Trying to Build my Bankroll...Critique My Plan...

Ok, here's my situation. I have been playing SNG's for the past couple months and have been somewhat successful. I had my bankroll up to 1700 bucks (playing the 11's and 22's)before I got stupid and played in a few 215 sit n go's (trying to build it quick) and lost all of my money except for 200 bucks. I was planning on getting my bankroll back up by playing at the tens, but I was on such tilt that I lost the 200 bucks at that level! (coupled with some bad variance). This however may be a blessing in disguise in that it was only 1700, and if it had not happened then, I might have gotten up a lot more and made that same mistake. It hopefully will force me to value my roll and play a lot smarter in the future.

Anyway, I am planning on re-depositing 200 bucks on party on January 1st and slowly working my way up to 1000 by playing then 11 dollar buyins (20-25 tourneys per day on average). At that point I will move over to the 22's and try to get up to 4,000 (same amount of tourney's per day as the 11's). At 4,000 my plan is to 2-3 table the 1-2 NL game short handed game...which I have been working on religiously through poker academy software and reading Ciaffone's No-Limit book and TOP. Hopefully I will eventually get to 10,000 and then can (with much humility and practice), be able to move to the 3-6 NL game.

My New's Years Resolution (if you want to call it that, although it's more like a goal) is to reach 20k by year's end and be able to (again, after careful consideration and practice, mostly likely 1 tabling at first) play the 5-10 NL 6-max ring game comfortably.

I guess I am posting this to see what everyone thinks of this goal, if they believe it to be attainable, and to see if anyone has any suggestions regarding a faster way or a different way they did it. Winning a big MTT would be easier, but I don't like taking that longshot chance, and I'd be afraid I wouldn't value the money enough. I know, the old saying, "there is no easy road to success", and I don't expect it to be easy nor do I want it to be. I believe the hardest part will be starting off right, and hopefully I can get a few things going on the right track at the start at the 11's and just take it one day at a time. Thanks for reading and any feedback (positive or negative) would be helpful, just so long as it's constructive. Happy Holidays...

Ivey

[mudbuddha]

If you are going to take a aggressive approach to build ur bank roll. I think you should concentrate on your cash games. More money is put at risk but a steadier reward, assuming your game is up to task.

Winning poker isnt just winning at the tables but holding onto your winnings. Getting to 1700 and not losing it all but 200 bucks is very important..

I think your 4k palying 2-3 1/2 NL is kinda suicidal.. but.. risk tolerance is different for everyone.

Honestly, I would suggest you take a slower approach and work more on your game.. Your nominal success allow you to move limits are capable of..

I have a very modest bank roll system where i save 35% of it at ends month for university AND i play with 40x the buyin @ 2 tables.. NL(100) avg around 2k a month with a few spikes over 3.5.

20k is a reasonable goal over 12 months 4 sure.

anyting is possible.. ive seen someone move from 50/1 to 25/50$NL in less than a year and half..

[Recliner]

Jumping from the 22's to 1/2 NL isn't going to be rough for you. You'll have to deal with aggression that you haven't seen before. If you really want to play 1/2 NL, just start at .05/.1 or .1/.25 NL and build your roll that way. It'll likely be faster and more beneficial in helping you reach your goal.

i agree with mud here..

playing SNG's solely is EXTREMELY difficult. your payoff and risk ratio per tournament is extremely small in those tournaments unless you're playing in the multi-table version.

if you want to play to provide an income in this game, i feel cash game is the way to go.. and if you want to play NL cash games you need to have QUITE a significant bankroll with the LAG players you'll come across.

also.. dont get in over your head.. no matter what you decide to play in, play at the level that your skill is the clear favorite against the opposition.

you want a pretty decently sized bankroll either way whichever you decide to do, especially online.

[ajmargarine]

[ QUOTE ]
At 4,000 my plan is to 2-3 table the 1-2 NL game short handed game...which I have been working on religiously through poker academy software and reading Ciaffone's No-Limit book and TOP.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, you haven't really played 1-2NL yet? Books and software so far? If that's the case, I'd consider starting at least one level lower to get your feet wet. 100NL or 50NL. One of the two, but I wouldn't start at 200NL.

[Mercman572]

going from small SNG's to 1/2 NL is a BAD idea. It plays very differently. As others have already said, you should transition with smaller games first.

SnG's make me want to blow my brains out

[zaphod]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, I am planning on re-depositing 200 bucks on party on January 1st and slowly working my way up to 1000 by playing then 11 dollar buyins (20-25 tourneys per day on average). At that point I will move over to the 22's and try to get up to 4,000 (same amount of tourney's per day as the 11's). At 4,000 my plan is to 2-3 table the 1-2 NL game short handed game...which I have been working on religiously through poker academy software and reading Ciaffone's No-Limit book and TOP. Hopefully I will eventually get to 10,000 and then can (with much humility and practice), be able to move to the 3-6 NL game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is a good plan.. if you want to repeat what happened with you the first time. SNG's and NL 6 max are very different games. I have played quite a bit of 30$ SNG's with decent results, and recently started playing the 100$ NL 6 max tables. So far my results for 6 max NL have been positive, but not very good. Take the advice from other posters and start lower where it is cheaper to learn.

[pokerjoker]

If you manage your new years resolution u will have impressed me quite a bit. Also, sit and Go tourneys are probably slowest way to make money at poker IMO.

I have won considerably faster playing MTTs and ring games than $11-$33 SnGs. Could just be my style though.

[trevor]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, I am planning on re-depositing 200 bucks on party on January 1st and slowly working my way up to 1000 by playing then 11 dollar buyins (20-25 tourneys per day on average). At that point I will move over to the 22's and try to get up to 4,000 (same amount of tourney's per day as the 11's). At 4,000 my plan is to 2-3 table the 1-2 NL game short handed game...which I have been working on religiously through poker academy software and reading Ciaffone's No-Limit book and TOP. Hopefully I will eventually get to 10,000 and then can (with much humility and practice), be able to move to the 3-6 NL game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is a bad way to go about it. Saying I want to have $x by Jan and then $x + $y by April, etc. is setting yourself up for disaster. What happens if you miss? What happens if you go on a rush? Then you try and 'take a shot' and move up quicker? I would be more concerned with how you are playing rather than how much money you have. That stuff will take care of itself if you are playing well. Seems like you have the wrong mindset.

I have played $25 , 50 and $100 NL for 14 months. I'm up $2000, but still find myself busted out of $100 NL frequently,because I have lost my budgeted amount for that table stake($200). I then must go back to $50 NL. If I bust out there($200 again) then I go back to $25 NL. That's my quasi-system of budgeting.
My point is that the game at $100 NL is far more difficult than the game at $25 NL. Learn to walk before you fly. Also tournament poker is like backgammon while NL is like chess. They are really quite different games. I've tried mixing play in both areas and find that tournament poker ruins my cash games skills.
Play to play well, and the cash will follow. Find the area wherein your particular skill set excels, but do it at small stakes tables, and move up as your back roll grows.
Hope this helps.

[Godfather80]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, I am planning on re-depositing 200 bucks on party on January 1st and slowly working my way up to 1000 by playing then 11 dollar buyins (20-25 tourneys per day on average). At that point I will move over to the 22's and try to get up to 4,000 (same amount of tourney's per day as the 11's). At 4,000 my plan is to 2-3 table the 1-2 NL game short handed game...which I have been working on religiously through poker academy software and reading Ciaffone's No-Limit book and TOP. Hopefully I will eventually get to 10,000 and then can (with much humility and practice), be able to move to the 3-6 NL game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is a bad way to go about it. Saying I want to have $x by Jan and then $x + $y by April, etc. is setting yourself up for disaster. What happens if you miss? What happens if you go on a rush? Then you try and 'take a shot' and move up quicker? I would be more concerned with how you are playing rather than how much money you have. That stuff will take care of itself if you are playing well. Seems like you have the wrong mindset.

[/ QUOTE ]

To OP, save Trevor's post because it is gold. You must always be evaluating your game outside the monetary constraints while evaluating your bankroll within your monetary constraints.

Basically, don't believe your own hype. Players run hot for 10K hands and you could too. It doesn't mean that you have to believe you are God's gift to the game.

Post hands, respond to hands, ask some of the poker minds on the board why they respond the way they do in certain threads. If you can think on the level of Amoeba, TWP, wtfsvi, Fimbulwinter, and others, you are ready to play in their games. For the sake of your bankroll, not before then.

[the machine]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a very modest bank roll system where i save 35% of it at ends month for university AND i play with 40x the buyin @ 2 tables

[/ QUOTE ]

40x the buy in??? so to play 1-2 you feel you need 8000? maybe im misinterpreting this

[Hoopster81]

[ QUOTE ]
40x the buy in??? so to play 1-2 you feel you need 8000? maybe im misinterpreting this

[/ QUOTE ]

No, you're not. I go the 30X rule, but I play a bunch of tables and need the cushion. If you play less tables I think you can get away with 10-20X.

good luck

[the machine]

i bring 4 buy ins when i go to the casino and do fine at 1-2 where unfortunatley the buy in is 100 max but in other live games 250 max i bring 1000 and do fine, maybe because im not seeing as many hands. i dont play alot online and dont have a big roll but have found that at .10-.25NL im doing fine with 6+ buy ins and plan on moving up to .25-.50NL once i hit 300$. started with 10$ in my account and worked it up at .05-.10 and moved up using my 6x rule went to .10-.25 at 150$ . maybe im crazy or headed for disaster..... if i am please let me know. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[MTBlue]

Give it try, but don't expect everything to go that smoothly and don't be suprised if you hit the rail again. 2 months isn't a whole lot of time to improve your game from a 11$ sitn go player to a winner at 5/10 6 max who several posters have said is the hardest game on party.

[Godfather80]

[ QUOTE ]
i bring 4 buy ins when i go to the casino and do fine at 1-2 where unfortunatley the buy in is 100 max but in other live games 250 max i bring 1000 and do fine, maybe because im not seeing as many hands. i dont play alot online and dont have a big roll but have found that at .10-.25NL im doing fine with 6+ buy ins and plan on moving up to .25-.50NL once i hit 300$. started with 10$ in my account and worked it up at .05-.10 and moved up using my 6x rule went to .10-.25 at 150$ . maybe im crazy or headed for disaster..... if i am please let me know. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The 20x buy-in rule only exists to protect you and your full bankroll from risk of ruin. It isn't really there to guide you as to how much cash you bring to an individual session. Obviously at $.10/.25, you could lose your $150 playing great poker due to variance, but you'd simply redeposit as $150 isn't truly your bankroll.

[Allinlife]

post more hands, not plans

[DJ Sensei]

IMO, a better gameplan is this:
-Take the $200, put it in a site that offers NL($10), hopefully with a deposit bonus.
-Play NL10 until your bankroll is over $500. Start with no more than 2 tables until you are quite comfortable with the game. Add additional tables as you like, but whenever you feel overloaded, close one.
-Once your bankroll is over $500, you can move up to NL25. Play there until you build up to over $1000. If your roll ever drops below $250, or you feel uncomfortable with the game, move back to NL10 and work back up.
-If you can get a deposit/redeposit bonus on the same or a different site, do that now.
-Play NL50, build up to over $2000, move up to NL100. If you drop below $600, drop back down to NL25.
-Play NL100 for at least 20K hands. From what I understand, the level of play steepens more at NL200 and above, and if you don't understand the game enough to play at that level, you stand to lose a lot fast.
-Once your roll is above $5000, its time to give NL200 a try. Perhaps play one table of NL200 along with a few of NL100 until you get a feel for the game.
-and so on...

Basically, start playing just ring games, and save STTs for an occasional break.
Never play a game without at least 20 times the buyin in your roll (maybe more, for shorthanded play), and if you hit a bad run, drop back down.
Never play more tables than you are VERY comfortable with.
Don't do anything irrational (like play $215 STTs or NL games that you arent properly bankrolled/skilled enough for)
Continue reading, posting, and learning the game.
If possible, find a partner on a similar plan and team up to work on each other's games. You'll often learn much more when somebody else takes a look at your play.

And of course, good luck!

[PuertoKid]

Despite what others say, I think building a bankroll through STT's is a fine plan and a good way to go.

However, your overall plan seems naive.

[MikeSmith]

Your goal should be to not play sit n gos outside of your bankroll/skill level. Dont try to force earnings or you will for sure bust. I have done similar things where i became so obsessed with making money that i played sit n gos differently from my optimal play.

[elus2]

i'd rather play the HU SNG's on stars for bankroll building.