Big Bet Buy in

I have noticed in many pot limit/no limit games that sophisticated players that I believe are long term winners (at least in other forms of poker--pl/nl games are so rare in SoCal and Las Vegas) often buy in for a very small amount of money (the minimum).


I usually try to have close to as much money as anyone else on the table.


I imagine buying in for less gives you the advantage of being able to go all-in when you can get a favorable odds on a draw, but other than that, I don't see the logic.


In pl/nl games you can protect your hand with a big bet, but not if you go all in on the flop. . .

I think the opposite must be true


the better players I have played with want to have enough chips to be able to either protect their hand, or to maximize a super hand in the right position


I've been playing in a WILD part holden, part omaha(high only) P/L game, and have elected a small buyin there to max my pot odds in some of the wild omaha hands when I have a good draw....BUT not at all sure I am doing right thing!!!!

I thought like you for the longest time but now buy in for smaller amounts.


With a large buyin one must play big stack tight from the onset. Players will not give you action after seeing you so tight.


With a small buyin, you can go allin with a decent but not nut hand (even a drawing hand) and appear to be very loose. You get a loose table image. Later when your stack is big and you are playing tight, you might get more callers when you have the nuts.