bankroll management problems

[dstoyo]

Originally Posted by Jester2Dope

My first time sitting in on what is a "big" game for me (10-20 FL), I got my stack up over 200% my buy-in. Like you, I got cocky, lazy, arrogant, etc. and pissed it all away by the end of the night. Since then, I have learned to control my situation since I can't control myself. Once I get a pretty good investment on my original buy-in, I'll simply cash out, go get some grub or walk around for a time and then go and buy back in with the original amount. That way your profits are not on the table and you can keep playing the style where you are most comfortable with.

aka hitting and running

[stoneawsome]

Originally Posted by Risgod

This isn't as much a bankroll managment issue as it is a focus and discipline issue. When you lose focus and have crappy discipline you play looser and push -eV edges. I know from first hand experience as I have done it/do it also. The best thing you can do is set a schedule and push yourself to follow it. Take breaks...even if you don't cash out just get up from the table every 3-4 hours and walk around, leave the table for atleast 30 minutes to clear your head. If you have problems playing with a deep stack, then you should cashout when you take your breaks and start over with a shorter stack again.

From what you are saying about not playing your A game until your are uncomfortable....That is when you regain your focus.

that seems perfect advice to me

[unomaas]

I think most people nailed it on the head, take a break. Poker is such a mental game, it can be very fun and very exhausting. When your getting deep, just try and remember how to got all your chips, value them and don't waste them on bad calls. At 1/2 2/5 you run into a lot of people who are there to gamble and don't want to fold. You want to use that to your advantage. You don't want to be getting into a lot of coin flip situtaions, these people call you with any 2 and will call you down. You can't really out play the gamblers, youy simple show them the goods. This is where it becomes the exhauting part. But just be patience, and protect your chips, some one will come after you at the wrong time and you'll get paid off. Another thing, that you're probably doing is paying people off when you know your beat. When I first start playing at my local casino I was leaking a good amount of chips of dumb calls. I couldn't get away from the pocket pairs, the 2 pairs. These hands are strong but when the boards are one to a flush or straight, or you don't want to fold ur kings queens and jacks when an ace comes on board. 90 percent of the players playing always call with Ace/X, I've learn to throw a lot of the ace/X away in early position. It became a very good profitable habit, because when it came to a show down, I wouldn't of folded with that board because I got out kicked or someone paired there kicker.. Just my live learnings.

[Poker Orifice]

Why leave when you're playing & running good? In my opinion, figure out what it is that causes you to play like you do once you're way ahead (there's a reason... figure it out).

[minstrel55]

Sounds like a possible reason is when you start winning and get the biggest stack at the table, so you want to be the bully, trying to bluff too much and the police, trying to bluff catch too much. Cash is not like tournament play. your big stack doesn't mean nearly as much to your competition since they can just re-buy. Stop chaning the way you play when you're up 2 or 3 buy-ins, and keep with a tight aggressive style and continue taking your opponents to value town. Stop trying o push the action and stop thinking that everyone is trying to bluff you. Just play solid and keep winning.

Breaks are good and you should take them, but if you're sitting on a tripple stack, don't feel like you need to cash out or any of that crap, just keep playing strong and get 5 or 6 stacks.

[onesandzeros]

20-40 buy-ins depending on your experience. Ring games obv. Honestly if you don't know this you prob don't have the edge you think you do.

[supertick]

I understand what you are asking. I have done this and actually had the concious thought, "This isn't my money. It's time to see if I can learn a few new tricks". This usually is coupled with finding out that some ideas are good in theory and bad in reality coupled with some bad beats to put me back at even.
You are just changing up your game play because it is more fun to play wild. Remember that even when winning agro players are making sick moves it's all calculated and practiced for much cheaper than the game they are most often at.

Do you also do the same thing I do? I will be sitting at say 1/2nl have 598 in front of me. I feel myself getting tired or I want to go home for whatever reason and I start thinking, "OK, just pick up the blinds, give the dealer a dollar and I'll split." Only to have the BB wake up with a hand and now you are trying to squeek out just 6 dollars, then 14 then you get TT in middle position, then you are at 489 or 693 or some off number and before you know it 4 more hours have passed and you wonder why you haven't left yet.