I don't mean any offence here, but this is what I mean by 'scared money'. Granted, you are managing your bankroll, but you are 'scared' to risk a whole buy-in. This also means if you do get a monster hand, your winnings are limited. And quite often, you won't have enough to push people off a hand. I'm also curious - if you lost the half buy-in, would you re-buy with another half buy-in?

An example today was when I had Qc Jc. I had raised to $1.50, 2 callers and the 3rd re-raised to $4. This re-raise wasn't enough considering the pot and I still had decent odds to call. The other 2 called also so I was putting in $2.50 extra for an eventual pot of $16, almost 6.5-1. Now the guy who had re-raised only had $20 when he sat down and this was his first hand. He now had $16 going to the flop and the pot was $16. The flop was 10-10-Q. Now the re-raiser bet out just $2.50, which to me showed his weakness. I raised to $7.50, the others folded, but he called. I have him on a draw here and considering his pre-flop re-raise, I think he has A-K. If he'd hit that flop big style, I would expect him to re-raise all-in. Now the pot is $31 and our re-raiser has just $8.50 left. The turn was a 2 or something, pretty useless anyway. I couldn't see how it helped him. Anyway, he pushed all-in with his last $8.50. So the pot is now $39.50 and I only have to pay $8.50 to call, odds of around 4.5-1. His weak flop bet and the fact I just couldn't see how the turn card could help him made my decision fairly easy. I called, he showed K-J. He had the straight draw. River was a 3 so I scooped his $20 from him. (I'm still not sure why he re-raised with K-J pre-flop)

The point here is he simply didn't have enough cash to get me off the pot on the turn. If he had bought in for the full $50, he could have bet the flop a lot harder and his final all-in could have been a lot more instead of $8.50. If that was the case I could easily have folded my hand away, fearing trips, A-Q etc. But his weak bets and lack of funds meant I could easily play the cards.

My advise is always buy in for the maximum amount. It maximises your winnings and gives you a lot more power. It is true that if you buy in for just $25, that is all you can lose. But if you are a decent player - which it sounds like you are - you shouldn't be worrying about losing the maximum buy-in

And I totally agree with you on the players that come in for wierd amounts being easy prey. A guy bought in for $23.54 or something similiar to that earlier today. He only lasted a few hands. lol

I would love to, but $50 would be 9% of my BR atm, way to much to risk. I used to buy in for less now my BR has increased so has my stake, when I get to $1000, i'll be taking $50 to the table

I am not defending my half buy in but just to note that normally when I get one of those monster all-in hands im up to about $40 anyway

I play PKR exclusively atm so my views on sng's may be a tad biased, but with the poor blind structure and overall slowness you need a lot of luck to cash, and even if you do the payout is poor for the time invested.

Just look at this hand for th beauty of ring games on PKR lol. I know I played it bad, just got sucked out on for a fairly large pot - I would never usually open limp with a mediocre ace.

Table #5027767 - The Glenthorne
Starting Hand #247439681
Last Hand #247438281
Game Type: Hold'em
Limit Type: No Limit
Table Type: Ring
Money Type: REAL MONEY
Blinds are now $0.50/$1
Button is at seat 10
Seat 1: Seanontheflop - $142.43
Seat 2: Zenturion - $98.50
Seat 3: Yakitori - $100
Seat 4: Mogwa1 - $196.05
Seat 5: Seylo - $83.90
Seat 6: klar65 - $47.30
Seat 7: pkrkrazy - $25
Seat 8: se7en77 - $128.43
Seat 9: WilliamVdB - $107.32
Seat 10: HamzaBenj - $77.90
Moving Button to seat 1
Zenturion posts small blind ($0.50)
Yakitori posts big blind ($1)
Shuffling Deck
Dealing Cards
Dealing [Th Ah] to Mogwa1
Mogwa1 calls $1
Seylo folds
klar65 folds
pkrkrazy calls $1
se7en77 folds
WilliamVdB folds
HamzaBenj calls $1
Seanontheflop folds
Zenturion calls $1
Yakitori raises to $5
Mogwa1 calls $5
pkrkrazy calls $5
HamzaBenj calls $5
Zenturion calls $5
Dealing Flop [Qh 5d 3h]
Zenturion checks
Yakitori bets $8
Mogwa1 calls $8
pkrkrazy raises to $16
HamzaBenj folds
Zenturion raises to $24
HamzaBenj can't believe it.
Yakitori folds
Mogwa1 calls $24
pkrkrazy calls $20 (all-in)
Dealing Turn [9d]
Zenturion checks
Mogwa1 checks
Dealing River [3c]
Zenturion checks
Mogwa1 checks
Taking Rake of $3 from pot 1
Zenturion shows [Jh 8h]
Zenturion has One Pair: 3s
Mogwa1 shows [Th Ah]
Mogwa1 has One Pair: 3s
Mogwa1 wins $8 from side pot #1 with: One Pair: 3s
Mogwa1 laughs his *** off.
pkrkrazy mucks
Mogwa1 wins $90 with: One Pair: 3s
Mogwa1: WTF
Seat 1: Seanontheflop - $142.43
Seat 2: Zenturion - $69.50
Seat 3: Yakitori - $87
Seat 4: Mogwa1 - $265.05
Seat 5: Seylo - $83.90
Seat 6: klar65 - $47.30
Seat 7: pkrkrazy - $0
Seat 8: se7en77 - $128.43
Seat 9: WilliamVdB - $107.32
Seat 10: HamzaBenj - $72.90
Mogwa1: looooool
End Of Hand #247439681

Pkrkrazy wouldn't tell me what he had unfortunately, and the other guy min rasing with a J high draw.. I assume to put the raiser all in, but with 2 people still left to act behind him.

./adds some of those players to friends

Its happy hour atm on PKR - its always this crazy at this time of night, just check out these 2 gems.

I might as well typed in the chat: dont call me I have a flush. I wanted him to fold his trips so he didnt fill up on the river - but no he couldnt fold bottom set.

Table #5027072 - Flame of Hope
Starting Hand #247616692
Last Hand #247615646
Game Type: Hold'em
Limit Type: No Limit
Table Type: Ring
Money Type: REAL MONEY
Blinds are now $0.50/$1
Button is at seat 9
Seat 1: ElJardi - $90.55
Seat 2: Diana807 - $105.92
Seat 3: kristian29 - $156.17
Seat 4: rAptA - $138.65
Seat 5: Winningtea - $40.17
Seat 6: UncleBReid - $96.96
Seat 7: Delerium25 - $100
Seat 8: Badboy1907 - $51.82
Seat 9: Mogwa1 - $165.50
Seat 10: WilliamVdB - $78.25
Moving Button to seat 10
ElJardi posts small blind ($0.50)
Diana807 posts big blind ($1)
Delerium25 posts $1
Shuffling Deck
Dealing Cards
Dealing [8d Kd] to Mogwa1
kristian29 folds
rAptA calls $1
Winningtea calls $1
UncleBReid calls $1
Delerium25 checks
Badboy1907 calls $1
Mogwa1 calls $1
WilliamVdB folds
ElJardi calls $1
Diana807 checks
Dealing Flop [Jd 4d Qd]
ElJardi checks
Diana807 checks
rAptA bets $8
Winningtea folds
UncleBReid folds
Delerium25 folds
Badboy1907 folds
Mogwa1 calls $8
ElJardi folds
Diana807 folds
Dealing Turn [5s]
rAptA bets $24
Mogwa1 raises to $156.50 (all-in)
rAptA calls $129.65 (all-in)
Returning $26.85 to Mogwa1 uncalled
rAptA shows [4s 4h]
Mogwa1 shows [8d Kd]
Dealing River [Th]
Taking Rake of $3 from pot 1
Mogwa1 has Flush, King high
Mogwa1 wins $280.30 with: Flush, King high
Seat 1: ElJardi - $89.55
Seat 2: Diana807 - $104.92
Seat 3: kristian29 - $156.17
Seat 4: rAptA - $0
Seat 5: Winningtea - $39.17
Seat 6: UncleBReid - $95.96
Seat 7: Delerium25 - $99
Seat 8: Badboy1907 - $50.82
Seat 9: Mogwa1 - $307.15
Seat 10: WilliamVdB - $78.25
End Of Hand #247616692

and then re raise and all in PF with AQ lol!

Table #5027767 - The Glenthorne
Starting Hand #247611700
Last Hand #247610656
Game Type: Hold'em
Limit Type: No Limit
Table Type: Ring
Money Type: REAL MONEY
Blinds are now $0.50/$1
Button is at seat 9
Seat 1: BiggyDeuce - $20.50
Seat 2: celtic1888 - $89.10
Seat 3: Badboy1907 - $75.83
Seat 4: Mogwa1 - $280.20
Seat 5: pyrite - $50
Seat 6: Winningtea - $104.80
Seat 7: Drake86 - $198.65
Seat 8: WilliamVdB - $56.35
Seat 9: daveLux - $54.50
Seat 10: fredghi - $59.63
Moving Button to seat 10
BiggyDeuce posts small blind ($0.50)
celtic1888 posts big blind ($1)
pyrite posts $1
Shuffling Deck
Dealing Cards
Dealing [Kc Ks] to Mogwa1
Badboy1907 raises to $4
Mogwa1 raises to $16
pyrite folds
Winningtea folds
Drake86 folds
WilliamVdB folds
daveLux folds
fredghi folds
BiggyDeuce folds
celtic1888 folds
Badboy1907 raises to $28
Mogwa1 raises to $280.20 (all-in)
Badboy1907 calls $75.83 (all-in)
Drake86 gives the thumbs up.
Returning $204.37 to Mogwa1 uncalled
Badboy1907 shows [Ah Qd]
Mogwa1 shows [Kc Ks]
Dealing Flop [Th Ac 8h]
Mogwa1 laughs his *** off.
Dealing Turn [Kd]
Drake86 laughs out loud.
Dealing River [4h]
Taking Rake of $3 from pot 1
Mogwa1 has Three of a Kind: Kings
Mogwa1 wins $151.16 with: Three of a Kind: Kings
Mogwa1 cheers.
Seat 1: BiggyDeuce - $20
Seat 2: celtic1888 - $88.10
Seat 3: Badboy1907 - $0
Seat 4: Mogwa1 - $355.53
Seat 5: pyrite - $49
Seat 6: Winningtea - $104.80
Seat 7: Drake86 - $198.65
Seat 8: WilliamVdB - $56.35
Seat 9: daveLux - $54.50
Seat 10: fredghi - $59.63
Badboy1907 can't believe it.
End Of Hand #247611700

Happy days on pkr. This is why ring games > SNG's

This is just toooooooooo funny. This guy had been calling down so light I just knew he had to have a Q with no kicker. Anyone who is up and reading this I advise you to come and play on pkr immediately..

Table #5031520 - Hanauma Bay
Starting Hand #247635908
Last Hand #247635548
Game Type: Hold'em
Limit Type: No Limit
Table Type: Ring
Money Type: REAL MONEY
Blinds are now $0.50/$1
Button is at seat 3
Seat 1: micpal - $14.73
Seat 3: WilliamVdB - $35.02
Seat 4: Nickyboy84 - $26.80
Seat 5: Mogwa1 - $190.75
Seat 6: se7en77 - $22.30
Seat 7: moi2033 - $16
Seat 8: PrincessLegolas - $100
Seat 9: Studly68 - $32
Seat 10: Updater - $126.77
Moving Button to seat 4
Mogwa1 posts small blind ($0.50)
se7en77 posts big blind ($1)
Shuffling Deck
Dealing Cards
Dealing [Ks Kc] to Mogwa1
moi2033 folds
PrincessLegolas folds
Studly68 folds
Updater raises to $2
micpal folds
WilliamVdB folds
Nickyboy84 folds
Mogwa1 raises to $8
se7en77 folds
Updater calls $8
Dealing Flop [8d Qs 2c]
Mogwa1 checks
Updater bets $8
Mogwa1 calls $8
Dealing Turn [3s]
Mogwa1 checks
Updater bets $20
Mogwa1 raises to $60
Player [***NO PLAYER***] brings $20 to table [5031520]
Updater calls $60
Dealing River [5s]
Mogwa1 bets $60
Updater calls $50.77 (all-in)
Returning $9.23 to Mogwa1 uncalled
Mogwa1 shows [Ks Kc]
Updater shows [Qd Tc]
Taking Rake of $3 from pot 1
Mogwa1 has One Pair: Kings
Mogwa1 wins $251.54 with: One Pair: Kings
Seat 1: micpal - $14.73
Seat 2: BuckSucker - $20
Seat 3: WilliamVdB - $35.02
Seat 4: Nickyboy84 - $26.80
Seat 5: Mogwa1 - $315.52
Seat 6: se7en77 - $21.30
Seat 7: moi2033 - $16
Seat 8: PrincessLegolas - $100
Seat 9: Studly68 - $32
Seat 10: Updater - $0
End Of Hand #247635908

$1000 in play across 3 nl100 tables in under 2 hours, unbelievably sick!

just use real good management and the only thing i noticed is when i moved up to 200$+ with management is that im kinda greedy.
When i lost my 1st 200$ i was broken while there is no reason to be because i use real good management so it's basically the same as losing 10$ if you got a 200$ bankroll. I also noticed you get used to playing higher stakes really really fast before you know it you are talking about 100$ like its 1$.
Funny thing is i have been on all stakes, didnt skip one. I started with 0,02/0,04$ and now im almost at pkr's highest stakes sometimes i play the highest table with 200-500$ but i dont like it because i only want to bring the maximum to tables like i did all the time, never bring less.
You are a SNG player, i play like 2-3 SNG's a day and it's the same thing there. I gotta say how higher the stakes how easier the game that's the thing i noticed maybe because the amount of donks gets lower.

__________________
i must be blessed cuz im in badbeat heaven

I can see what you mean about playing better players is easier to win. I actually prefer playing better players than a bunch of donks. I can grind out a profit generally.

Worst thing I remember about PKR is the utter rubbish players that are just calling stations and impossible to bluff off a pot. I remember one guy. He min raised from the button and I called in the BB with 6-6. From his raise and the way he'd been playing, I easily put him on a medium pair. So the flop came down J-5-4. I suspected that didn't help him, so I bet out. He called. Turn was a 3, giving me an open ended straight draw. I bet the pot, he called. River was a King of spades, meaning there are now 3 spades out there too. I still think he has a medium pair and can't see how this board could have helped him.

The river obviously didn't help me either and I was left with a pair of sixes, but I was determined to try and bluff it. I pushed all-in. He called fairly fast, no thought. I thought he must have a monster but he turned over 7-7, exactly the sort of hand I put him on, so he took the pot.

And this is the sort of play that used to piss me off so much on PKR. The board showed 3-4-5-J-K, with 3 spades. That's a straight draw, flush draw and 2 overcards to his 7-7, yet he ignored everything except his "massive-can't-lose" pocket pair! Even the king on the river didn't scare him off.

And I know that ordinarily these guys are easy money. If I had any kind of hand I could have cleaned this guy out, but I know I played wrong against him. You can't bluff donks, they are simply too stupid to see past their own hand. lol

As long as you adjust your game to best tackle the other players at the table it doesn't matter if you are playing in a $1 tournament or a $100 tournament. If you don't feel comfortable at whatever level you're playing at then you are punching above your weight.

Personally I like to play in games where I think I can outplay most other people on the table rather than vice-versa.

The low stakes games can be difficult to win consistently because you have to rely on premium hands holding up to take down the cash. In higher stakes games with players who know how to play but are not brilliant, you should be able to read hands more easily and therefore take pots down with bluffs that you wouldn't think of attempting on a table of weak players.

Besides faith in your own ability,your bankroll should be a big consideration in the stakes you play at. Ideally you should not risk more than 5% of your bankroll in any one single table tourney and for multiple table tourneys that figure should be more like 2%. The more of your bankroll your jeopardise at any one time the more you are reliant on luck to end the day with more money than you started with.