From my understanding, there are 2 rules regarding bankroll management: 1. Never start a level with less than 50 buy-ins for that stake, and 2. A buy in should be 100 big blinds.

If you wanted to bend the rules a little bit for 1 of those...which one is more important? Or should I just stop being a baby and not break either of those rules?

I started with $50 at Ultimate Bet a couple weeks ago, so I started playing the penny tables .01/.02 NL. Granted, I already broke the rules when I started because I was buying in for $2 at each table, but I really didnt have a choice with only $50, besides the fact I think it's harder to go broke at a penny table than it is to win. The competition is incredibly weak.

Anyways, after about 2 weeks I got up to a little over $200 and decided it was time to move up to .05/.10. 50 buys for 100 BB's at that level says I shouldn't start it with less than $500, but the minimum buy for those tables was only $4, and I did in fact have 50 of those, and I was getting really bored playing the penny tables.

I started this level playing 8 tables with minimum $4 buys, and have been doing so for the past couple days. I've already noticed I haven't been winning as swiftly as before. In 5 sessions I won once, lost another, and broke even the other 3 times. Some guys at my table last night were telling me I should buy for at least 100 BB's, because the minimums are "too easy to pick off". I thought about it and it seems true. That always seemed to be the case in all my years of playing, I just never thought about it that bluntly. In all of my "break even" sessions, it was mostly because I kept having to reload on a few of the tables. With only minimum buys I find myself being forced to call flush draws with only 1 card to come a lot more often, continuation bets aren't as effective or as easy to make, and as a result I go broke a lot more often.

So after this long winded explanation, I think I probably answered my own question. The minimum buy is just too weak. Should I move back down in stakes and bore myself to death for the next couple weeks getting to $500 at the penny tables?

Some people can short-stack well, but it can be very high variance. Buy in with a real stack and play like a man. And when you're new to a level, don't play more than 4 tables. And considering that your bankroll is as low as it is for the level, only playing 1 or 2 tables would be even better. You don't want that much of your BR on the table at one time.

I'm assuming you're not that good. Not trying to be a dick, but that's fair, right? Given that, I'd say grind to $300 and then play at .05/.1 and if you drop below $200, drop back down. Don't buy in short.

If you are underolled when you move up a limit I recommend reducing the amount of tables, you normally play 8, drop down to 4 and really work on finding who the regs are and watching them to see what adjustments they have made to the higher level.

Definately buy in for more than the min. I play at PokerStars at the lower levels and I love to play with the min buy in people. They are looking for the quick double-up with very marginal hands. I like to just pick up a big hand and trap these guys. They are quick to call because it is just a couple of bucks. It has helped me build my BR at the lower levels.

Also think about this. How much more could you have won with your winning hands if you had not bought in for the min. You probably would have had more winning sessions. Last thing..."there is no substitute for experience". I think I read that from a Doyal Brunson article in CardPlayer. The more hands you play, the better. Always try to improve your game at whetever level.

Thanks for your input. I tried one session with only 2 tables for a regular buy-in at the higher stake and I had much better results. I'm definately not a very good short-stacker, so I'm just going to stay with what I'm good at....but I get bored playing only 1 or 2 tables, so I've decided to drop back down and grind it up to where I need to be.