Time to Move Up?
Hey all,
I have been playing for three years now online, mostly at Pokerstars. I just went through a phase where I played absolutely every game on Pokerstars... NLH, 5-card-draw, badugi, triple draw, HORSE, etc. I mainly play $1-$3 buyin single table sitngos. For a long time now my Sharkscope avg. ROI has been between 25%-30%.
Is it time to move up?
My graph has been a consistent upward trend with very few spikes and valleys. I'm a bit anxious that I'll get killed at a new limit, such as $6 sitngos.
Also, should I focus on one game or keep plugging away? I'm not a big gambler and don't really play for the money ($250 profit after 480 sitngos, avg. $2 buy-in).
Time for a challenge, given the ROI?
Thanks,
GoLeafs1982
Comments
My first suggestion is to go to a book store and read some of the nbooks... They have some written specifically on this topic, although I have never bought or read one 
If I am playing 9-player SnGs, I feel completely safe playing with enough money to buy in 20 times. I dont know the math, but I think if a break-even player playes with 20 buy-ins they will probably not go broke ever on those games. If you play MTTs then you will need more.
I would stick to one game and have proper bankroll management,
I play STT (9-man sngs) and its recommend to have 100 buyins, and preferable to only move up once you have 100 buyins at a given level. You could take shots and move up with less buyins but you have to be willing to move back down if you go on a downswing.
Wow - that seems like a lot of buy-ins. I guess the bad math swings can be a lot worse than I thought. Whatever the number of buy-ins you decide to go with, pinkpantherr's advice about be willing to move back is key. If you decide to play only when you have 100 buyins then you can move up from $2 to $3 anytime you have $300 in your bankroll. But if/when the bankroll drops below $300, immediately move down until you are above the threshold. This will ensure you never go broke, and will give you lots of trial jumps back at the next level till you burst through for good.
Here's a popular article on BR management : SNG/Multitable SNG/MTT Bankroll Management Chart and Guide
And here's another popular classic from Chris 'Fox' Wallace: Basic BR Management
As for being "a bit anxious that I'll get killed at a new limit", I wouldn't be. The skill level is very comparable all the way up to $10, perhaps even higher. There may be a few less fish, but still very abundant. I'm astonished everyday at some of the plays I see in the $11+1 turbos on FTP.
GL
from my experience playing the 6 dollar sit n gos at PS is that the players there are a lot better than the ones at the 13 dollar ones, weird. I swear. I think you should just test those waters out. It wouldn't hurt at all and if it does at least you know you can always move down and make back your loss.
id say at least take a shot. Ur already playing a very small limit, why not jump up a notch and see how it gos. Trust me the next limit up is still going to be the same caliber of players. Its not till u get to the higher limits u find anyone playing anything other then abc poker or just maniacs
I would stick to one game and specialize in that. Each type of game requires different skills. It's better to focus your game and reach your peak.
As far as money management goes, I follow a 100 buy in rule. Once I have 100 buy ins for the level I'm at I start taking shots at the next level. If I feel comfortable at that level I will stick to it until I drop to 75 buy ins for my previous level. If I go below that I will step down and grind back to 100+ buy ins.
You need about 2000 games before you can say what your ROI really is at a given level. But given that yours is so high you'd probably balance out around 10 or 15% after 2000 games. If that were the case you'd be bust proof at about 50 buy ins at that level.
So I would say it's time to move up and take shots at the next level.
hmm, the biggest problem i see here is that your ROI is most likely not anywhere near an accurate representation you have only played 480 games and many consider 5000 to be a good "true ROI" indication
the $6 level isnt all that much different you will just see a few more players that know the basic ICM sng strategy.
Forgot to add, if you think I should move up, any ideas on a system to manage my low-limit online career? Some kind of money management system?