Bankroll Management 102

[Chopper]

Please don't confuse this post with another "bad beat" post.

This is meant for that ONE person out there who still believes they can beat the game on an insufficient bankroll. Don't "buck the system." Short-term variance WILL, I'll say it again, WILL catch up to you at some point.

Listen to those with experience because they have probably learned the hard way. There are plenty of experienced players here who TRULY want to help you understand the fundamentals of the game.

Here is why you need to heed their advice: I have built my bankroll to just over $600 and will only play at $10 and $25 NL full rings. The 20-30 buy-in rule is in place for this reason...

Have you ever aggressively played AA five times in one day and lost four of them? Yes, that is what I am going to show you, and the reason is to demonstrate what would happen if I played at levels "over my head."

HAND 1:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Button =#A500AF(Villain)/ ($74.50)
Hero ($19.50)
BB ($24.15)
UTG ($25.90)
UTG+1 ($22.15)
MP1 ($20.45)
MP2 ($35.90)
CO ($10.60)

Preflop: Hero is SB with :ah, :ac.
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, Button =#A500AF(Villain)/ calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.5, 1 fold, UTG calls $1.25, MP1 folds, CO calls $1.25, Button =#A500AF(Villain)/ calls $1.25.

Flop: ($6.50) :tc, :5d, :3h (4 players)
Hero bets $6.25, UTG folds, CO folds, Villain calls $6.25.

Turn: ($19) :9h (2 players)
Hero bets $11.75 (All-In), Villain calls $11.75.

River: ($42.50) :9d (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $42.50

Results in white below:
Hero has Ah Ac (two pair, aces and nines).
Villain has Qd Td (two pair, tens and nines).
Outcome: Hero wins $42.50.

You can't lose everytime with Aces, but the next four are what this post is all about.

HAND 2: Sorry, this one is not in the converter's recognized list.

Game #1745545453: Hold'em NL ($0.15/$0.25) - 2006/03/03 - 14:53:21 (ET)
Table "Sadko" Seat 6 is the button.
Seat 1: annom ($15.80 in chips)
Seat 2: BubbaDave ($28.91 in chips)
Seat 3: Frick2 ($9.15 in chips)
Seat 4: __gog__ ($26.34 in chips)
Seat 5: Hero ($22.15 in chips)
Seat 6: Villain ($12.05 in chips)
Seat 7: lara777 ($11.75 in chips)
Seat 8: jano ($14.78 in chips)
Seat 9: isoraimo ($150.89 in chips)
Seat 10: ---ATF--- ($24.75 in chips)
lara777: posts small blind $0.15
jano: posts big blind $0.25
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to Hero [As Ah]
isoraimo: calls $0.25
---ATF---: raises to $0.50
annom: folds
BubbaDave: folds
Frick2: folds
__gog__: folds
annom leaves the table
Hero: raises to $1.50
Villain: calls $1.50
lara777: folds
jano: folds
isoraimo: folds
---ATF---: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [Kc Qc 6h]
---ATF---: checks
Hero: bets $4
Villain: calls $4
---ATF---: folds
----- TURN ----- [Kc Qc 6h][4c]
Hero: bets $7.25
Villain: is all-in $6.55
Returned uncalled bets $0.70 to knockout
----- RIVER ----- [Kc Qc 6h 4c][5h]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Hero: shows [As Ah] (A Pair of Aces, King high)
Villain: shows [6c Ac] (A Flush, Ace high)
Villain collects $24.95 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $26.25 Main pot $24.95 Rake $1.30
Board [Kc Qc 6h 4c 5h]
Seat 2: BubbaDave folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Frick2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: __gog__ folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Hero showed [As Ah] and lost
Seat 6: Villain (button) showed [6c Ac] and won ($24.95) with A Flush, Ace high
Seat 7: lara777 (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: jano (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: isoraimo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: ---ATF--- folded on the Flop
****HAND ENDS****

True, it didn't cost a lot because of the limit and I had him covered, but what if I was on a $50 or $100 NL table? What if villain had me covered? How expensive could that have been? True, that's only one hand and Aces don't fail you that often, right?

HAND 3: Another w/o converter. Again sorry.

Game #1745572053: Hold'em NL ($0.15/$0.25) - 2006/03/03 - 14:56:18 (ET)
Table "Picado" Seat 6 is the button.
Seat 1: fisk76 ($37.05 in chips)
Seat 2: Minisessa ($4 in chips)
Seat 3: ---ATF--- ($18 in chips)
Seat 4: hero ($22.15 in chips)
Seat 5: threelegs ($17.95 in chips)
Seat 6: xoftresed ($17.38 in chips)
Seat 7: Thomba68 ($36.58 in chips)
Seat 8: Casewhite ($48.25 in chips)
Seat 9: lara777 ($29.55 in chips)
Seat 10: villain ($13.70 in chips)
Thomba68: posts small blind $0.15
Casewhite: posts big blind $0.25
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to hero [Ah Ad]
lara777: folds
villain: calls $0.25
fisk76: folds
Minisessa: folds
---ATF---: folds
hero: raises to $1
threelegs: calls $1
xoftresed: folds
Thomba68: folds
Casewhite: calls $0.75
villain: calls $0.75
----- FLOP ----- [7d 9h 2d]
Casewhite: checks
villain: bets $2
hero: raises to $4
threelegs: calls $4
Casewhite: folds
villain: raises to $12.70 and is all-in
hero: calls $8.70
threelegs: calls $8.70 THANK GOODNESS FOR SIDE POTS!
----- TURN ----- [7d 9h 2d][8c]
hero: bets $4.50
threelegs: is all-in $4.25
Returned uncalled bets $0.25 to hero
----- RIVER ----- [7d 9h 2d 8c][3c]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
hero: shows [Ah Ad] (A Pair of Aces, Nine high)
threelegs: shows [Jd 8d] (A Pair of Eights, Jack high)
villain: shows [7s 7c] (Three of a kind, Sevens, Nine high)
hero: collects $8.10 from Side pot #1
villain collects $40.15 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $50.75 Main pot $40.15 Side pot #1 $8.10 | Rake $2.50
Board [7d 9h 2d 8c 3c]
Seat 1: fisk76 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Minisessa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ---ATF--- folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: hero showed [Ah Ad] and won ($8.10) with A Pair of Aces, Nine high
Seat 5: threelegs showed [Jd 8d] and lost
Seat 6: xoftresed (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Thomba68 (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Casewhite (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: lara777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: villain showed [7s 7c] and won ($40.15) with Three of a kind, Sevens, Nine high
****HAND ENDS****

I know, that will happen sometimes, and it's only twice in a row..surely, the guys I see on TV have had this happen to them. I'll get these fish next time I see AA, they'll never know what hit them!

HAND 4...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

UTG =#A500AF(Villain)/ ($5.10)
UTG+1 ($9.85)
Hero ($10.20)
MP2 ($4.25)
MP3 ($6.75)
CO ($17.70)
Button ($5.55)
SB ($26.30)
BB ($10.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with :ah, :ad.
UTG =#A500AF(Villain)/ raises to $0.3, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.2, 6 folds, UTG =#A500AF(Villain)/ calls $0.90.

Flop: ($2.55) :ts, :6c, :2h (2 players)
Villain bets $1, Hero raises to $4, Villain calls $2.90 (All-In).

Turn: ($10.45) :js (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($10.45) :9c (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $10.45

Results in white below:
Villain has Jh Th (two pair, jacks and tens).
Hero has Ah Ad (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Villain wins $10.35. Hero wins $0.09.

WOW, some short-term bad luck here. But it could've been worse; I could have gone up against people that had me covered. WOW, that could have been ugly today...Oh, here's a thought, what if I was playing "over my head?" I'd be down like $50 already.

HAND 5: This one's probably the worst!!

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (7 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Button ($8.70)
SB ($3.90)
BB ($17.70)
UTG ($2)
MP1 ($4.25)
Hero ($9.65)
CO =#A500AF(Villain)/ ($22.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with :ad, :as.
UTG calls $0.10, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.4, 1 fold, Button calls $0.40, SB calls $0.35, BB calls $0.30, UTG calls $0.30.

Flop: ($2) :ah, :5c, :td (5 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.1, UTG raises to $0.2, Hero calls $0.20, Button folds, SB calls $0.20, BB calls $0.10.

Turn: ($2.80) :8h (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets $0.4, Hero raises to $4.8, SB calls $3.30 (All-In), BB folds, UTG calls $1 (All-In).

River: ($12.30) :tc (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $12.30

Results in white below:
SB has Ts Th (four of a kind, tens).
UTG has Qh Js (one pair, tens).
Hero has Ad As (full house, aces full of tens).
Outcome: SB wins $10.80. Hero wins $1.50.

This is just nasty today. When was the last time ANYBODY lost four consecutive deals of AA? Imagine if this last one was on TV at the WSOP? Man, I'd be the recipient of the worst bad beat the tourney has ever seen. How many times would that have been replayed? 1000?

Anyway, back to the point. This will happen to you to someday. If you made it this far through the post, thank you, and let's do some math, ok?

I lost, on two levels, a total of $9.95. Outstanding considering I lost 80% of the AA's I was dealt.

But what if I played all at $25 NL? The answer: ($23.45)

And at $50 NL? ($46.90)

And at $100 NL? ($93.80) This is the one my bankroll couldn't stand to lose.

Again, don't play above your head!! If you have the bankroll, you can shrug these off monetarily, mentally is another topic.

I didn't make any critical mistakes; I just got whipped. But, with a shorter bankroll, the AA hands alone would have damaged me BIG TIME.

Is any of this starting to sink in? You will go through your share of bad cards in this game, but, if you have the proper bankroll, you will LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. Who knows you may just see a hand like this...

Game #1745889543: Hold'em NL ($0.15/$0.25) - 2006/03/03 - 15:17:36 (ET)
Table "Picado" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 1: villain ($36.55 in chips)
Seat 2: Minisessa ($4.25 in chips)
Seat 3: ---ATF--- ($18 in chips)
Seat 4: hero ($20.50 in chips)
Seat 5: BizR ($23.80 in chips)
Seat 6: MacGyver4 ($24.10 in chips)
Seat 7: Thomba68 ($32.08 in chips)
Seat 8: Casewhite ($59 in chips)
Seat 10: Reeflect ($25.85 in chips)
Casewhite: posts small blind $0.15
Reeflect: posts big blind $0.25
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to hero [Ad Ks]
villain: calls $0.25
Minisessa: folds
---ATF---: folds
Angavar joins the table at seat #9
hero: raises to $1
BizR: folds
MacGyver4: folds
Thomba68: folds
Casewhite: folds
Reeflect: folds
villain: calls $0.75
----- FLOP ----- [Ac 8d 5s]
villain: checks
hero: bets $1.75
villain: calls $1.75
----- TURN ----- [Ac 8d 5s][6h]
villain: checks
hero: bets $3.50
villain: calls $3.50
----- RIVER ----- [Ac 8d 5s 6h][Ah]
villain: checks
hero: bets $14.25 and is all-in
villain: calls $14.25
----- SHOW DOWN -----
hero: shows [Ad Ks] (Three of a kind, Aces, King high)
villain: shows [Th As] (Three of a kind, Aces, Ten high)
hero collects $39.35 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $41.40 Main pot $39.35 Rake $2.05
Board [Ac 8d 5s 6h Ah]
Seat 1: villain showed [Th As] and lost
Seat 2: Minisessa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ---ATF--- folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: hero showed [Ad Ks] and won ($39.35) with Three of a kind, Aces, King high
Seat 5: BizR folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: MacGyver4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Thomba68 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Casewhite (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Reeflect (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
****HAND ENDS****

The sweet part about the hand is I had just lost a buy-in to villain 3 hands ago when he cracked my KK. REVENGE IS SWEET!!

I apologize for using some names here and hope nobody is offended, but i figured they weren't really involved and lose none of their identity by being spectators.

I really hope this helped somebody. Please feel free to comment so I don't think I wasted my time here.

Good day

[eeeee]

Sometimes it seems this forum is good for one new thread per week saying, "I don't have to follow BR guidelines, do I? -- I'm different."
Chopper, yours is a nice illustration of why we follow the guidelines.

[SinkRox]

some of your pre-flop raises aren't acheiving their purpose. You want to get HU, not 5-way. Adjust your PFR to cater for amount of limpers and their playing type/table type.

aces are gonna get cracked pretty dam often 4 or 5 way, aim for HU of 3way at most - they'll be easier to play post flop and more successful.

[Chopper]

although i understand the necessity of playing AA as close to heads up as possible, when you're the first one in the pot i don't think you can alter your standard raise and still get action. anyone with two brain cells rattling around their head will notice, "he usually raises 4x, now he comes in for 7x? that's probably KK or AA! don't give that one action...FOLD"

i could adjust when i'm not first in, and that makes a lot of sense to add 1x for every limper, but i wasn't always in position w/ those examples.

[Renton]

At 25nl I do my pfr's like this (with ANY hand, be it AA, or JJ or AQs).

Default raise (opening or with one limper in early position:

1.50

and then I add .25 for every limper. If you are in a five way limped pot, raising it up a buck isn't cutting it. In a case like that I will often raise to like 2.50.

Who cares if you don't get callers, you are making 2.5bb off the hand risk free.

The only time I go under this number of 1.50 is when I am opening in late position with big hand, then I might bump it down to 1.00 or 1.25.

[lolzzz_321]

aanyone with two brain cells rattling around their head will notice, "he usually raises 4x, now he comes in for 7x? that's probably KK or AA! don't give that one action...FOLD"

They don't know what 4x and 7x mean, and they only have one brain cell.

[DaNutsInYoEye]

Please don't confuse this post with another "bad beat" post.

Don't confuse it for a BR management post either.