Limits - How Low Should You Go? |
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Posted Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:18 am GMT by rlb2252
Limits—How low should you go?
I’m brand new to online limit hold’em. I’ve read a few opinions on how one should start with play money to learn the basics and then go into micro limits.
Right now, I’m playing 0.50/1.00 Limit. As might be expected for such a fresh fish (slightly fewer than a thousand total hands played), I have yet to consistently beat the game.
Paradoxically, I’ve also played 1.00/2.00 limit and have faired slightly better, although admittedly fewer than a hundred hands doesn’t tell an accurate story at this level.
My question is this: From a learning standpoint, are there negatives to playing micro-limits? Is one bound to pick up bad habits that will need to be unlearned later in one’s poker career?
Is this micro madness poker?
Some have said, no, that the Wild West environment at such levels is not representative of real world poker. They are quick to single out typical micro limit actions such as players calling and raising all the way to the river with substandard hands, ring games where six and seven players see the flop, and the absence of bluffing because few players take any notice and those who do could care less since the penalty for guessing wrong is only a few quarters.
Although players are more skilled at higher limits, in an ironic twist they might also be more predictable. When playing a garbage hand all the way to the showdown can cost you a half day’s wages, players are bound to inject more judicious consideration into their actions.
Lastly, in order to move up in limits, is it essential to master the micro limits? If one can’t beat 0.50/1.00 does one have any hope at fairing better in a higher limit contest?
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Posted Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:27 am GMT by tame_deuces
I don't think learning micro-limit is essential to poker, but I don't think a good poker player should have problems killing it completely.
The thing is:
More players in the pot = Less chance of winning, but it also means you'll win much bigger pots (comparably to stakes) when you win.
Less players in the pot = higher chance of winning, but the pots will be smaller.
So as the old joke goes, the bad player thinks: 'They don't respect my raises, I can never win in this game'. Which if one stops to think about it, is a completely hilarious statement.
Posted Sun Aug 20, 2006 1:31 pm GMT by UrAteUp
Nothing at all wrong with playing micros. I play even less then the $0.50/$1 tables and do pretty good at them. The higher you go the better the players USUALLY are even though fish can be found at any level.
If your having trouble betting the micros I would suggest moving to higher stakes just yet. Better to pay a reduced rate for your poker lessons...  
Posted Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:22 pm GMT by rlb2252
| Quote: | Nothing at all wrong with playing micros. I play even less then the $0.50/$1 tables and do pretty good at them. The higher you go the better the players USUALLY are even though fish can be found at any level.
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Which makes me wonder whether many of the better players come down to the low limits to replenish their bankrolls.
Another question is this: If a player is able to beat the lower limits consistently, why even bother playing higher?
Is it:
A: The smaller money simply not worth their time.
B: A competitive need to match wits at the highest possible level.
Sitting where I am right now, I would assume that if I found a level where I was basically assured a winning day (assuming it was at least minimum wage per hour), I'd probably play there with a smile on my face.
Posted Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:30 pm GMT by UrAteUp
quote="rlb2252" | Quote: |
Which makes me wonder whether many of the better players come down to the low limits to replenish their bankrolls. |
I am very sure many do.
| Quote: | Another question is this: If a player is able to beat the lower limits consistently, why even bother playing higher?
Is it:
A: The smaller money simply not worth their time.
B: A competitive need to match wits at the highest possible level. |
I am sure these are two of the biggest reasons why people feel the need to play at higher stakes.
| Quote: | | Sitting where I am right now, I would assume that if I found a level where I was basically assured a winning day (assuming it was at least minimum wage per hour), I'd probably play there with a smile on my face. |
As I have many many times. I like the lower limits because I do not like to put in the kind of money that is needed to play higher limits. I can't see risking that kind of money on a bit of recreation. Also the players in these lower limits make far more mistakes then players in upper limits. Being a decent poker player you can take advantage of this and take their chips with ease. Even though swings still occur at these levels, they just sre not as bad and easier to ride out. I avg. about $12 an hour for the last month of playing but I only spend about 2 hours a day playing. I have cashed out several times I am happy to say and each time I come back here to the micros to build back up for my next cashout.
Posted Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:36 pm GMT by Sean_in_NJ
| rlb2252 wrote: | Another question is this: If a player is able to beat the lower limits consistently, why even bother playing higher?
Is it:
A: The smaller money simply not worth their time.
B: A competitive need to match wits at the highest possible level. |
Clearly A. There's always that internal cost/benefit analysis we all do that determines whether it's "profitable" to play at a certain level. I personally will never ever ever make as much playing poker as I do in my job, nor does the little I do win have much of an impact on my day-to-day life. So, I tend to lounge around lower limits because I have no impetus to move up. Sometimes I take the results, or lack thereof, way too seriously. That's just my competitive nature.
As for B, some of us here bang heads relatively frequently, but it's always for small stakes.
| rlb2252 wrote: | | Sitting where I am right now, I would assume that if I found a level where I was basically assured a winning day (assuming it was at least minimum wage per hour), I'd probably play there with a smile on my face. |
Agreed. A lot of players get stuck in that mode where their only goal is to make enough money to move to the next limit. At a certain point, that probably doesn't make that much sense.
Posted Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:55 pm GMT by Skribbles
| Sean_in_NJ wrote: | | Sometimes I take the results, or lack thereof, way too seriously. That's just my competitive nature |
I never would have thought that about you Sean. You seem to be able to brush off a bad run better than anyone!
Posted Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:17 pm GMT by Sean_in_NJ
ZING!
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