How do you calculate your buy-in for your cash games?

jamby · #1 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 09:47 PM

Wondering how others calculate your buy-in relative to blinds since our home game suffers from some ridiculous play that is rarely commensurate with the blinds.

We typically play .05/.10 NLHE with a $10 buy-in, so it's a 100xBB. Nuts right? I've been trying to bump the blinds to .10/.25 with no luck so far. Ideas as to how to convince others are most welcome.

Big Mike · #2 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamby

We typically play .05/.10 NLHE with a $10 buy-in, so it's a 100xBB. Nuts right?

Why is that nuts? 100bb is a good sized starting stack, imo.
The local casino max is 50bb as a buy in ($100 at 1/2), so I kind of go with that as a guide, but I prefer I higher buyin. We go $40 at .25/.50, or 80bb.

ACE'S FULL · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

Why is that nuts? 100bb is a good sized starting stack, imo.
The local casino max is 50bb as a buy in ($100 at 1/2), so I kind of go with that as a guide, but I prefer I higher buyin. We go $40 at .25/.50, or 80bb.

Agreed and agreed... I to usually play .25/.50 with a $40 buy-in.

jamby · #4 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:02 PM

Nuts just 'cause the starting stack is so big relative to the blinds. Folks really dig it this way though for the most part. I guess I just think a more reasonable .10/.25 with $10 buy-in would serve better. Just trying to get other's feedback on it prior to strongly recommending a change. I've not-so-strongly recommended a change already without good results.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mike

Why is that nuts?

dad604 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:08 PM

Your 100x bb buy in is typical of structure of the online sites. For the micro limits such as yours, I would increase to maybe 200x.

I don't know the financial situation of your group but if stakes are too low, players don't care about the money and make foolish play. The stakes should be high enought that it hurts a bit when you have a losing session.

Reading between the lines, I would said that the stakes are very low for your personal financial situation. If you can afford to buy all those chips of yours, $10 would be just like buying someone a cup of coffee.

mizuchaud · #6 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad604

Reading between the lines, I would said that the stakes are very low for your personal financial situation. If you can afford to buy all those chips of yours, $10 would be just like buying someone a cup of coffee.

You want to catch jamby's attention at the tables, raise her a stack of Condies.....

jdunford · #7 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:30 PM

Put me in the 80xBB category. It keeps it friendly (typically $40 buy-in for 25¢/50¢, or $20 buy-in for 10¢/25¢ NL or PL if it's a game someone doesn't know and doesn't want to go broke learning). I also set a minimum buy-in of 1/4 of the max. Often the majority buy in for 1/2 the max, but then re-load several times if they bust.

jmc · #8 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamby

Wondering how others calculate your buy-in relative to blinds since our home game suffers from some ridiculous play that is rarely commensurate with the blinds.

We typically play .05/.10 NLHE with a $10 buy-in, so it's a 100xBB. Nuts right? I've been trying to bump the blinds to .10/.25 with no luck so far. Ideas as to how to convince others are most welcome.

100 BB isn't nuts. I prefer to play slightly deeper -- how else am I going to be able to get the implied odds I need for speculative hands if people keep raising to 50c preflop?

beekeeper · #9 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 11:34 PM

Our cash game is a mess. Lately, a couple of players will raise the max on every betting opportunity regardless of the game. They know that 90% of the time they'll get everyone else to fold within a couple betting rounds, and it will be heads up. Then they just go back and forth taking each other's money. A lot of people have just stopped playing the cash table out of frustration.

It's getting to the point where, as the host, I feel like I need to do something to keep everyone else in the game. I've tried caping the raise amount and capping the amount of raises. But this is not a good solution, as I feel like I'm micromanaging the game.

Long story short, if you hit upon a solution for your game, maybe it can help me with mine.

Clipper · #10 (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 11:47 PM

Please don't take offense at my comment. But beekeeper and jamby, you need to raise the stakes. From what you are telling us, it appear the stakes are too small (as compared to the player's risk thresholds) and people are simply overplaying hands because "it is just $10" (or whatever amount they are risking). I just about guarantee that if you increase the stakes from .1/.20 cents and $10 buyin to .25/.50 cents and $50 buyin that 1) they will "play better" (will not just shove and overbet for the heck of it) and 2) YOU will enjoy the game more.

Part of the excitement/thrill of gambling is risking a tad more than you are comfortable losing without it stinging too bad. Also, you will never learn to handle pressure unless you have a "significant amount" on the line - that significant amount varies by player. I have had a working $25,000 - $35,000 poker bankroll before and not felt comfortable spending $1,000 for a set of nice chips I wanted (many of you guys have done this without batting an eye). You guys need to trust me and treat yourselves to a slight increase in stakes. You will be glad you did; life is just too short.

Ok, I am ready. Everybody blast the hell out of me. But I assure you the above statement is almost certainly correct.