Buy-in for limit ring games

[eddo31]

this seems to be focused only on online ring games, but i generally follow the same guidelines all the time. i dont think that having a huge stack really has that much of a psychological effect in a ring game, so i buy in for about two times the max you can lose on one hand, if that makes sense. you can lose 12 BB on one hand (4 small bets on pre-flop and flop, 4 BB on turn and river), so for 2/4, i usually buy in for 100, 1/2 is 50, etc. this gives me a little bit of room to play around with, and it also makes it possible to get maximum value out of any of my hands. i hate going all in in a limit game, because it generally means that i am losing profit.

[Defendant]

My usual buyin is 100 x the big blind. That means 200 at 2-4, 300 at 3-6 etc. I feel that gives me enough cushion to take a few drawouts and bounce back without having to reach back into my pocket each time.

Defendant

[hackers238]

I prefer to buy in for less, because I think that people are more often to call a short stack, and with my tight style of play callers are generally what I want. The only downside to this strategy is that sometimes I lose out on a pot when I end up going all -in.

[Talking Poker]

I ALWAYS buy in for the "recommended" amount. Any more or any less, and it's a tell. Even if it's a false tell, it's information I see no need to give out.

The other advantage of this is I always know exactly how much I'm up or down at that table, without having to remember what I bought in for.

[PShabi]

How is it a tell? Can you elaborate? Small buyin = scaredy cat? Big buyin = good player?

[Talking Poker]

But think about it. Say you are in a 5/10 game and see the following stack sizes around you: 250, 250, 250, 250, 250, 30, 45, 3250, 8750.

There are 5 players at the table that you can't tell me anything about. There are two players that are very likely winning players. And while you don't know for certain that the short stacks are losers, it's likely.... because sitting with stacks that small at this level of play is not a good idea.

Sure, good players could fake this by buying in small (or for the recommended amount, like I do), but my point is, the 250 guys are giving out NO information.

[Baseballa19]

I always buy in for about half of what is recommended. No rhyme or reason. I just do.