Buying In Tips for poker

When deciding which limit game you wish to play, there are several factors to consider. The most important of which is how much money you feel comfortable losing. Obviously the answer is - none, but there is always a risk when playing poker and even the best players in the world take a beating sometimes. So - only play with money you can afford to lose, period.

Once you’ve established your bankroll amount or the amount of money you feel comfortable playing with, its time to find a game. Remember, Poker is a game of skill, luck and leverage. So while you may want to sit down at a higher limit game to cash in on some bigger pots, your bankroll may dictate starting out at a lower limit.

There is no steadfast rule to buy-ins for limit poker. Most poker rooms require 10x the ante to play. So you would need $20 to sit down at a $2/4 game. While this is the poker room norm, using a bankroll this low is definiately not recommended. Most experts say not to buy into a limit game with less then 60x the ante or small bet. This would mean to be comfortable in a $2/4 game you would need $120 (not $20).

One last thing - just because you can afford to lose the money, it doesn’t mean you are ready to play high limit games. You also have to consider your personal comfort level. Simply being able to afford the loss is not enough. You have to be able to live with it as well. if you’re the type of person who freaks out if you drop a dollar down a sewer, stay away from high limit poker games. Much like trading in the stock market, you need to know your comfort zone. You should never loose sleep over losses. Poker is a game. If it causing you stress, you’re risking to much.

The great benefit to playing poker online is that with so many poker rooms and so many people playing, you will always be able to find a game in your comfort zone. Whether your bankroll is $10 or $10,000, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy the action and excitement of live real money poker.