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Bankroll Building

After depositing your $25, you'll probably want to build your bankroll. The right approach is not to play higher limits in order to "make more winnings". If you think you can play NL 20 with your $25, then going broke is just a matter of time. So how do you increase your bankroll little by little?

Which limit?

Poker sites offer different currencies. There are euro-, dollar- and GBP-tables. When you only have $25, then, according to the bankroll management, you don’t have the right bankroll to play any limit apart from playing for play money. Therefore, you have to play the smallest limit available which is 0,05/0,1 $! Because of the fact that the dollar isn't worth much compared to the euro, you don't play with 25 at 0,05/0,1 but with about 40 at 0,05/0,1. This is much more comfortable.

That means you can play all the tournaments, both sit'n gos and multi table tournaments. To transform those credits into real money with which you can play at the cash game tables you have to win something with those credits. For instance you play a 3 euro sit'n go, then your winning is paid as real money. So we recommend passing the quiz, depositing 25 euro on your own, receiving the 200 euro bonus and you can play very comfortably.

Bankroll Management

Poker isn't a mere game of skill. There's luck involved and there are ups and downs because of the variance. Sometimes, there are sessions in which you play your A-Game but don't have any luck and you lose. To survive those streaks, also called downswings, you have to manage your bankroll well. You must not play at limits you can't afford according to the bankroll management. Otherwise it's likely to go broke. So, how can you manage your bankroll well? If you play No Limit Hold'em, you need at least 500 big blinds on the bank to be allowed to play at this level. For instance, when you have 50 euros, you can only play 0,05/0,1 or lower, but no higher stake. Even if you got 70 euros, you still have to play at 0,05/0,1 until your bankroll reaches three digits. With 100 euros, you are allowed to play one level higher which is 0,1/0,2. If you climb up one ladder but start loosing much, it's time to step back and go back to a smaller limit.

In Limit Hold'em you should have at least 300 big bets to play at this level. So, if you want to play 0,5/1, which is a game with 0,25/0,5 in blinds, you need 300 x 1 euro on the bank.

To become a successful player you have to pay attention to your bankroll and the limits you're playing. Otherwise it's highly likely to go broke and you have to look for another opportunity to make some money.

Full ring or Shorthanded?

As a beginner you should start with playing at a full-ring table. You play much less hands per hour and you have a lot of time to study your opponents and to find patterns in their game. You play more multi-way pots which are much easier to play than heads-up pots. If you want to multi table, you have much more time to make your decisions

If you've gained some experience and you beat those full-ring tables regularly, you can switch to shorthanded tables. But there are some points to consider:

The game is much more aggressive and tougher. Almost every pot will be a raised one. Hands lose their value. You have to play hands that you don't even consider playing at a full ring table.

Post-flop, there are only two or three players usually. You have to use continuation bets and semi-bluffs to succeed.

No matter at which table you're playing, you should only start playing in the big blind. That means when you sit down at a table, you should wait to be in the big blind because you have to post it anyways. It's a huge mistake to sit down, be under the gun the first hand and post your big blind to enter the game.

Sit'n Go's or Cash Game?

You should start playing cash games. First of all, there are different priced Sit'nGo's at Poker sites and you don't have the bankroll for that. Secondly, you can clear the bonus much quicker and boost your bankroll.