Taking shots is the time-honoured poker-playing tradition of playing at a level above your current one for a short space of time. This can be done as a way of getting your feet wet and sampling the higher skill level before moving up, but it can also be done without the sustainable bankroll in a hope that you run well for a session or two and generate some serious profit.
There’s a fine line between trying a bigger game and just managing your roll badly. Remember, the primary reason for bankroll management is mitigating the risk of going broke. It’s important to realise if you only have a few buy-ins or tournament entries for the level you’re playing at that you could easily go broke, even if you’re a favourite in the game. It could be even worse – you could be a loser in the game if it’s a higher level than you’re used to; you could even be a favourite to go broke.
This doesn’t mean you should never take shots. It’s perfectly possible that you can beat a bigger game, and if that’s the case you should get into it as quickly as possible to start maximising your earnings. The key is to make sure you’re using money that you can afford to lose in terms of your bankroll. So, if you’re a professional player you need to make sure you’re using money that you can lose over and above your bankroll requirements and income needs.
As a semi-pro or casual player you can afford to be bolder, but remember, the maths still applies and if you want to maintain a bankroll you should always leave yourself the roll you need for your regular game.
Bringing your A-game
When taking a shot you should set out some rules before you play. You should have a completely strict and inflexible amount of buy-ins (cash or tourney entries) before you start. On no account should you dip into your funds beyond this amount as you’re cannibalising your bankroll in a situation where you may be an underdog.
It’s vital that you play at your best when taking a shot. The key to this is to play without fear either of the increased money or better players. A helpful thing to do for some is to consider the money gone in terms of your bankroll – after all it should be money you can afford to lose. If anything, playing in a bigger game should focus you and you may well play your best, so take the odd shot and enjoy the challenge.
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