Buying in too big?

[JJNJustin]

I have been watching and playing in the no-limit games in Detroit, and it is my observation that most players buy-in far too high for the stakes that are being gambled on a per/hand basis. For example, the blinds in the Detrot games are $2,$5,and $5, yet it is not uncommon for players to buy-in for $3500 or more. This wouldnt be bad if they were using this stack to their advantage, yet I almost never see confrontations involving even a significant portion of this stack. It is my feeling that buying in big, while giving a player a sense of power or dominance, may not be the best strategy if you dont intend to use your stack to your advantage. Basically, it removes the power of the "all-in" play, since players are reluctant to use it in 99% of the situations because the size of the pot in relationship to their stack is relatively small.

Wouldnt it be more effective to buy-in for say $400 and keep many rebuys in your pocket. Now moving in becomes a more reasonable play in many more situations. After all, the all-in play is the most powerful play in this game, so why buy in for such a ridiculously high amount that you never intend to use and keeps you from using the all-in move effectively, either as a bluff or semi-bluff or whatever.

In my opinion, buying in too big has it's disadvantages as well as its obvious advantages. Most of all, it can leave a player vulnerable during the later streets with a great but not "nut" hand. For example, if you hold three of a kind on the river and a straight shows, it would be difficult to call $2500 of your chips in an $500 pot. However, if you had bought in for less, you might have already been all-in before the river and hence have removed the bluff play from your opponent.

These are just some observations I've had watching no-limit in Detroit. Guys are buying in for $3500 or $10,000 in this game, where the blinds are $2,$5, and $5. My guess is they are passing on many lucrative gambles and waiting for that one big score when they hold four of a kind or a straight flush. What a pathetic strategy.

Am I off base here?

What are the advantages/disadvantages to buying in small and planning to rebuy if you bust or buying in very big.

peace
-J