How much should I buy-in for?

[BobbySalami]

Hello all,

I am a newb to NLHE, been playing a month on Full Tilt with a $50 deposit. I am playing 0.05/0.10, I am doing okay, I have netted $25 so far.

Anyways, the max buyin at these tables is $10, but I usually sit with $4...is this okay? I have it in the back of my head that, I might win a few bucks which is nice, but I also wont loose much, is that too passive of thinking?....should I be sitting with $10?

Thanks

[storm75m]

Max buyin = maximum winning potential, max risk
small buying = less winning potential, less risk

I used to buy in short when I first started, to build my BR and to make sure I kept it tight.

But you hate the times that you're sitting with a small stack and hit a monster, with someone else betting into you.

You just have to find your comfort zone. It's always recommended to buy in for the max, but I know other successful players that buy in short as well.

[drmcboy]

small buying = less winning potential, less risk = scared.

Buy in for the max or move down a level. You're the good player, you want to maximize your gains, not save people money when you have the best hand.

[BobbySalami]

small buying = less winning potential, less risk = scared.

Buy in for the max or move down a level. You're the good player, you want to maximize your gains, not save people money when you have the best hand.

Lol...I dont believe its possible for me to move down a level. But I suppose you are right, I do play a bit scared, even though my BR is not scared money I still look at $75 as a lot of money.....geuss I need to stop looking at it as money, and more as playing units.

[ChezJ]

if you sit down shortstacked, you are just BEGGING to be bullied around by the bigger stacks. they will bluff you into folding your top pair over and over again, while they hold nothing, because you have "SCAREDY CAT" plastered all over your screen name.

[BobbySalami]

if you sit down shortstacked, you are just BEGGING to be bullied around by the bigger stacks. they will bluff you into folding your top pair over and over again, while they hold nothing, because you have "SCAREDY CAT" plastered all over your screen name.

Fair enough.....whould it scream Scaredy Cat for any amount less than the max?

[ChezJ]

if you wanna avoid looking scared, buy in with no less than 75% of the max. maybe closer to 80%.

keep in mind, there are other reasons to buy in with the max, other than not getting pushed around. you want to have enough muscle to push other people around when you catch a good but vulnerable hand. say TPTK with a 2-flush showing. if you move all-in with like $5 in a pot of $15, you really won't protect anything. in fact it will look like a desperation move.

i know people who intentionally buy in with a small amount and camp out for monsters that they can trap with. they make a hand, bet a "timid" amount, then wait for someone to try and bully them out of the pot. they call all-in, double up, then start using their new chip strength to bully others around. this is a legitimate strategy but i think it's probably not meant for the beginners circle.

ChezJ

[a500lbgorilla]

if you sit down shortstacked, you are just BEGGING to be bullied around by the bigger stacks. they will bluff you into folding your top pair over and over again, while they hold nothing, because you have "SCAREDY CAT" plastered all over your screen name.

Fair enough.....whould it scream Scaredy Cat for any amount less than the max?

Buy in for 6.66 and start quoting holy scripture.

"THE END IS NIGH!"

-'rilla

[BobbySalami]

if you sit down shortstacked, you are just BEGGING to be bullied around by the bigger stacks. they will bluff you into folding your top pair over and over again, while they hold nothing, because you have "SCAREDY CAT" plastered all over your screen name.

Fair enough.....whould it scream Scaredy Cat for any amount less than the max?

Buy in for 6.66 and start quoting holy scripture.

"THE END IS NIGH!"

-'rilla

Lmao......

But good points Chez....Ill keep that in mind. I'll start sitting with $8 and see what it does for me...thanks.