Before this last downswing of mine I would have said that 300 BB was sufficient to get the job done if you are a winning player but if you take a little gander at that graph I posted in my journal you will see a downswing of OVER 560 BIG BETS and I play a very low variance game and I think I was playing pretty damn well over that time frame. With bonus clearing and rake return and winnings in various other games I was still making a profit but without those things coming in that would have been a tortuous downswing. I have been playing for 11 years and I have never experienced anything even half that bad in relation to Big Bets lost. I think my previous downswing was in the neighborhood of 150 Big Bets. Hopefully you never have to go through a slide like that but just be aware that they can happen and don't hesitate at all in dropping down limits if necessary to maintain a safe cushion.

Posted again for ease.

Piers I don't see how anything about that graph is ease.

Between 35-39 is where I would debate ending it all. I would gather some courage and keep grinding but between 56 ~58ish I, without question, end it.


Sooooo.... 400-500 big bets it is

So Piers, you were up 0.10 BB/100 over 74,000 hands -- that's a total of +74 BB.

Yikes.

Thank goodness for bonuses.

FWIW
The 300 BB "rule" is complete and utter nonsense, and WAY too low, especially for someone with full time pro aspirations...I talked to Matt Matros (who knows a little about poker) about this...

I asked- "Do you abide by the 300 BB Bankroll rule ?"

he replied "yeah, pretty much'

I say-"what was your worst drawdown as a pro ?"

his reply "about 300BBs"...

LOL you do the math!!!!



Obviously, at the lower levels and a repaceable BR, this is not nearly as important, but as you move up in stakes, ignore the reality of variance at your own peril.