Buy-in for limit ring games

[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.

[drewjax]

Thanks all. Good advise. I always buy in for the usual amount as well. usually 40-50x the Big Bet. Also, I asked in another thread this question awhile ago, but dont know where, maybe I'll start a new thread. But, when I see the term BB, is there a universal meaning to that. I always refer to it as big bets, NOT big blinds. i.e. at 1/2 50BB would be $100. what do you think of when you see BB??

[Talking Poker]

It depends on the context. When talking in $ amounts (3 BBs per hour), people mean Big Bets. But when talking about position (SB folded and BB raised), they mean the Big Blind.

[drewjax]

Ya thats what I have been figuring, look at what is the context of the statement, but i wish there was just some universal way to distinguish. No big deal. thanks TP.