What are you Chasing?

Most players know what chasing is, but many overlook the game outside the game. I am talking about chasing your bankroll. You are on a bad roll, so instead of just taking a break you try to get back even. The best way to get even is to just stay even, that is be patient and protect what you have.

Looking back over my history, I have very few long term winning streaks. For the most part, I only have a few good growth sessions each week. I also tend to lose almost as much back in little bits. Lately, I have been able to minimize my loses, thus protecting the increases as best as I can.

Many people move up in stakes too fast. I probably did that, yet did pretty good for a while. Eventually it caught up with me and forced me to slow down. It does not really make sense to risk 1/3 your bankroll everytime you sit down at a cash game. This is not a one time trip to AC or Vegas, where maybe you do bring a set amount and put it all down for your one sesion.

Beware of the online players that do not care about their money. I guarantee that someone, on a $1 or higher BB NL table, calling big bets with suited connectors is playing with a deep bankroll. The players with limited funds wait for a big hand before making a big raise, or calling one. Think about this: the standard player waits for big hands, the rich player knows that he is up against when he calls them. This either gives the standard player a small win, or a major loss. Like when my Kings were up against 9 2 suited!! I still have no idea why they called my huge pre-flop bet - but they did and they flopped a flush. If the missed the flop, I won a decent pot, but they hit a flush and I lost my buy-in.

This is the hand that slowed me down, a whole lot. I decided I am willing to lose $10 to that kind of player, but not $75. I was chasing my bankroll too fast.

So, what are you chasing?