Moving Up
 

I have been playing poker for several years with increasing seriousness. Last year I started playing on line. Over that year or so I have been concentrating on tournament play, playing small stakes SNG and MTT tournaments (generally $20 buy in or less). I also played cash games but tournament play probably accounted for 75% of my play. Since August I have been playing more and more cash games. I started a couple of new accounts and have been multi-tabling $.25 PL/NL Hold'em tables in an attempt to earn deposit bonuses. I think I have these games beat and would like to move up. Here are my questions (I apologize if these issues have been beaten to death).

1. How do you know when you are ready to move up?

2. I would like to move up by contiuing to play two $.25 pl/nl tables and adding two $.50 pl/nl tables. Is this advisable or should I only play one limit at a time?

3. I know that the suggested bankroll is 20x the buy-in. Is this 20x the MAX buy-in or just 20x the amount you actually buy in (E.g., if I play $1 NL, $100 max buy-in, on line and buy in for only $50 is a bankroll of $1,000 ok)? Is the 20x figure an absolute minimum? Is there a better number? Should it be a bit higher when you are entering a new limit?

Thank you in advance for you assistance!

Re: Moving Up
 

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1. How do you know when you are ready to move up?

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When you're beating the current stakes and are sufficiently rolled to take a shot.
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2. I would like to move up by contiuing to play two $.25 pl/nl tables and adding two $.50 pl/nl tables. Is this advisable or should I only play one limit at a time?


[/ QUOTE ] Different strokes for different folks. I usually 2 or 3 table the limit in question when I move up.
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3. I know that the suggested bankroll is 20x the buy-in. Is this 20x the MAX buy-in or just 20x the amount you actually buy in (E.g., if I play $1 NL, $100 max buy-in, on line and buy in for only $50 is a bankroll of $1,000 ok)? Is the 20x figure an absolute minimum? Is there a better number? Should it be a bit higher when you are entering a new limit?

[/ QUOTE ] It's really an issue of comfort. I'm happy playing on ten buyins and moving down for a bit if I lose two or three. Others like to be more conservative.

Re: Moving Up
 

From fimbulwinter:

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first off you should never view it as a quantum leap kinda thing. just take little shots when you feel comfortable, have the money and are good enough. here's a hand waving yardstick:

try 50NL when:

- you're confident in your preflop game
- you understand position
- you have a good idea of their hand by the river
- you have an ok feel when to continuation bet
- you have 500 or more

100NL when:

- you're confident playing draws
- you can spot good semibluff opportunities
- you can lay down AA/KK unimproved
- you're attacking the blinds in easy steal situations
- you have 1200+

200NL when:

- you're ok betting your stack on a draw
- a PFR from you doesnt always mean AA-JJ and AQs+
- you're starting to play one hand while holding another
- you have more than one mode
- you have 3000 or more

400NL when:

- you can ID profitable preflop steals
- you know how to pick between b3b and c/r
- position factors heavily into your play
- you're good at manipulating pot size
- you have 6000+

1K NL when

- your lines don't define your hand
- you're good at playing and winning lots of small pots
- your oop opponent must hold a strong hand to win a pot from you
- you understand the real math of the game at least at a basal level
- you have 20000+

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Re: Moving Up
 

Abbreviation; "you know how to pick between b3b and c/r"
b3b = bet then three bet?

Re: Moving Up
 

Damn I miss Fimbulwinter!

Re: Moving Up
 

[ QUOTE ]
Abbreviation; "you know how to pick between b3b and c/r"
b3b = bet then three bet?

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I believe so.

Re: Moving Up
 

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2. I would like to move up by contiuing to play two $.25 pl/nl tables and adding two $.50 pl/nl tables. Is this advisable or should I only play one limit at a time?


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Mixing limits at the small stakes is fine, since there is little difference between levels. Good luck!