Greetings,My name is Jeffrey and I used to post here with great frequency about sixteen months ago. Unfortunately, I stopped playing for a year as a result of a self-imposed stop loss. Basically, I would try and play negative progression anytime I lost a few matches. This was a disastrous idea on so many levels. But anyway, I'm back and have been slowly growing my bankroll at the 1 and 2 Euro HUSNG's at Pokerstars. What really convinced me that I was ready to move up was a recent winning streak where I won eleven turbos in a row. Of course, I've lost three or four in a row plenty of times. But the streak (coupled with winning 65 dollars in the last two weeks) convinced me I'm stable and competent enough to move up to a more reasonable limit. One concern I've always had is Pokerstars brutal rake for the two dollar games. I think a 10 percent rake is absurd and only convinces newcomers that the game is unbeatable. I've sent Pokerstars many letters on this matter and I'm pleased that they at least implemented the normal rake structure on the 4-man HUSNG's. Unfortunately, this is not the normal entry point for the newest players. Furthermore, it makes little sense to give a rebate to players who often play two games for the price of one. I've written another letter and hope others follow suit as it negatively impacts the game. We all have a vested interest in being proactive about rake policies as these smaller games feed the higher limits. Anyway, the rake is slightly lower on the 1 and 2 Euro games-even if you assume a 1-cent transaction cost. For example, if one Euro is worth US $1.34 and you play .07 Euros in rake (approx 9 cents), you are playing 10 cents in rake for every 1.34 wagered. That comes out to a rake of roughly 7.5 or 8 percent on the one and two dollar turbos. The two-dollar turbos charge .14 euros in rake so it's essentially a $2.70 game with a twenty cent rake. Anyway, the reason I obsess over these factors is because they have a critical impact on your win rate. Furthermore, you have to adjust your strategy and try to avoid unnecessary coinflips as the rake will convert your KQ into a KJ.Given these considerations, I want to move up ASAP and I'm confused as to my best course of action. I'm thinking I have four choices: $2.09 or $2.10 four man's, 2 Euro turbos, $5.25 reg speed, or $6.25 turbos. My current bankroll is $260 (I started with a buy-in of $195 after donking off my first $100 a couple months ago--before I rejoined HUSNG). I think the four mans make the most sense from a rake standpoint. Unfortunately, there is more variance, but I think my bankroll can withstand large swings at this limit. But I could also try the 2 Euro games, which I've dabbled in already, and probably sustain my current win rate. The upside is that I stay within my bankroll. The downside is the 7-8 percent juice. Next, I could move up to the 5.25 reg speed. This would be OK because I will have a higher win rate at the regular speeds. There is simply more time for my opponents to make critical mistakes and I expect my win rate to be higher as opposed to the turbo format. But then again, the 6.25 turbos are beatable and I can get more volume in. But I'm being a nit with my bankroll and I'm not convinced $260 is enough for this limit.If anybody has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated. The only reason I'm moving up is because I've proven (to myself) my competence and ability to stay within preset bankroll parameters. However, I don't want to operate under a faulty premise or feel rushed into growing my bankroll. In conclusion, I want to remind all members that we need to be proactive about rake and remind Pokerstars that they need to stop sticking it to the newbies. My line of argument is that Pokerstars will not convert new players into regs if they rake them to death. If they can adopt a lower rake in the four man's, they certainly can modify their 10 percent rake for players who prefer the faster 2-man format. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated,Jeffrey
In my not so humble opinion you should do whatever you can to avoid getting raked to death. You have enough experience and knowledge to realize that know matter how good you are, if the rake is to high you can't make money. New players don't know that 10% rake is killing them. You know better. I would actually stop playing and save enough money to move up before I let Stars and Tilt rape me with 10% rake. Just me.If I remember correctly you only have to win about 33% of your matches in the four mans to turn a profit. From my limited experience in these four mans on Full Tilt, that is doable. So this might be an option for you.Anyway whatever you do, do something to avoid that 10% rake death trap!!!!!PaulIB_FishingThinks 10% rake is to much
Greetings IB_Fishing,I appreciate your feedback and understand the importance of avoiding the 10% 'death trap.' At this stage I think I might focus on one-tabling the 2.09 turbos. This is very tentative, but I think I will play one game at a time until I feel comfortable two-tabling them. I know I need to be prepared for the possibility of long losing streaks as there is much more variance. Fortunately, I will have 125+ buy-ins. If I played reg speed games I could immediately two table them as you are allotted a much more liberal time bank. I'm very dependent on my time bank as I like to take notes, look at stats, review past hands in the Pstars replayer, etc. Either way, I'm going to immediately get away from the 1/2 Euro and $2 games with their 7.5 to 10% rakes. Thanks again, Jeffrey
125+ buyins! Wow I don't think you have anything to worry about unless you are a very bad, losing player and you don't seem to fit that category.If a person studied, understood and applied what is taught in MWJ006's "Beating the Mid Stakes series, PrimordialAA's "Heads Up Sit and Go From Scratch" series, Cog Dissonance's "Post Flop" series and Mersennary's end game videos, I don't think they could lose 125 buyins at the mirco stakes, unless they were playing a SUPER USER. Add the concept videos and the leakfinder videos to this study course and 125 buyins is pretty safe at the midstakes level in my not so humble opinion.PaulIB_FishingA losing player who never had over 30 buyins!
I just moved up to the 10's from the 5.25s. With your roll i would move up to the 5.25 and play them until I dropped to $200. I played the $2.09 four mans to get to the $100 mark and the $5 games are just as/if not more fishy than those. Take a shot, do some studying and move on up. I hope to make it to the 30's this month.