Have you moved up far since you started playing?

[Graham C]

When I started playing poker a couple of years ago, I started out at the cheap £1 stt's on Betfair, now, well, I'm only really playing up to $50 mtt's and the low levels (NL25/NL50) cash games.  It's not brilliant I know but I enjoy it and that has to count for something (make me feel good, say it does!)

I see some of the high stakes players here are students which amazes me.  When I was that young, I couldn't afford to throw away one of the big blinds that these guys play at, but I do wonder at what level people start playing at and how does that compare to what they are playing now.  Doesn't have to be the higher game players, just curious if I'm alone in not really progressing or it's quite common.

It's not all doom and gloom down here though, I do have some things I can say I've done that I'm pleased with but I'm certainly no Brian T unfortunately, although the missus wouldn't even begin to grasp the figures he plays with   I'm not sure what she'd do if I told her I played with $100 sometimes, yet alone lost millions and then won millions!

[Claw75]

I've moved up less than you Graham.  Started on £1 stts like you and now play max $20 MTTs (with the occasional bigger one thrown in for fun).  Difference is I don't do bankroll management (and don't choose to, because I play for fun).  Don't know where I'd be if I did (probably not playing any more tbh)

[The_duke]

Personally I have been playing for over two years on line and still bumble about at the lower levels. The main reason being I enjoy playing my poker within my means and have been doing ok (also I'm crap which doesn't help) no huge bankroll but not many reloads either. I enjoy the social side of the live games budgeting wisely for the games I play and don't have to worry if my next bet is going to put me into debt. I hit Vegas once a year for the experience (came back earlier this year winning which was a bonus).

So Graham, my opinion is enjoy your poker and if at some stage you feel comfotable with bigger stakes then go for it, but if you lose your enjoyment it defeats the purpose. I play because I love the game and any win is a bonus !!

This of course is my own opinion and while I do want to improve my game my ambitions don't lie in the big league.......

[Graham C]

I'm not that far off there though, I don't play that many $50's, my average buy in is probably only around $15-$20.

Bankroll management isn't my strongest point, well, I'm not bad at it, but take cash games for example, I can't handle the thought of playing with at least 20 buy in's in reserver - at NL25 that's $500 being conservative - I mean we're really only playing for  $25 here, lets be honest a double up is fantastic.  That said, I do really appreciate the need for decent bankroll management, especially for ring games and it's the main reason I don't play that much cash.

Edit, this isn't a negitive post, I really enjoy my poker and I am happy(ish) playing at my levels, I'm just curious where others are at.

[Jon MW]

Personally I have been playing for over two years on line and still bumble about at the lower levels. ...

Apart from it being nearly two years rather than over two years this is where I'm generally at.

I've increased my bankroll and skill enough that I will take the occasional shot at higher buy in tournaments but I'm just as relaxed/focussed playing a freeroll as I am playing a $1, $10, $100 or $1000 tournament.

In terms of the original question, I think most people will find a level they're most happy with and stick mainly to around that level. For me it's the $10 level for others it might be the $1 or the $10,000 level, but wherever it is I don't think you should worry about whether you could or should be playing consistently higher just enjoy where you're at.

[Graham C]

Oh no, I'm not fussed about the level I'm at, I do enjoy it, I'm just curious as to the progression of others in general.

[boldie]

I have played the lower levels (and still do) and I have played upto 30-60 2-7 Limit Triple draw (not a good idea unless you have a 180k bankroll IMO as the swings are massive). Played 10-20 2-7 triple draw (fixed limit) for a fair while...and damn near lost my bankroll doing it (which is why I now understand that you need a very big bankroll to play that particular game..a very wise lesson and a GREAT game learnt)

It's not about what levels you play at...I am a losing cash player as soon as I move upto 5-10 in ANY game other than Triple draw and at 10-20-/15-30 I don't have the bankroll so can lose my entire bankroll if I have a bad run (or a few days where I play crap)....it's about what levels you're still a winning player at and you can afford to play.

Tourneys...I can play any level fairly comfortably now..my first $650 WSOP qualifier I was bricking it..it was just SOO much money for me (even though I satted in on stars I knew I could play 6 other tourneys with my W$) that it made me play the worst poker of my life.
These days i understand that..it's just poker and I'm comfortable at any level (which doesn't mean I can afford to play the constantly..as I can't, I just have to sat my way in or make enough playing lower level games to have the occasional pop at one

[TheChipPrince]

I like every started off playing 'a bit of cash, STT's at various stakes, and low buy-in MTT's'. I have always been a break even cash player, nothing special, but worked out that STT's & MTT's were where I could make money. I now play at around the $50 level and continue to move up levels when the bankroll is sufficient. It also reached the level where 6 months ago I can buy into the various $100 MTT's (mainly the $20K crypto at 8 every night), and a few on Mansion.

BUT, sometimes now I find that i'm not enjoying poker as much as I should, in fact less than when I started beacuse now I EXPECT to win, and winning is not a 'bonus' to having some fun like it used to be... Maybe just a phase, who knows...

[kinboshi]

It's not fun when you're scared to lose at whatever level you're playing.  That's a mistake that I've made, and I guess I'm not alone there.

[boldie]

It's not fun when you're scared to lose at whatever level you're playing.  That's a mistake that I've made, and I guess I'm not alone there.

That's a pretty safe guess

[turny]

the level i play varies emmensley depending on my bankroll.

unfortunatly i dip in and out of my bankroll for everyday living expenses so whenever i have a nice win (not often at mo)i use it for other things.

hopefully in 2008 i can start to build a poker only bankroll and play at a good level.

as for playing scared kin i must admit this is something i do at timesand it certainly effects your usual game.

[kinboshi]

I've also taken money from my bankroll to buy stuff.  This has probably slowed me down in terms of being able to move up to a higher level (where I'd hope to be able to increase my hourly win-rate).  But at least it means I have something to show for my hobby, and even if I blow the rest of my roll, I won't go away empty-handed (or just with a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen).

[boldie]

or just with a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen

I've got about 5 of them by now.

[Laxie]

At the start (around 2004), I only played freerolls.  Hubby said if I wasn't good enough to cash in one of those, I had no business making a deposit.  Got to the point where I had over $800 built up from freerolls and small penny tables, but couldn't take it out because I hadn't deposited, so he dusted off the credit card and let me at it.  Left $50 there and cashed out the rest to pay for a week-end away with the family.  Stuck to freerolls, $1 stt and penny tables until about a year ago.

The past year has been small buy ins (not much more than $20) and I took another chunk of winnings out 6 months ago to treat the family.  Nice to have something 'real' to show for all the hours sat at the computer.  The word 'bankroll' does not exist in our house.  If we can afford to enter a tournament, we do...if we can't, we don't.  I love poker, but don't have to be playing to enjoy it...especially not if it puts pressure on the people in my family. 

Would never have dreamed of spending money on satellites this time last year.  Just wanted a straight comp with cash prizes at the end and couldn't grasp the satellite theory at the time.  After gaining the entry to Waterford through the Blonde satellites, it's given me a taste for trying more of the same in the new year. 

Apart from that, I don't imagine I'll be moving up the buy in ranks any time soon unless I get hit by some bright spark and suddenly learn how to play this game called poker.  lol

[steeveg]

 i will only play at a level my bankroll allows,,i win more than i loose at low level stakes and enjoy treating myself when i cash in the odd bigger tournament i have qualified for ,if i decided to deposit cash from my own bank account i could play cash games at a higher level but my bankroll will tell me if it gets big enough that i am now good enough to play at this higher level,till then i wont move up, whether your backing the horses or playing poker  its gambling and sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a gambler is betting bigger stakes and getting lucky and winning early on,they tend to give it all back with interest