Pokerstars Bonus Math

[TheRempel]

Alright, I'm rebuilding a bankroll playing low limit PLO. I typically play $100 and $200 PLO but ran bad in august/september and am bonus whoring to get back into those games.

I have $430 on Pokerstars and 225 more FPP needed to clear the $150 bonus. Pokerstars rewards fpp at basically 1 per $20 pot. This means I'm clearing between 15 and 20 FPP on an hourly basis 4-tabling $25 PLO. I'll have to play between 10 and 15 more hours at this level to clear the bonus at this rate.

Here's the question:

If I buy in for a minimal amount at the $100 tables, I will recieve a FPP for the vast majority of hands I play. I figure I can clear it in about an hour and a half 4-tabling at this level with $40 buy ins.

Does the risk/reward ratio justify this gamble?

[primetime32]

Not sure what your exact risk is. I don't play to clear a bonus, i play my game, and if i clear the bonus in the interim, great. If you can play good poker 4 tabling, then why not. But if you will sacrifice the quality of your game, then its probably not worth it.

Also, what is the rush to clear the bonus? I am all for getting through the bonuses, but unless you are desperate for the cash, you are better off just playing your normal game and letting the bonus clear normally.

[TheRempel]

The bonus will create a somewhat signifigant increase in my bankroll, and I have other bonuses I wish to clear.

[jrz1972]

If $150 represents a significant increase in your bankroll, you probably shouldn't be sitting at the $100 NL tables.

It sounds like you don't protect your roll very well.

[JayLeno]

Stay away.
Its gambling!

[GMan42]

[ QUOTE ]
If $150 represents a significant increase in your bankroll, you probably shouldn't be sitting at the $100 NL tables.


[/ QUOTE ]

[pzhon]

[ QUOTE ]

If I buy in for a minimal amount at the $100 tables, I will recieve a FPP for the vast majority of hands I play. I figure I can clear it in about an hour and a half 4-tabling at this level with $40 buy ins.

Does the risk/reward ratio justify this gamble?

[/ QUOTE ]
You are risking more, and I think your reward is lower, so the risk/reward ratio alone doesn't justify this. That you value your time might justify it, though. If you want to make this a math problem, you should determine your win rates when you have a short stack in a tougher game and with a deeper stack in a softer game, your variance in each game, how much you value your time, and your risk aversion.

For those who hadn't considered playing Omaha, it is often a safe, rapid way to clear bonuses because

/images/graemlins/diamond.gif The pots are much larger than the blinds. You can play tightly and let other people pay the rake that justifies your bonus.
/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Many players have no idea how to evaluate a hand, so it is easy to beat the games. Fish get rewarded with making pretty hands to compensate them for losing more.

[Elijah Bailey]

One of the best ways to clear the stars bonus is via sit n go's. Stars gives 5 FPP's per $1 of tourny fees so sit n go's and tournys are played rake free.