Buy-in for limit ring games

[drewjax]

What does everyone think is the best strategy for buying in to limit ring games, in terms of how much of your total stack to bring in. Obviously you need enough to handle an early downswing. but do you try to intimidate people with a big stack, always buy in for the same amount, mix it up, come in with some odd amount to try to look like its all you have left (i.e. $44.34)?

[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?

[SirFWALGMan]

I tend to buyin for the suggested amount (150 for 3/6). Too lazy to do otherwise. I never put my full stack in. When I see people do this it just makes me droool and want to take it all away from them!