Psychological bankroll

bunky9590 · #1 01-28-2005, 01:39 PM

We all know about Mason's requirement for bankroll for B&M play is recommended @ 300BB. While that should be enough under normal conditions, the pace of play and the multitabling of the internet can create more fluctuations in your game from my experience. I have switched to limit 6 max and the games are profitable, but very volitle.

It has been recommended the 500BB is enough for that game, but I have found that my "psychological" bankroll for that game is 1000 BB. Dropping 200BB in 3 nights didn't bother me (it sure would have if I only had 300-500BB) anyone else require such a large bankroll to "ease the pain" of the variance monster?

Derek in NYC · #2 01-28-2005, 03:57 PM

Great concept, totally true. Except Im such a wuss, my psychological bankroll is 1000 bbs in full ring games.

Hermlord · #3 01-28-2005, 04:42 PM

Always better to be overbankrolled. Some of it depends on this: what is more upsetting to you, a night of monster suckouts online or a slow, month-long decline live? Obviously the one-night 100BB drop sucks, but the next day I'm always fine. Whereas a slow steady sink would probably eventually shake my confidence enough to actually alter my game (though I personally don't play live often enough for this to actually happen).

bunky9590 · #4 01-28-2005, 05:21 PM

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Great concept, totally true.

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Thanks D, Sometimes even I have a moment of clarity when I'm not being a smart ass. I'm in a express my thoughts mode today for some reason.

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Except Im such a wuss, my psychological bankroll is 1000 bbs in full ring games

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Wow! I thought I was bad. Wanna borrow a skirt?

Well, I wasn't a smart ass for half a response anyway.

Just kidding, Its all a matter of when you have enough roll to play in the game you are comfortable in why move up if you are not ready?

I'm in no hurry, I don't do this for a living, I play poker as a very profitable hobby. My poker roll, never touches my personal roll either. They are completely seperate.

AncientPC · #5 01-29-2005, 05:48 AM

I'm like this as well.

I was still playing NL 25 with a $5k+ bankroll, that'd be 200x max buy-in. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Now I'm only playing with a 60x buy-in bankroll. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

However when I drop 5+ buy-ins in a single day it's still a psychological hit for me and I have to take some time off.

beset7 · #6 01-29-2005, 08:21 PM

About six months ago I realized that I need atleast 200xBB more then the reccomended 300 because of my steam factor. It's gotten better but I just notice a signifigant lessening in my stress level if I have that extra cushion.

Plus, a character defect of mine as a poker player (or an asset depending on the night) is that I occassionally take a shot at games (usually live) that are way outside my bankroll if I think I can beat them. Sitting down I'm always aware that my risk of ruin has just shot way up but all the data in front of me spells "parlay." It's worked out a couple times and other times it hasn't.

Last night for example, I saw a bunch of drunk pai-gow players at the 10/20 w/ 20/40 over buttons table and I just had to take a shot. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who saw how juicy the game was and I didn't have the sense to step away w/ a healthy 10xBB in sugar when it went short-handed and I got my ass-kicked when I got in a pissing match with the wrong players. But, since I play w/ a cushioned bankroll this little lapse in judgment won't cause me too much pain. I'll still make my monthly nut and I will re-build the padding on my roll by the end of next month. My goal is to eventually weed the parlay-bug out of my system and work on lowering my steam factor (I think last night's experience might help me make a few steps in that direction) but at this point in my process I just have to accept it as a reality and adjust accordingly.

-Beset7

plj8624 · #7 01-29-2005, 11:08 PM

I have a different conception of psychological bankroll that an author, perhaps Schoonmaker introduced. Traditonal bankroll requirements are supposed to insulate you from the risk of going broke. Plug in win rate and standard deviation and you come up with something in the neighborhood of 300 BB. However, psychological bankroll is how much you can lose before it starts to affect your play. For instance you may determine that a 400 BB bankroll makes it virtually impossible for you to go broke if you play your normal best game. But you could still be in jeopardy if when you lose 100 BB you start to steam or go on tilt.