Advice to people stuck @ the small stakes too long

[me454555]

1st of all, beating 6 max isn't THAT tough but you've gotta give yourself a fighting chance. The biggest mistake I see most of the new players make is that they understimate variance. 300 bbs is plenty to play full ring but in 6 max, 300bbs is NOTHING. You can go on 100 bb swings in 1k hands easily and 200bb swings are somewhat common as well. If I were to attack a 6max game, I'd want a minimum of 500 bbs and prolly more like 750 so I could lose 250 w/out sweating it.

Actually, the reason I moved back to full ring is b/c I was unhappy w/my win rate at 6max although it was better than 1bb/100 and wanted to take a little break. Its a very stressful game, you either feast or famine and its something that takes getting used to. For the record, I think full ring is more profitable b/c the rake is about .5bbs/100 hands less but the skills you learn in SH will help immensely at full ring. Its something worth learning and something that can significantly help out your game if you are stuck below 15/30.

[TheHammer24]

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I've got this cycle that I've become accustomed to. Start with 1800,build it up to 3000 at 3/6 full, jump to 5/10 and drop down to 2000. Go back to 3/6 full, grind it up to 3500, jump to 5/10 shorthanded (3/6 shorthanded would have been the more informed choice) and drop back down to 1800. I currently have 2960, approaching the 300bb point for 5/10...

My winrate at 3/6 full is 2.9bb/hand for over 20k hands. I feel that I am outplaying my opponents at 3/6 but with every hand that I won today I felt myself getting closer and closer to starting this cycle over.

Perhaps I will take your advice and play some 3/6 shorthanded when I reach $3000.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is why I stay at 2/4 Full. I'm winning at 3BB/100, all shots at the higher limits have failed so far, and I would still have to be a 1.5/100 winrate at 3/6 for it to be more profitable. 2/4 is just more profitable for me, I don't really have any ambitions to move up to 30/60, I'm content with making $30 an hour at 2/4

[me454555]

1.5 bbs/100 @ 3/6 is NOT hard at all. I'm running aroudn 2.5 bbs/100 and I know people running at much more. Its not about dreams of playing 30/60, its just about getting better at poker

[Alex/Mugaaz]

I just don't make a big deal about moving up. I will always play the best game going unless I have less than 100bbs for that game(The games I usually end up playing put me at around 350bb). If there are no good games going I have no problem playing 2/4 if need be. I started at 2c/4c and moved up whenever I had enough and the games are good. I think the big mistake is people here "take shots" which more or less means they win some money and go sit in a higher game, regardless of how good it is. I can't think of a better way to lose. Seriouly, what do the stakes matter? The #1 criteria is how good the game is. My winrate in the games I sit in is almost always higher than normal WRs. Since I only play in good games it allows me to play on a little shorter br, and if it goes south I don't have problems with tilt and dropping to the lower game doesn't bother me. Also I'm a giant luckbox and that helps a lot, but I'm sure a part of that is that I always play in good games on some sort of bonus which gives me the highest WR possible at all times.

[me454555]

Finding the best game does not mean making the most $$. I can beat a .02/04 game for 10 bbs/100 but I can beat a 3/6 game for 2 bbs/100 and the winrate isn't even close.

My post isn't meant for those of you who are happy grinding out a few extra $$/hr @ 2/4 or 3/6. It was meant for those who desire to move up the limits and develop their poker skills beyond what they need to do @ the LLs

[ QUOTE ]
Finding the best game does not mean making the most $$. I can beat a .02/04 game for 10 bbs/100 but I can beat a 3/6 game for 2 bbs/100 and the winrate isn't even close.

My post isn't meant for those of you who are happy grinding out a few extra $$/hr @ 2/4 or 3/6. It was meant for those who desire to move up the limits and develop their poker skills beyond what they need to do @ the LLs

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree even though I've never played higher than 5/10 at this point. I like SH games because they are a more challenging and fun than the full games. In a 10 handed game, people just sit tight and wait to raise with their AK. In SH, you have to be more creative, and know when your mid pair is good. [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

[me454555]

Learning how to take advantage of both types of opponents is important

[DMBFan23]

are you serious? stakes matter. risk of ruin?

[Alex/Mugaaz]

The stakes don't matter that much because I am not playing the higher games as my primary game. Let's say someone has 400bb's and play 3/6 regularly and is a winner. He logs on one day and see a 10/20 game thats play like .5/1 I would jump in with whatever I'm comfortable with losing as long as the game is good. If I go up 4bb and the fish leaves then I'm done with the game. That's what I'm talking about. If you play poker as your sole income the advice may not be a good idea, I agree. I don't "take shots". I don't sit in a game wondering if I can beat it or not. If I'm playing I'm sure I'm a winner. It seems to me the consesus here is to have a super nitty bankroll, always play in a so-so game, then become a gambling retard and try to luckbox a higher game you're unskilled enough to play, hoping that if youg et lucky your skill will catch up with you before ev does. I'm not even close to the best guy in the SS skillwise forums, but my results are probably close to it.I focus on what matters and don't sweat the small stuff.

[me454555]

Your making way too much out of game selection. I've never had a problem finding good games below 10/20