Protect That Built Up BankRoll

 

 Protect That Built Up Bank Roll

For most players, the lure of playing in high-stakes ring games or tournaments is not only an ultimate goal, but for some and more often than not a trap that leaves you broke. While there's no doubt that these games can provide huge rewards, the sad truth is that many beginners often leap into the depths of the sharks, destroying their self-confidence and leaving their bankrolls floating in a new bank account.
My advice to these players sounds simple, but is harder to execute; stay in the shallow end until you and your bankroll are ready to venture into deeper waters.

When I first started playing, I would build up a few hundred dollars and immediately move up to the next level, usually a level that I was sitting in with the minimum, just to get in.  This was always a pour move, I would run well for a while but, all it would take was a bad string or an over eager tournament entry and there goes all that hard work (and money) . I would build a bank roll to buy into the big tournament on sundays because the first time I played it I cashed, but the next six times were not so good, slowly there went my role and I had to start from scratch.  In the poker world, that can take more patience and understanding than ever imaginable.  Understand your means and do not think of yourself as a pro, play within your means!


When I finally tried my hand at another large tournament, I was sure to work at it differently, and in turn started playing satellites to get an entry.  After some diligence, Payoff! I won a seat into the tournament I was spending my roll on, now I am not spending a dime and getting a chance at over $150,000.

Because I didn't have as much of my bankroll invested in my tournament entry, I played the event without fear that I would be crippled again if I failed to cash. As it turned out, I took 11th place and walked away from the table with a great chunk of change for my future poker sessions. Eliminating the true downside of spending by satelliting into the event let me really put thought and feel on the poker and play a more solid and confident game than I could have if I had bought into the event with the roll I had built up.


While satellites are one of the most common and popular ways to secure your entry into a big buy-in event, they aren't the only option. For players who don't want to take their chances in satellites, search out a backer, family member or friend or even another player can be a reasonable source to play in bigger events than they can afford on their own. Before you go down this path, however, be sure to consider all aspects of the deal being offered and determine how much of your potential winning you're willing to give away.
No matter what path you choose, I fully recommend that you never commit more than 5-10% of your bankroll to an individual event or ring game.

Remember, building up a bankroll represents more than just the funds you have at your disposal. It's a constant reminder of the hours of work it took to grind and, as such, it's something that deserves protection. Treat your bankroll properly, remember it is still considered a job, treat it like one and you will reap the benefits for a long time.

Let me know what your bank roll strategies are, do you have issues with this job, or does it come as a natural way of doing things?