For and if they have a corresponding kill game:

2/4:
3/6:
4/8:
6/12:
8/16:
10/20:

For me it is:

Reg Kill
2/4: 50 80
3/6: 100 150
4/8: 150 200
6/12: Hardly play
8/16: Hardly play
10/20: Never played

As long as you have 12 BB or more at the beginning of each hand (for the biggest limit that can go at your table [if it's a kill game]), then you're fine. I personally like to sit down with four racks so I can play with the chips to keep myself busy. There's no set correct or important or right amount.

I think 50BB on a regular game, 75BB in a kill game is pretty standard.

i too, like tthe lot of chips to keep one occupied. A friend of mine reloads 10bets at a time, which imo is bad as getting cash out constantly would be dejecting imo....

The standard buyin I've seen at most USA casinos is two racks of whatever chips are being used at that game. But again, any decent-sized amount is fine.

I'm positive I've ever put 12 BB into a live pot. I don't think I've ever put 12 BB into an online pot, either. Max I've probably done is 7 live, 10 online.

1 rack for 4-chip/8-chip games = 12.5 BB, 1 rack for 3-chip/6-chip games = 16.7 BB, 1 rack for 2-chip/4-chip games = 25 BB. I generally see people buy in for 1 rack or less and I usually play 3-chip/6-chip games.

If you buy in for more than what people normally buy in for, you attract attention off the bat. It could be good or bad or wanted or unwanted, but you should be aware of that. Generally, the lower the stakes the less people buy in for proportionally - IME typical buy in for 3/6 is $40-$60, 6/12 is $120-$200, 15/30 is $500-$1000.

i do 80-100 for 2-4
120-160 for 4-8
what would you all recommend for 5-10
this is for limit

I have and it is great when you have the nuts and are being raised but you point is well taken - it is hard to get to 12 but I have seen a few hands capped on 4 streets and that is 12; usual one or more players are all in at that time. 4 players and $520/$12/4=10.8 BB and the hand started 7 way -

+1

This was discussed just recently and if you are playing 3/6 or 4/8 or 6/12 and not a kill most players buy one rack (or less) so as not to look too serious about the game - or they buy 3 racks to look crazy.

At the Bellagio 15/30 they would just buy 3 racks and no one would blink. At the 20/40 Bay 101 I would buy 2-3 racks.

So, as the stakes go up the buyin should also go up.

my default buyin is 50 bets. at higher stakes that's normal; at lower stakes it makes me look crazy, which is an image i love to cultivate.

Haha I once saw a kid (ok, I'm not much older meself, but still) with sun glasses and ipod (you know the look) buy in at a 3/6 no kill game for 4 racks.
He quickly lost three racks before buying in another two. I didn't have the heart to tell him that folding pre-flop, on the flop, on the turn, and on the river with nothing was actually an valid option in this game.

confirmed that asmitty looks crazy when he asks for 4-5 racks of chips

2 rack of whatever the chips are for the that game. If I need more than, I am
1) Playing badly
2) Running badly
3) Playing in a game I don't belong

When I play live, mostly 1-2 or 2-5 limit I will buy in with 200bb. That is overly high, however if I do go bust on those amounts I don't rebuy. Just my preference, also for some reason a large stack does tend to intimiadate people who are new to the game. Therefore giving you an edge with the older players.

It's important not to stand out. Buying 2 racks is usually the most that allows this and I suggest it. If I see some jagoff buy 4 racks I immediately assume he's a good player. Why give your opponents that edge?

Edit: as a corrallary if you do in fact suck buy 4-5 racks it will lay some cover for the first 2 orbits.

I agree two racks is about the maximum amount you can buy in for without consistently being noticed, and even that has drawn some attention and comments.

Of course, these are the people that short buy for $7 at an 8/16 game.

20-25 Big Bets +/-

I usually buy 2 racks in a 4/8 chip game (4/8, 8/16, ...) and 1 1/2 racks in a 3/6 chip game (3/6, 6/12, ...).

In most casinos, there is no cap on betting HU, so theoretically you could get into some sort of unlimited raising situation. I've only seen it once in a non-chop situation, where one guy had Aces full of Kings, the other guy, Aces full of Queens and they got both their stacks in. Surprisingly, neither of them had the nuts (straight flush).

While it is very rare to see guys go all in with any significant stack (ie, they had significantly more than 12 BB at the start of the hand), you do see guys that will go a number of bets beyond the cap, sometimes with significantly less than the current nuts. This is a good reason to always have more than 12 BB on the table.

in 4-8 1/2 kill I kind of like a stack thats a bit bigger like 150 in red and 150 in white.

anything else I buy 2 racks then if I lose 1 I buy another.

lots of 5 bet cap games here in LV so I want to have like 30 BB in front.

this one guy used to play like 15 racks of $1 at the mandalay bay years back. he built this 4 sided pyramid and always had a coffee and a racing form. He was a nut but he had an arm like chuck atlas. he played 7stud and could build a pot like no one else Ive seen. I saw him dam near clear the table a time or two.

I've seen Gavin Smith buy in huge at a 4-8 game at Binions Horseshoe back before he won any big tournies. he was f00kin hammered and moving more than a mayflower van. I think they were playing must straddle, must drink, Chowaha and there were lat least 50 racks of those old cruddy whites on the felt. Smith was sluggin them down two fisted and really making some action.

makes me smile just thinking about it.

note to self: it is almost never wrong to have too many chips but the reverse is not correct. Tommy Angelo as others recommend to have lots of chips.. one reason is that new players will not think that you are losing you ass off.

50 racks to him must seems like pocket change... one of the reasons I no longer play low LHE, it's just too boring unless you can put players on tilt with your "donkey" plays

There is of course the legend of Indian jay going 17 bets in the 100/200 with top set when a straight was possible. Hammerin Hank maybe can expand on the relative truth of this story....

I often sit at the $4/$8 limit game with $2,000 while I wait for the $5-$10 NL game to open up. It's pretty funny