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Posted inIntangibles
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The reasons I’ve listed below are in no particular order of importance.

Intangibles in poker are extremely important as it pertains to playing for profit. I would argue it’s more important than knowing and executing technical skills. Some of the reasons below are definitely intangibles.

  1. 1. When you buy in deep 200 big blinds or more, then you are often put into tougher decisions. These decisions can be more stressful. If I’m not 100% in the mood to play and I simply want to avoid these tough decisions or stress, I will opt in to buy for 100 BBs.
  2. 2. Sometimes soft spots do not have more than $500. I see no reason to buy in for more than 100 big blinds if that amount covers the inexperienced and fun players at the table. 
  3. 3. Sometimes better players than me all have the max. I see no point of playing deep stack poker with players who are just as skilled or better skilled. I leave my ego at the door. If you are playing for profit, then this is an important skill to have. It will drastically affect your win rate.
  4. 4. Sometimes the game will be good, but the only seat available is to the right of an extraneous aggressive player who I recognize as a professional. If this tough player is on my left, then I will buy in for less than the max until I can get a better seat and/or position. 
  5. 5. A lot of times, it’s silly to buy in for the max in a game when everyone only has $300-$500 and it’s a soft game. I’ve seen players immediately get up if someone who looks like a pro buys in the max and sits down to their left. I don’t want to intimidate or run off certain recreational players.
  6. 6. Buying in less can lower variance in a high variance game. Sometimes games play very wild and crazy. I understand and recognize most of the time it’s plus ev buy in for the max. But if you don’t have a lot of money on you or you prefer less variance in general, buying in less is not a bad option. 
  7. 7. Everyone experiences run bad or negative variance. If this run bad turns into me not playing my A game, then I buy in for less and/or drop down in stakes. 
  8. 8. When I play at a table where I don’t recognize any of the players, I want to evaluate the table.  Playing with unknowns before adding on is smart especially if you play in home games. You can’t get angled or cheated out of money you don’t put on the table.
  9. 9. I sometimes don’t feel like playing but understand it’s still profitable when playing my B game. I prefer to play on auto pilot, watch tv, and play chess or do business while grinding. This is easier to do when my decisions are easier.
  10. 10. If there is a super fun player at the table, some of the plays I make against them I’m not 100% comfortable.I’m also not 100% sure if it’s the right play with a 200 BBs. For example, going all in with 200 BBs preflop with a marginal hand. 
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