Im a winning player in 2-5 5-10 in home games (debatable) that have been playing for more than 11 years. Im also a software engineer and I freelance in upwork. I had a big downswing the last few months and made the error of playing in bigger omaha games than I should because in my view they where really soft. A couple of weeks ago I busted my whole bankroll, literally. I tried to get a comeback getting staked in games but I cannot play optimal with so much pressure and was underbluffing/folding hands in spots I normally wouldn't turning me into a losing player right now.

Im not making this post for you guys feel sorry for me, i want to know the experiences that many of you have had when you got into this situation. What should I do now? Stop playing poker until I have enough bankroll for 20 buy ins? Get staked in games and try to get back on track? Get on debt trustint i play back in some weeks? Havent been broke in more than 3 years. What is your advice now?

First off, going up in stakes when you're running bad is a recipe for disaster. Stay the same, or move down. Second, poker players and especially regs can sniff out when someone is running bad, so tighten up to the point of folding for two hours if the cards demand it.

Third, and most important, variance is part of the game, get over it, because it's f*ing normal. I just busted out of a tournament with AA after shoving and lost to QJ and KQ and it doesn't bother me much.

Take a break and budget a buyin, or two. Read the strategy forums and contribute a bit, then go back and play.

Since you have already specified you don't play optimally under pressure stop gambling until you build a big enough bankroll so you won't feel pressured. There is no rush to play quickly when you know you will be playing poorly.

If you have good credit you could collect at least $20k-$30k on your credit cards. That should be enough to get you going again, and your inevitable winnings will cover any interest charges. And since your upswing (to balance the downswing) is due any minute from the sound of things, you can probably pay it off right away and avoid paying interest altogether.

You could also pawn your car if it is a late model of decent make.

Borrow money and move up

troll

How about this plan: make good money as a software engineer, don't waste money on frivolous luxuries, then any time you have a buyin, feel free to play. If you lose, repeat. If you win, even better.

Seriously, no idea why someone who has a good job and isn't playing poker to pay the bills even has a "poker bankroll".

R U sure the games are on the up and up?

you know what to do OP

I'd say time for a short break of a few months possibly more or at least not playing regularly everyday or when you do play only play MTT's at lower levels then you would cash that way you can only lose a set amount(MTT buy-in) each time you play. That you will/can at least scratch the poker itch while you get a bankroll back together, your mental state back together(when at the table) and do some studying of your game.

Honestly though with the very good job you have why need to try making big money playing poker? Maybe you should just be happy being a lower limit/rec part time winning player at levels you can beat. Don't be greedy.

Best of luck to you on the road back.


Cheers!!!

The last few months I kind of stopped working on software and focus entirely on poker. Running really well but with lack of discipline on my bankroll management. Thats a lesson I need to learn. My best guess right now is get one of my software projects back since I have a good reputation as a freelancer in upwork. But still want to get back on my poker career once I get bankroll back. But that means be busted for 1-2 months :'D so its kind of bad

Ahh cool understood. Well maybe a few months off away from playing is just what the doctor ordered. Getting some freelance work back sounds like a good start and maybe find a new hobby or something else you enjoy doing to fill the time poker took up for a few months. I think sooner or later we've all gone bust and completely broke. It's humbling and tough mentality. Consider the break more of a reset mentality and emotionally.

Take a course in bankroll management(if you haven't already). In the end you'll need discipline and good bankroll management if you're gonna be a pro player and make a living outta poker. So take the time to work on your biggest holes. For me personally there's easier ways to make money then grinding poker 6-8+ hours a day....specially if it involves multi-tabling online. Too each there own though.

Please keep us updated on how things are going and turn out....


Cheers!!!

You should never go broke as a winning player - if you have a "roll" and can't replenish it, then you should be playing very strict BRM which clearly you haven't. I think you should build it up again through lower stake games - it'll teach you some professionalism and discipline.

Time to sell your body or your soul

Listen, here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. Guys around here will tell ya, you play for a living, it's like any other job. You don't gamble, you grind it out.

Small update: I got borrowed 500 dollars and grinded up to 5.5k playing 5-10 game the last 3 days. I didnt even had 100 dollars on me some days ago lol, so I have some money now to live. Ill try to focus on getting one of my software projects to get back on track because those are not enough buy ins to handle a downswing if it happens.

You're a software engineer and you didn't have $100 to your name? If that's true, you probably have a serious gambling problem and shouldn't ever be in a casino, or else you have some other major problems for which you should seek professional help. Not being flippant, you seriously need either some psych help or some serious help with your spending from someone who can help you manage your money better.

Edit: I just saw you put your software career on hold for poker. Don't do that. Get a good job, play poker on the side for fun and hopefully some profit.

start an only fans

Start with $40 - play $0.01/$0.02. When you get to $100.00 then move to $0.02/$0.05 ... when you get to $200.00 move up to $0.05/$0.10 ... so on and so forth. Move up once you have 20 buy ins for the next limit, until you can't win. Figure out which limit (based on your bb/100 over a good sample of hands, like 100,000) you're winning the most actual money at. Play that. Study ... if your win rate improves at the limit you have been playing, try the next one again and see if you can beat it yet. Repeat the last steps (playing the limit you win the most at, and trying to move up once your win rate improves). If you hit a wall then you could try coaching or something like that, but most people will eventually hit a permanent wall.

OR alternatively

Come to Michigan, keep buying in at limits you can't beat and play on PokerStars MI. Let me know your SN and PM me when you're on

Had You never busted your bankroll before? I think it happens to most poker players at least once in lifetime

No, of course not. Even as a professional I have never gambled with money I couldn't afford to lose.

Sure, it happens to most players because most are losing players, and even those who are winning players and play professionally, most have huge "life leaks" such as a gambling problem with table games, drug problems, making high - risk "investments" and in general spending lots of money on unneeded luxury items.

I strongly suggest you take those 5.5k and hit the 25-50 tables. Keep us updated.

A true pro wont go busto because a true pro has the BRM to sustain a downswing, and also probably a decent nest egg to survive a reasonable amount of time with no income.


But yea most players aren't true pros and probably have gone busto at one point or another.


My advice is focus on programming again so you have income for the necessities. Then everything extra goes into poker as your "poker budget". The benefit of a poker budget vs poker bankroll is that a budget can easily be replenished by your main income. IDK your financial situation but if you can save $500 a month, then start playing the 1/2 or 1/3 games. If you go busto for the month (you have 2 buyins you may go busto a lot at the start), start saving again until you get another couple buyins and try again.

Once you start winning, your budget starts to become a bankroll that is harder to replenish so you need to start being more conservative with it. I wouldn't try 2/5 until $5k and being willing to move down immediately if you lose a couple buyins. Then once your established at 2/5, start taking 5/T shots at $15k with the same process. See how high you can climb, keeping in mind that each step up requires more Buy ins than the previous step because your win rate will be lower and it becomes harder to replenish your roll.

I would thank my lucky stars that I was able to turn $500 into $1500 at 5/T but if your serious, now is the time to go down to 1/3 with your $1500 roll and see what happens.

hookers and blow, get you a bottom bitch and have her work for you. plus you can say you now run a business!