Hard time adjusting to Micro Stakes...

Seriously.

I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Anyways I planned to drop down to microstakes Poker to grind my bankroll back up to teach me some discipline and to punish myself for playing like a complete idiot.

Problem is....I was having an easier time playing at $100. These microstakes players are just wild. At least at $100 I felt like people were playing with skill and actually thinking about the consequences behind their actions.

But at microstakes the unpredictability just seems too high. Im seeing people go all in with 2-7 off suit. I'm seeing caution thrown to the wind.

Dont get me wrong, I have profited off these wild players. I went from $2 to $12 on a .001/.002 table yesterday.

But more often than not I'm kind of scared of these maniacs A few times these wild plays have completely caught me off guard and I feel Im not maximizing my profits.

How do you guys approach the micro stakes games and how should someone who played at higher stakes adjust to them?

I like to think I mix up my play style, but I would say I'm still more conservative/tight than anything.

When I play micro stakes, I'll adjust from my normal style and play very tight Abc poker. I limit my bluffing to small bluffs and always value bet very small. There is very little thought at those levels, so I would say limit the pressure you try to apply as there is little pressure with that amount of money. Good luck

It is true that the levels of donkishness are far higher at lower stakes and even more so in freerolls.

With respect to the 7-2 thing in particular, I think it is because of the desire to be able to tell people that they have won playing it. They of course don't realize that going all in with it is not 'playing it' it is simply playing bingo.

I think it is easier to bluff at the higher limits than the lower limits. Also a lot of player dont pay attention what the other players are doing. So playing what you image is at the table ont work. I think alot of player are doing other things like watching TV, family stuff and not really concentrating on the game.. So like it was said before.. Forget the bluffing and just play basic ABC style of poker and dont get fancy.

ryan1990 said:

Seriously.

I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Anyways I planned to drop down to microstakes Poker to grind my bankroll back up to teach me some discipline and to punish myself for playing like a complete idiot.

Problem is....I was having an easier time playing at $100. These microstakes players are just wild. At least at $100 I felt like people were playing with skill and actually thinking about the consequences behind their actions.

But at microstakes the unpredictability just seems too high. Im seeing people go all in with 2-7 off suit. I'm seeing caution thrown to the wind.

Dont get me wrong, I have profited off these wild players. I went from $2 to $12 on a .001/.002 table yesterday.

But more often than not I'm kind of scared of these maniacs A few times these wild plays have completely caught me off guard and I feel Im not maximizing my profits.

How do you guys approach the micro stakes games and how should someone who played at higher stakes adjust to them?

I like to think I mix up my play style, but I would say I'm still more conservative/tight than anything.

Click to expand...

There are certainly people on this forum who can answer this question much better than me. However, I will take a shot.


Tight ABC poker works well at micros. You will have to chose your spots wisely because of the calling stations.

For example a 3-barrel bluff may work on higher stakes. People actually think at higher stakes. But at micros, the fish will call you down really light. They will call three streets with TPNK, second pair, PPs with over cards on board, etc.

Also you need to identify the calling stations on the table (if possible, not zoom or zone). Don't try fancy bluffs very often. They won't work hardly ever.

Assume everyone is a calling station. Bet full pot if you think they are chasing or have a dominated hand. Punish them for light calls by taking them to value town. If you can get away with it, make offensive over bets with huge hands.

When you have the goods, you have to extract big value. And the micro players will pay you when they are behind.


And stay off tilt. Make the correct decisions. Don't pay the passive donks off when you know they outdrew you. Assume people hardly ever bluff at these stakes. If they do bluff, it will be easier to spot based on their bet sizing, and the spots they choose.

ryan1990 said:

Seriously.

I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Anyways I planned to drop down to microstakes Poker to grind my bankroll back up to teach me some discipline and to punish myself for playing like a complete idiot.

Problem is....I was having an easier time playing at $100. These microstakes players are just wild. At least at $100 I felt like people were playing with skill and actually thinking about the consequences behind their actions.

But at microstakes the unpredictability just seems too high. Im seeing people go all in with 2-7 off suit. I'm seeing caution thrown to the wind.

Dont get me wrong, I have profited off these wild players. I went from $2 to $12 on a .001/.002 table yesterday.

But more often than not I'm kind of scared of these maniacs A few times these wild plays have completely caught me off guard and I feel Im not maximizing my profits.

How do you guys approach the micro stakes games and how should someone who played at higher stakes adjust to them?

I like to think I mix up my play style, but I would say I'm still more conservative/tight than anything.

Click to expand...

I believe you 100% based on that sentance, discipline and tilt.

I know some very good poker players who are very skillful and they have potential but they either arrogant and dont to put the time in to learn or dont realise how many leaks local live players have also subject to BRM and discipline

I cant get motivated for the micro's and it absoloutely bores me I need to be playing at 50NL & 100NL I've played alot higher for mtt's and 90% the time feel I can ease to final table or close, usually do. also have won a fair few at $15,$30,$60. on stars 18-45-180 max

I do suffer from lack of discipline as you do, and I will take risks because I know im capable of winning a big tournament adventually it will come.

If I had a five figure bankroll I would work so so hard and be so disciplined, and happy to just bring in 2k ish a month

You should defintely play tight and try to get as much value as you can from your good hands. Players arent that good so you dont have to mix it up a lot as they prolly arent paying a lot of attention to you.

I dont believe you, a good 100nl reg would destroy 2nl

Just based on your post you were not a long-term winner at 100nl. If you were winning it was more than likely just luck. You need to get good fundamentals and destroying 2nl is not hard if you have them.

ryan1990 said:

Seriously.I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Click to expand...

I had to do the same, except I discovered that an opponent was defeating me and others by 3-betting lite (even out of position) and continuing strong on the flop. I realized that I was playing scared, and got disgusted so I demoted myself.

I've been trying to 3-table 5nl to grind up slowly, but I can't stand watching some guy repeatedly shoving every hand pre, and stacking the guy who called with AA.

Moved up to 10nl tonight and the play seemed mostly better, although a guy dumped $5.50 to me by 4-bet shoving J8o against AA. Do these guys hate themselves that much? It can't feel good to do that.

The first time I played 1\2 in a casino, there were a few guys doing that also and just rebuying each time they busted. It was disturbing.

i just dont understand . you want to be profitable rather from thinking players than gambling maniacs who dont know about poker?? it is illogical to be winner with 3bb/100 than with 20bb/100 , seriously .. your life goal is to sit on table with deepstacked whales and stack them off, not to play against 100bb regulars

SeventhLion said:

i just dont understand . you want to be profitable rather from thinking players than gambling maniacs who dont know about poker?? it is illogical to be winner with 3bb/100 than with 20bb/100 , seriously .. your life goal is to sit on table with deepstacked whales and stack them off, not to play against 100bb regulars

Click to expand...

Why not both?

I've built a bankroll to lose it and played live and all levels and now I've deposited 40 into my roll and worked hard to build it 200+ now.
I've played 2nl, 4nl, 6nl and now playing 10nl at 888.


Anyways don't over value TPTK... PPL DONT BLUFF much at these levels and ppl don't fold their strong hands near enough so LAG type style can be really productive against the nits on the level especially the regs who get JJ+ very predictable players.... You won't find too many regs they will be far and inbetween and remember they are stuck there for a reason and look to find the reason to exploit them.

So you'll find random ppl mostly with a spray of bad regs. And some bottish style Russians well it appears that way on 888.

4nl was harder that the fact is ppl paid you off less... but at 6nl and 10nl ppl are paying me and not believing me I feel I have a great balance of hand ranges and the way I play it, these guys aren't putting me on correct cards and i'm bluffing not getting to showdowns often when that happens.

micro stakes

ryan1990 said:

Seriously.

I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Anyways I planned to drop down to microstakes Poker to grind my bankroll back up to teach me some discipline and to punish myself for playing like a complete idiot.

Problem is....I was having an easier time playing at $100. These microstakes players are just wild. At least at $100 I felt like people were playing with skill and actually thinking about the consequences behind their actions.

But at microstakes the unpredictability just seems too high. Im seeing people go all in with 2-7 off suit. I'm seeing caution thrown to the wind.

Dont get me wrong, I have profited off these wild players. I went from $2 to $12 on a .001/.002 table yesterday.

But more often than not I'm kind of scared of these maniacs A few times these wild plays have completely caught me off guard and I feel Im not maximizing my profits.

How do you guys approach the micro stakes games and how should someone who played at higher stakes adjust to them?

I like to think I mix up my play style, but I would say I'm still more conservative/tight than anything.

Click to expand...

When paying micro stakes, you need to realize some players will be learners and play almost anything. Playing conservative and patient will help in the long run

ryan1990 said:

Seriously.

I was playing .50/$1 @ $100 games and doing great until a major Tilt/lack of discipline on my part cost me a massive chunk of my bankroll. My opponents didnt defeat me, I defeated myself. I know that may sound arrogant but I swear it was the truth.

Anyways I planned to drop down to microstakes Poker to grind my bankroll back up to teach me some discipline and to punish myself for playing like a complete idiot.

Problem is....I was having an easier time playing at $100. These microstakes players are just wild. At least at $100 I felt like people were playing with skill and actually thinking about the consequences behind their actions.

But at microstakes the unpredictability just seems too high. Im seeing people go all in with 2-7 off suit. I'm seeing caution thrown to the wind.

Dont get me wrong, I have profited off these wild players. I went from $2 to $12 on a .001/.002 table yesterday.

But more often than not I'm kind of scared of these maniacs A few times these wild plays have completely caught me off guard and I feel Im not maximizing my profits.

How do you guys approach the micro stakes games and how should someone who played at higher stakes adjust to them?

I like to think I mix up my play style, but I would say I'm still more conservative/tight than anything.

Click to expand...

There is a good book by "blackrain 79" about microstakes, and his site is also really good for micro, helped me a lot when i started.

A year ago im in in the stakes 1/2 dlls but because im fish as fast as then can bites me

of course thats hard, no fishes time, hope find some luck

Henry Minute said:

It is true that the levels of donkishness are far higher at lower stakes and even more so in freerolls.

With respect to the 7-2 thing in particular, I think it is because of the desire to be able to tell people that they have won playing it. They of course don't realize that going all in with it is not 'playing it' it is simply playing bingo.

Click to expand...

I'm disagreeing. I have very close friends that are otherwise pretty smart people, but they suck at poker.

We used to play live (we ended up stop doing it because there were 2 people at the table that actually wanted to play by the rules against 5 or 6 who didn't even wanted to play using position, so everyone would talk out of order and eventually it got into a big mess) and I used to play against these 3 or 4 guys who you'd just sigh playing against. And 2 of them ended up going online and losing in their first section that lasted for 30 minutes, tops.

Most people at microstakes (including these guys I'm talking about) have a philosophy that any 2 cards can win. They don't want to boost about it, they just KNOW that 72 can flop 777, and it can. I got my AK all-in called by a J2 and lost to a 2 in the River. Albeit it's not a bad beat since I was never a big favorite, it goes to show the mentality. One of my friends actually came up to me after this hand and said "You only win online because people fold too much, and they don't know that every hand can win".
Another one of my friends would fold when he could check because he claimed "It's much easier this way", even if he had 2 overcards and a gutshot.

The mentality of these guys is that poker is not a game of skill (unless when they win). It's a game of luck. So when they win, they say they are pretty good, when they lose, they say the deck is against them. These folks are abundant in microstakes.

I also had a hard time adjusting to micros, because I was used to live 10€ BI tournaments where people actually played. Changing from that to online micros killed me. I got a $4 all-in with KQ in a KQ4 flop and lost to one of those guys with AT and then had him laugh at me. It's not abnormal by any means. He drawed to a gutshot with less than 2-to-1 odds, so I did my part.
At micros everyone want some action. The PFR of most players is around 70-90%. They are there to play and have fun. They are gamblers, not players. General recommendation is that you play tight, follow pot odds, and get it in with the best of it. They will call you with anything, and most of them won't bluff or make huge bets. But they will call huge bets, so don't slowplay and don't bluff. Just wait for good hands, go in with them, play fit-or-fold without any fancy plays. Standard reads (for example, if a player is nitty or too tight) are good: you can try c-bets against very tight players Heads-Up, but even this is risky.

Word of advice, stay away from micro Zoom. You'll get the same maniacs raising constantly pre-flop, so you are forced to play fit-or-fold with an extra bet in there.
Best of luck!!