Tournament Poker Edge | Learn Poker Strategy | Tournament Poker Training from the Pros - Topic: Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

joelshitshow on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 13:38:10 -0400

Back of the cocktail napkin math here.

If being backed allows you to play at double the stakes you normally do, and your win rate is the same, then you're essentially breaking even, being backed vs. not being backed, while removing the variance. This doesn't take into account that opponents are tougher at higher levels.

If you don't play high stakes in America, it seems like Bovada and ACR have enough tournaments to keep the pros and semipros going.

BigSnowball on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 09:54:02 -0400

Cheers guys
I kinda guessed that was the gig just wondered if I was missing something extra that made it more appealing.

Couple thoughts
Must suck trying to play in the states at the mo.
The hourly rate thing seems a short term view. If you're giving up to half up away I think the few months grinding 180s/micros etc to be able to fund yourself and therefore keep all the profits will give a far better hourly rate over a 12-24 month period.

Good Luck all

Killingbird on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Sat, 22 Aug 2015 09:40:52 -0400

yeah, it really depends on the person. Some of the benefits have been mentioned above (I think the most common is being able to play bigger games than you are rolled for, but that you can still beat). One reason not mentioned, which was one of the reasons i started getting backed, was that in America it just made it so much more damn easy to move money around!! I no longer had to worry about depositing. I just asked my backer for more money! and being a lasy bastard, that is a good thing.

GunnJD on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Sat, 22 Aug 2015 05:43:32 -0400

I think having a backer is ideal when you cannot afford games you can beat.

For example, you could back yourself for micro MTTs, but your hourly may be higher being backed for mid stakes MTTs.

Ultimately life is much better not being staked, imo.

joelshitshow on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:32:58 -0400

Bankroll management is really hard for a lot of people. Someone with a 5k roll will want to play $100 tournaments. The variance is too high for that. Others pay the rent out of their roll. A little bit of runbad, and there's no roll left.

But if your Sharkscope shows that you're a winner, and all you need is money, there are plenty of people who will back you for a cut of the action.

BigSnowball on Please explain to me why being backed is good/desirable

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:16:49 -0400

Having seen the recent advert on TPE I am confused as to why anybody would want to be backed. Give them 50% of your winnings? WTF?
If you're proven to be good enough to play at a stake (the only reason I can see that they'll back you, they're not after tossing money away) surely you've a bankroll to work with so why would you want to give half away?

I can MAYBE understand in cash games but if I had to hand over $4/5000 to someone I'd never even met after winning one of the Bigs/Hots because they'd lent me a few quid I think I'd throw up

WHAT AM I MISSING ? Do you just pay back what you've borrowed? In which case how do they make profit? Who decides what to play/who gets the points/when to call it quits etc etc etc?

Apart from anything else I wanna play poker to be my own boss and not have to deal with answering to "a backer/boss" so I'll not be taking up the offer but am interested as to why people do.

Have a great weekend