1/2NL vs. 2/5NL vs. 5/10NL: Calibur of players

S

smuryof

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Total posts
29
Chips
0
I've been having consistent success at 1/2, and am considering moving up to 2/5. Some typical stuff I see at 1/2:

- I can play TAG amidst loose aggressive players, and when I hit, they treat me like any other LAG player. That's where most of my profits come from.
- People generally stick to their playing style and don't mix it up much.
- False tells are picked up on by some of the better players, the lesser players are oblivious.
- Roughly 75% of the time there's a raise pre-flop
- Pre-flop raises have to be considerably larger than standard, in order to be respected. (I consider standard to be 2.5BB + 1BB/limper)
- Most players don't think much before acting
- There are lots of bad odds calls at this game - people chasing flushes, heads-up, against 50-75% pot bets, for one example
- I feel like I'm the only player taking my time with decisions, thinking about all information and anticipating downstream action, before deciding on my action when facing a sizeable bet.
- More than once I have discussed pot odds & implied odds after a hand, to be met with confusion, or a response like "You think way more about the details than I do, dude"

My question is this - what can I expect as I go up in stakes? Generally speaking, have you folks seen a significant jump in player calibur from one level to the next? Or can I expect more of the same?

My bankroll is on the cusp of justifying the move to 2/5, at this point. Just wondering what I might expect before I dive in, as compared to the typical 1/2 game I've been experiencing.
 
Last edited:
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

Bar Master
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Total posts
7,139
Awards
3
Chips
21
I've played a pretty significant sample at 1/3, 2/5, and 5/10.


I think there is definitely a jump from 1/2 to 2/5, specifically 2/5 tends to be mostly regs. They may be regfish, but in my experiences, its rare a player stumbles in with no knowledge of the game and sits down at 2/5.

A few pointers imo:

1. Wait till you have a decent BR. I can't say an actual $$$ amount, but if this is money you like, somewhat live off of, then be very careful. If it's money you just kind of mess around with, take the shot more aggressively.

2. Never talk strat at the table plz. Plz no talk of pot odds/implied odds/whatever. Its horribad for the game and fish don't like it.

3. Don't expect to just win right away. If your 2/5 game is anything like the ones I've grinded, it gets tougher to beat. Not unbeatable or anything remotely like that, but the slobbering drunks and like, 0 level thinking players don't seem to move up. Still a very nice game and super soft in the right areas and all, but it's a limit up, so adjust accordingly.


Where do you play at geographically? That plays a big factor imo.
 
S

smuryof

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Total posts
29
Chips
0
It's definitely play money. I would never play with funds I can't afford to lose.

My BR is sitting just over 8K, starting from 6K. I actually only have 80 hours at the tables, since starting six months ago. I'm not really settled geographically right now, but most of my play has been at charity card houses in Michigan that have just 1/2 games. I've done some hours at casinos too, probably 25%. I will be playing at casinos in Missouri next week, that's where I'm considering trying the 2/5.

I didn't consider scaring / pissing off the fish with odds talk. Very good point & dreadfully obvious now that I think about it. That's the sort of stuff I need to know. I still don't have a good handle on what people consider taboo, since nobody really talks about that stuff during the game & I'm pretty much on my own.

At this point, I can definitely pick out the "slobbering drunks" as you put it... Honestly, I enjoy playing against the better players more, albeit with a harder battle to take down pots. I consider myself lucky when I end up at a table with all decent players who actually take the game seriously... if I make a profit, I feel a sense of accomplishment unlike taking fish money. If I lose, I generally walk away having learned something & it motivates me to figure out what the leak was.

I would welcome any other insight you might have, or typical faux pas people tend to make at the game, since I'm still relatively new... this is all gold to me!
 
S

Sidetracked

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Total posts
1,294
Awards
2
Chips
0
Sometimes a drooler will show up at the higher levels, but expect people to be balancing more, and playing more 'intelligently aggressively' than at the lower limits.
 
TheNutz4You

TheNutz4You

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 2, 2017
Total posts
3,740
Awards
4
US
Chips
105
2/5 in normally a large skill jump in player pool. I see lots of 5/10 and 10/25 regs sit at 2/5 when the higher limit games are slow or not running. Where in Mich you from? i'm in Ann Arbor, play at mgm or motorcity the most
 
S

smuryof

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 3, 2017
Total posts
29
Chips
0
I'm currently staying in Clinton Township, driving to Missouri next weekend. I've been playing at One Eyed Jack's, Ciccarelli's, 300 club out this way. All charity card clubs. I haven't had the chance to try MotorCity or MGM yet.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

Bar Master
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Total posts
7,139
Awards
3
Chips
21
It's definitely play money. I would never play with funds I can't afford to lose.

My BR is sitting just over 8K, starting from 6K. I actually only have 80 hours at the tables, since starting six months ago. I'm not really settled geographically right now, but most of my play has been at charity card houses in Michigan that have just 1/2 games. I've done some hours at casinos too, probably 25%. I will be playing at casinos in Missouri next week, that's where I'm considering trying the 2/5.

I didn't consider scaring / pissing off the fish with odds talk. Very good point & dreadfully obvious now that I think about it. That's the sort of stuff I need to know. I still don't have a good handle on what people consider taboo, since nobody really talks about that stuff during the game & I'm pretty much on my own.

At this point, I can definitely pick out the "slobbering drunks" as you put it... Honestly, I enjoy playing against the better players more, albeit with a harder battle to take down pots. I consider myself lucky when I end up at a table with all decent players who actually take the game seriously... if I make a profit, I feel a sense of accomplishment unlike taking fish money. If I lose, I generally walk away having learned something & it motivates me to figure out what the leak was.

I would welcome any other insight you might have, or typical faux pas people tend to make at the game, since I'm still relatively new... this is all gold to me!


Join the "cash game thread" in cash game forum here. All the cash regs post there and you'll get better responses compared to just opening your own thread here is all. :D
 
Q

QA77

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Jan 30, 2017
Total posts
504
Awards
1
Chips
3
I play in 2/5 and you see more raises preflop than in 1/2 where there are a lot of limps to open. But you still see a lot calling the raises preflop. Skill wise there are better players and there are some that have a little more money that provide action. When I play 1/2 I don't see a lot of action and that limits profitability. I don't think you will have trouble playing 2/5. Some people just do bad because of the extra money they can lose and it affects their play. If you get stacked in 1/2 you pull out $200 or more and continue playing. When you lose $500, you shouldn't think any differently.
 
Top