Brick & Mortar noob question

Posting here b/c I don't want to get completely flamed in the B&M forum.

I've only played online, but when playing at a limit table in a casino is there a recommended amount that you sit with? Am thinking that maybe there's a multiplier rule of thumb to use, like 25 or 30 times the big bet, at least for the low limits.

Thinking about playing at a 3-6 table, and was going to take $125 or $150. Is this an ok amount?

[stoli]

At the casino I play at almost everyone buys into the 3-6 game with a rack of white (100 in singles). But sometimes I'll take double that or 150. I wouldn't worry about appearances that much, let your playing do the talking. But some people perceive when someone sits down with 200 or more that they are buying in with that amount in anticipation of losing and not wanting to get up to rebuy. Some people will interpret as you trying to intimidate them, but most or almost all won't notice how much you bought in for.

[ QUOTE ]
At the casino I play at almost everyone buys into the 3-6 game with a rack of white (100 in singles). But sometimes I'll take double that or 150. I wouldn't worry about appearances that much, let your playing do the talking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks a lot Stoli! Indeed, I'll try and let my play speak for me (well that is).

[4_2_it]

$150 should be fine. Good luck.

[AKQJ10]

I posted it over there anyway, because I think it should be in the FAQ.

(Another example of why wikis and FAQs are a natural fit....)

[deathtoau]

My rule of thumb is to buy in for 20 BB and have an additional 30 BB in my pocket. If you ever get below 12 BB on the table, just pull some more cash out.

[Peter666]

Rule of thumb: 30 BB's.

[Browny]

I usually buy-in for 25xBB initially. I think you need to have a significant amount behind that, though. If you think you are playing well you should continue, whether you are down 3 buy-ins or up three. Remember it is all one long session!

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If you think you are playing well you should continue, whether you are down 3 buy-ins or up three. Remember it is all one long session!

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Great point, and I actually have a follow-on question. How many hands (how long) should I be playing in one sitting to assume I'm getting a fair run of cards. They say that a deck should be shuffled 7x to guarantee randomness, so is there a generally accepted number of hands one should play in one sitting to try and smooth out really great or really poor cards? Assuming of course that you may leave based on your winning or losing, table conditions, opponents, etc. even if you think cards are going to turn in your favor at some point.

Obviously I probably wouldn't want to go and play for only an hour, but is 3 okay, or is 4 better, or 5?

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
If you think you are playing well you should continue, whether you are down 3 buy-ins or up three. Remember it is all one long session!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's fine and good, and of course it's theoretically unimpeachable. However, in practice a new player in the cardroom for the first time WON'T know whether she's playing better than the competition, unless she has a good bit of online or home game experience. (The OP mentions his online experience but not how much he has.) Sure, it's possible to watch the hands other people show down and gasp at their profligacy in playing 10 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] under the gun, but it takes a while to really get to the point where you KNOW you can beat a game even when you're down 50 big bets.

I would say, if the OP either
<ul type="square">[*]doesn't feel comfortable taking a huge loss due to variance at these stakes, or[*]doesn't KNOW that he can beat the game he's playing in,[/list]then he'd be well-advised to set a stop loss of 30 BB. If you hit it, no worries, just go home and practice at smaller stakes online before returning to the cardroom. Sure, -30 BB runs can be pure dumb luck -- but it takes experience to KNOW that your downswing is dumb luck.

Those of us who've weathered a few swings -- and I'm a newbie relative to many on this forum -- tend to forget how hard it is to distinguish downswings because of one's play from downswings because of dumb luck.