much.

[aislephive]

Started with $60 two months ago on Stars, built that up to $120 playing $5 SNG's over a month and a half. I switched to UB a week and a half ago and put in $90 and through playing $10 NL I've worked it up to $260. I also placed second in two multi-table SNG's.

I busted my roll one, I put in a 50 dollar deposit and lost it the same night by playing over my head.

I'd reccomend depositing $400 and playing some $25 NL until you reach $1000 and you can play $50 NL.

[EricE]

Looking down the list it is easy to tell the BR management works when it comes to not busting out. The people that followed it, or mostly followed it, didn’t bust out, ever. Those who didn’t follow it did bust out.
Use BR management. It is the only way.

I am a firm believer in working your way up.

Pros to building your BR through proper BR management:
You get lots of experience along the way. Experience makes the tough decisions so much easier and the super hard ones into merely tough ones.
You get used to throwing money around for that stake as you move up. Scared money is dead money.
Each move up presents you with players that are a little better than the last. This is perfect for learning while you make money.
You don’t bust out, ever (if you stick to proper BRM).

[Checkways]

1. What was your starting bankroll?

$500 for live games, $100 for online.

2. Did you always follow bankroll management? Even at micro limits?

No.

3. How many times have you busted your bankroll?

Never for live games, but I came close when I first started. I busted my first $100 online but was playing for "fun". After the second $100 I've never busted, and have never really come close. But I follow proper bankroll management now.

4. How long have you been playing NLHE?

About 13 months.

1. Saving up $1,000 and 4 tabling $25NL
2. Depositing $100 and 4 tabling $25NL until I reach $1,000
3. Depositing $400 and 4 tabling $100NL until I reach $1,000 then 4 table $25NL

I think you answered your own question here. Read your quote below.

I've always made a deposit and pretty much risked 100% of my roll in single sessions...Sounds stupid huh?

Option two and three are out the door. I played outside my bankroll a few times to get started, but never by risking everything in one session. That's just insane.

My new years resolution would be to never bust my roll again.

This is a very good attitude to have and probably the first step in proper bankroll mgmt. You must invest in your poker ability rather than just throw some money to screw around with. When I started playing live games the $500 I started with was serious money to me. If I lost it, I would have been very depressed. I knew that if I lost that money, I probably would stop playing poker. At least until I come into money again, like as a Christmas gift or something. So if $200 is not a big deal to you, then I wouldn't necessarily suggest starting at 10NL. Invest an amount that you are willing to protect with smart play and discipline. If you want to play 25NL, then $500 is fine.

If you want to continue playing poker for "fun" as I did with my initial online deposits, then by all means do so. There's nothing wrong with it as long as you can afford it. But if you seriously want to avoid the money pit that can be online poker tilt, then you should start working on a proper bankroll and stick with it. Good luck!

[littleogre]

rake back programs can also help you build your br and is better then a bonus in the long run as it never ends. If i were you i would bonus whore as much as i could then find a solid room that either has it's own rb program or offers one through a 3rd party.

To answer some of your questions i started with 30 bucks and have gone broke once. I've been playing poker for about 1yr.