Bankroll question

[absentx]

I put this in the theory board, but no one answered, will try it here

Okay quick question about bankroll for online players. I just made a deposit of fifty bucks, and had some good sessions to bring me up to 200 bucks, playing 1-2. Now my friend right now is reading some book "killing internet hold em" and he said, to withdraw 150 of that and just keep your fifty in there.

I disagree, the object of my playing online is obviously to build a bankroll and move up in limits. Now two hundred bucks is enough to withstand a few swings at 1-2, i know its not the recommended 300bb but at least i have some room.

So my question is, should I withdraw and just keep my online account at the bare minimum for one session or keep building it until i have the proper cushion to be comfortable and move up levels.

I think the idea to withdraw everytime you win defeats the whole purpose of a bankroll, obviously one wants to collect there winings, but dont you need a foundation first??

[agenbite]

I would certainly leave it in your online account and allow the bankroll to build. If you are fortunate enough to start with 50 bucks and build a reasonable bankroll for $1/2 limit HE (in my book you need $1000 but that's just me), pat yourself on the back. I would only withdraw money if you are far exceed your bankroll requirements for the limit you play at, but I would still keep the windfall in a totally separate checking account for infusion during dry spells. I personally have a checking account linked with Netteller solely for poker. Thankfully I haven't needed to deposit any money since July. I hope this helps.

[Hallett]

If you like, you can move whatever amount you don't feel comfortable leaving on the poker site to Neteller, which is like an internet wallett. Easy to move $$ back and forth, not related to any poker site, and secure. Nice solution.

Hallett

[daveymck]

Use Netteller and bonus whore to get you initial bankroll up.

Intercasino do $50 per month if you play 300 hands each and every month (maybe 6 hrs or so), I play there early in the month move my money back out and back into party or wherever.

Most the big sites have decent bonus's on joining so its worth going through them but but check out some of the thoughts from previous postings on here about the merits of play on each some places like Stars ring might be best avoided till you get more experience.

[harboral]

The real question is do you really think a $50 BR for $1/2 is anygood? That is a single buy-in. Even the $200 you have is very weak (as you said). Problem with friends is they usually have an opionion about YOUR MONEY. And the problem you are going to have in a few days is you will have left the $200 in there, and then run into a standard swing where you lose most of the $200 and your friend will say "See, I told you to take it out". IMHO I'd leave the money if I really though I could play and work from there. If you think (be honest) you have been lucky, pull some of the money and enjoy it before it is gone. Al

[absentx]

Harboral,

Thanks for the reply but I have a few concerns with your post. I realize 200 is about 1/3 of what you would want for a 1-2 bankroll, but it is enough for four losing sessions.

Now you say pull it out and enjoy it if I think it was luck.
That just seems to be the exact opposite of how I am thinking right now. A lot of people on these forums have turned small bankrolls into some serious four or five figure bank rolls. Taking my money out to "enjoy" before I lose it all will not get me any closer to were I want to be.

I want to build a 300bb roll so that I can make withdraws and advance in levels, am I taking the wrong approach to doing it? I just seem to get so many mixed answers here!

[MarkD]

IF you are a winning player - don't cash out. Keep building it and move up when you feel comfortable. Cash out extra money when you feel you have enough online to handle the swings at whatever limit you are currently playing at.

If you are not a winning player, and are in fact just lucky, then of course it's smarter to cash out your winnings and spend them because ultimately this let's you enjoy your short term success. Obviously this logic is ludicrous if you are a winning player and trying to move up in limits. Cashing out lessens your BR and increases your ROR (risk or ruin) so cashing out is stupid unless you have enough left over to handle swings.

So, in short - your friend sounds like a moron and that book sounds retarded (from the one line you cite).

[Stu Pidasso]

AbsenX,

That advice given by that Davey character concerning bonus whoring is good and you should follow it to build your bankroll. To manage what you already have I recommend the following:

Right now you have a bankroll of 200 big bets(at the .5/$1 limit). Its a little short, but it should do. Find the juicest games at .5/$1. Play in those games until your bankroll is $600. Once it is $600 dollars, go find the juiciest games at $1/$2 and play in them. If your bankroll grows to $1200 at $1/$2 move on to $2/$4. If your drops to $300 playing $1/$2 step back down to .5/$1 until you grow it back $600.

This strategy of allowing your bankroll to dictate when you step up and down in limits will keep you risk or ruin(i.e. the chance you go broke do to short term bad luck) to a neglible amount.


Good Luck

Stu

[steveyz]

It really depends on what you classify as your "bankroll". It is not just the amount you have in your Party account IF in the case that you lose all of it, you will be cashing in more from your bank account. After starting with $100 and busting out after a rough patch at the 1/2, I cashed in $200 more and never looked back. I suggest keeping at least 100 BBs in your PP account and have another 200BBs as backup in your bank acct.

[symphonic]

Stu gave you the best advice. Take your $200, and play it at .5/1 til you bring it up $600, then move to 1/2. A good majority of the people who turned small bankrolls into 4/5 figure bankrolls, started with what they had a bankroll for and gradually moved up in levels.