What Is My Limit?

I think I had a bankroll epiphany.

I have a real hard time losing my stack at limit poker.

This makes limit poker safer to play.

Whether I'm ahead or behind is not that crucial.

Why?

Because at the end of the hand something mildly good or mildly bad will happen. Nothing pot sized or stack sized like no limit.

Hmmmmm. Less good and less bad. I think we call that less variance.

I often double up at the no limit cash table. But then again I drop full buy ins. There are huge swings both ways. It's scary and dangerous at times.

But not limit. Limit is deceiving. Limit is the sucker game. Mainly because it looks so simple.

And there's that constant stupid debate over which is harder: limit or no limit. I hate this discussion. They're not the same game. You can't compare them.

Each form of hold em is tough in its own way. Limit is certainly safer for the novice. It's not such a big deal to lose 1 big bet on each street. And oftentimes at limit, players will end up getting the proper odds to chase and/or be a calling station. Unlike no limit.

Playing limit is certainly more of a grind for me. Fewer exciting moments. Less to write about. But if it's the way for me to make money...here I am.

I played limit tonight and was shocked by how often the "good" players at the table fired 3 straight bullets with only ace high.

I kept calling them down and winning and getting glares. In fact I misplayed one hand and folded bottom pair on the river because I assumed there was no way it could be good after a bet and a call in front of me. It was.

So my thought here, the challenge if you will, is to play limit, and try to conquer each level. I'm ready to learn. I don't mind stepping down to start.
I'd play 4/8 or 5/10. Makes no difference to me. I know the Bellagio has an 8/16 game that I've never tried.

The goal will be to build up to an appropriate chip stack, so that I can move over to the 15/30 game. Then play 15/30 until I find myself with enough chips for 30/60 table. 50/100. And so on.

Maybe there is a level that I don't beat. A level that I can't get past.

Who knows?

I sure don't. I gotta find out.

Daniel Negreanu wrote that if he had to play 80/160 for a living he'd want to shoot himself because it would be too boring. Negreanu has won millions of dollars, so I suppose that changes his point of view on grinding. I imagine that making $160 an hour is alot of money to most people.

I guess that's one definition of success:

Being to the point where you can complain that you're bored with only making $160 an hour.

At the poker table.