Is it worth playing 1/2 cent games?

[vinnie]

Hi,

I need some feedback on whether there is actually any point playing these such small stake games if I am trying to make money off poker.

If you're trying to make money off of poker, you'll have to be able to beat the higher games, and have a bankroll capable of handling the swings of those games. If this is a serious objective, you should be willing to invest the time and money needed to achieve it. There is no reason you can't play the games you are bankrolled for, and deposit a little money each month to help accelerate your ability to play in higher games.

At the micros, you should have at least 20-30 buy-ins for the level you're playing at. And, if you lose money, you need to step down to the next lower level until you're back at the bankroll for the higher games. 2NL is a special case, as any money you have below $100 (the bankroll for 5NL) is enough for 2NL because you can't move down. If you have $8, you're bankrolled for 2NL. But, you have a long way to go before reaching the $100 for the next level up. As you get above 50NL, you'll want to have 40-60 buy-ins for the level. With $25, you're limited to 2NL. If you put $25 in every two weeks, and slowly keep winning, you'll eventually get over $100 online and can move to 5NL.

It is important to actually play though, because being able to beat the micros will provide you with the fundamentals required as you move up. And, winning will also accelerate your bankroll growth. Don't think of it as money, it's your bankroll. Think about how many BB you need to earn to get to the next level. Winning $2.30 isn't winning less than the cost of a beer, it's winning 115 BB towards moving to the next level. You're closing the gap. It looks like you have 3,675 BB until 5NL, so start chipping away at that number. Throwing some more money onto the site will cut that down very fast, but every little bit counts. Also, as you get above the mircos, you will not be able/want to add enough money to move up. You'll want to earn enough to move up only from your play.

Study the game and learn to play better. You'll make mistakes, it's better to make them when you're playing the micros. You'll save a lot of money.

I deposited $25 and i've only played a few couple of hour sessions and my bankroll is at $26.50. Should I not just try the next highest because I find it really boring at the amount of money I'm winning.

This statement and its lack of detail scares me. How are you tracking your results? How are you analyzing your play and learning from it, so you can improve? Do you have PT4 or HEM? If not, you need to invest in one of these tools. Consider it one of the costs of making money off poker. Even if you don't use the HUD (which is beneficial), the record keeping and the ability to review/analyze your play is essential. It will keep you honest about your results, and it will allow you to find and correct leaks.

 

[ev10]

2NL

2NL is great for getting better as losing money will be no big deal and you can learn from your mistakes. I recommend when you have a good sample at 2NL and know that you're a winning player you can deposit more money and move up to 5NL or 10NL right away. There's no point of playing the next stake if you're not beating the lower one.

 

[Jim_Saras]

I think it's worth playing 1/2 cents.

It's fun when you win but you can also trick your brain for it to be fun when you lose as well. It can also be an efficient way to practice on real money strategies with a very small cost.

 

[scrappypower]

sure cause you can still learn to impprove your game

 

[DanyDiablo]

I would raise the stakes as my bankroll increased ..... Stepping up can bring big gains as well as huge losses. Good hands.

 

[_xgeb_]

Hola,

necesito algunos comentarios sobre si realmente tiene algún sentido jugar estos juegos de apuestas pequeñas si estoy tratando de ganar dinero con el póquer.

Deposité $ 25 y solo he jugado un par de sesiones de un par de horas y mi bankroll es de $ 26.50. ¿No debería simplemente probar el siguiente valor más alto porque lo encuentro realmente aburrido por la cantidad de dinero que estoy ganando?

Se agradece cualquier consejo.

Gracias

Si eres un principiante en el póquer, deberías leer mucho para ganar dinero y practicar. Si quieres ser un ganador en el póquer, tienes que leer artículos o lo que sea sobre póquer y practicar.

 

[Richardszabo]

My opinion is that it is not worth playing at such a small limit. The variance is very high due to the unpredictable play of the players. But there are exceptions, if it goes well then why would you stop? "it's boring you make little money" believe me, after a bad day when you fail half of your stacked then you don't think so

 

[burkey55]

If you're trying to make money off of poker, you'll have to be able to beat the higher games, and have a bankroll capable of handling the swings of those games. If this is a serious objective, you should be willing to invest the time and money needed to achieve it. There is no reason you can't play the games you are bankrolled for, and deposit a little money each month to help accelerate your ability to play in higher games.

At the micros, you should have at least 20-30 buy-ins for the level you're playing at. And, if you lose money, you need to step down to the next lower level until you're back at the bankroll for the higher games. 2NL is a special case, as any money you have below $100 (the bankroll for 5NL) is enough for 2NL because you can't move down. If you have $8, you're bankrolled for 2NL. But, you have a long way to go before reaching the $100 for the next level up. As you get above 50NL, you'll want to have 40-60 buy-ins for the level. With $25, you're limited to 2NL. If you put $25 in every two weeks, and slowly keep winning, you'll eventually get over $100 online and can move to 5NL.

It is important to actually play though, because being able to beat the micros will provide you with the fundamentals required as you move up. And, winning will also accelerate your bankroll growth. Don't think of it as money, it's your bankroll. Think about how many BB you need to earn to get to the next level. Winning $2.30 isn't winning less than the cost of a beer, it's winning 115 BB towards moving to the next level. You're closing the gap. It looks like you have 3,675 BB until 5NL, so start chipping away at that number. Throwing some more money onto the site will cut that down very fast, but every little bit counts. Also, as you get above the mircos, you will not be able/want to add enough money to move up. You'll want to earn enough to move up only from your play.

Study the game and learn to play better. You'll make mistakes, it's better to make them when you're playing the micros. You'll save a lot of money.

This statement and its lack of detail scares me. How are you tracking your results? How are you analyzing your play and learning from it, so you can improve? Do you have PT4 or HEM? If not, you need to invest in one of these tools. Consider it one of the costs of making money off poker. Even if you don't use the HUD (which is beneficial), the record keeping and the ability to review/analyze your play is essential. It will keep you honest about your results, and it will allow you to find and correct leaks.

Cheers for the advice mate. Very helpful

 

[burkey55]

Thanks

Thanks again everyone for the advice!

 

[nwhitney118]

You don't even have a bankroll for NL2 tbh. I also started with $25 and my plan was grind the 25c sit and go's until I had minimum $60 for NL2. I had a great run in an MTT I took a stab at and got $98 which completely cut out the SnG grind (very grateful for that lol).

Look an NL2 as your practice grounds not a way to make money, if you started playing tennis tomorrow you wouldn't hop on the pro tour expecting to make money straight away, you'd have to learn and get better as an amateur. Try and see poker as the same mindset.

 

[beginnerbot]

I think once you can prove to yourself you are a winner, you should move up. The play at 2NL is very poor and the rake is high.

 

[Viparida]

It depends on what you wan´t to get with poker. If you just play for fun, do as your heart says. But if you play to try to make a living of it, i advice you to stay there until you accumulate some experience.Anyway, gl.

 

[youngun9927]

here my thougts

no it very important to stay at a lvl were u feel comfortable to start and with a 25 dollar a bank roll u wont last very long it the higher stake i been
play poker for 25 years i feel it best to build up ur account and work and grind ur way up to higher lvls if u jump up to soon u get eaten alive (this being say ur new to the game) i started with 1 c 2 c game and now play a lot of 1/2 and 2/5 games and i buy in to games as high as 215 and better

 

[UkoChebuko]

You can't "make money" at NL2. This is just a "school". "Must" school.

 

[ROYALROAD]

I think it's worth playing.

If the principal is made double, I think you should go up to an upper stakes.

 

[thatguy6793]

Finally stop seeing 26,5$ as a "bankroll". A bankroll is an amount of money, that cannot easily be replaced, and which you therefore need to protect. 26,5$ can easily be replaced, so its not a bankroll. Its just some random meaningless amount sitting in your poker account right now.

I don't think you have the right to tell anyone what money is easy to replace or not. To some people yes $26 is nothing but to others thats a decent chunk of change. If op wants to consider that a bankroll he absolutely can. Also technically a bankroll is the amount of money you have available to use for poker, if thats 25 or 2500 its whatever you determine, so you are both out of line and incorrect here. And finally, whatever money you won is not meaningless, he started at $25 and is at $26.5, yeah its not a ton but he something he worked for and earned, I don't see anyone saying your bankroll is worthless and meaningless. Lets be a bit more considerate to the newer players instead of bashing them

 

[619Leafs]

I would say you should stick to those stakes and only go higher if you consistenly make final tables in the lower stakes.

 

[Nounounou]

It depends on your experience. In my opinion it's always good to try out a higher level game. Then you know what it's like to play over there. Thats the only way to see if you are prepared or not. And you should keep in mind that you are willing to loose that amount of money.

 

[valanddon]

Playing small money games gets you some experience before you
play in the bigger money games.

 

[Mati532]

First play in 2NL there you will improve without hesitation and then go up to 5NL, when you feel capable and secure.

 

[zerosalex]

if the stakes are 1/2 cents it depends on the buy in max. if they allow you to buy in like $100 or more than its a good game ill say. $25 is not much for live cash so play tournament that are $1-$5 buy in the MTT and learn that way and maybe you get lucky with a big payout.

 

[casique31]

For the value of this type of tournaments it is very difficult to win, it is practically like play money tournaments. It plays bad, you find that they go with anything

 

[goforthenick]

If you are having fun yes. If you are not having fun it can be too frustrating.

 

[Rob Hobson]

Hi,

I need some feedback on whether there is actually any point playing these such small stake games if I am trying to make money off poker.

I deposited $25 and i've only played a few couple of hour sessions and my bankroll is at $26.50. Should I not just try the next highest because I find it really boring at the amount of money I'm winning.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

With this bankroll I would keep playing 1/2 cent cash, as you're doing, until I double it. Less than $1 tourneys (no turbos nor hypers) and, of course, freerools as well.

Best of luck

 

[BriceNice]

That depends of what your definition of worth it is. If you generally love playing poker then yes. If you are trying to make more than 3 dollars in 5 hours then no.