2nl to 25nl

As some of you might know, I was playing spin and go's and I did pretty well, but I thought I could make more playing cash 6max so I made the transition. It really has gone tremendously despite being under AIEV I've managed to secure a pretty decent win rate. I had a shot at 5nl when I reached $300 but ran into horrible beats so moved back down to 2nl and regrind back to $310 and now played 5nl again which I ended the session up. I like to have a HUGE bank roll for the stake I'm playing otherwise losing sessions effect me too much.

Essentially, I think I'm certainly ready for 5nl but I'm also nervous :P I'm ready right?

So here is my 2nl graph,

Don't focus too much on AIEV. 25k hands is a pretty small smple but you do seem ready though, so keep taking shots.

Right so it went pretty damn well today, I think I played ok. Only hand that annoyed me was getting QQ in on the flop v AA in a large 3bet pot. Problem was I didn't have enough information on him at that point so didn't know he was a nit.

Finished the session up $23 Think I'm comfortable enough playing now not to have to move down to 2nl if I lose a few buy ins.

Updates 5nl going well up $53



Some Button abuse

Disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting.

Here we go again! I'm back and spent the last month grinding 10 tables of NL2 on Stars. Judging by this thread, last time I had a go, I ran into horrible variance while playing Zoom. This time, it's Full Ring regular tables. Looking to play 60k hands at each stake, or 1month, which ever is longer.

Good luck

Quick reminder about variance to myself and anyone else who cares to look. First 30k hands at 2nl


Second 30k hands at 2nl. Notice the difference in winrates. In fact, it was only because I was crushing the limit that I managed to break even, rather than suffer a downswing.

First 30k hands you were probably quite a bit above EV second 30k below EV and your average over the 60k hands is probably a better guide to your actual winrate.Even for 2nl i think anything above 10bb/100 long term is meant to be crushing it i may be wrong. Personally im happy with anything above 0bb/100 after all winning is winning.

Graph looks solid, how many tables do you play each time?

One would be forgiven for thinking that! It is often the case. Funnily enough, I actually ran well above EV in the break even stretch, and almost on par with EV during the winning stretch. In this case, my EV is not a good indication because I had to do so much folding. I rarely managed to "get it in" I was facing the kind of variance where you don't hit flops or where you actually hit massive hands but villains have a big fat nothing xD
I predict my overall winrate to be in the region of 13-14bb at 2nl. I've moved up to 5nl now though, so unless I fail miserably I'll probably not put the volume in to find out.

Thank you, I play 10 tables that are tiled across two monitors. I was playing 12 at first, but the two tables on the far left of my 2nd monitor were often out of my vision and after timing out with Aces for the 3rd or 4th time I decided to downsize. Feel 10 is sustainable for me.

Bit of a hilarious hand from tonight. This is one of those spots where to play this tight without a serious read is absolutely ludacrous. However, the Villian (4k hand sample) in this hand is a total Full Ring super nit. I know exactly how he plays. He 3bets JJ+ AK+ pre flop, and flat calls with pocket pairs to hit sets. He's raised the flop 2/49 times he's been bet into and the only times I've ever seen him raise in this situation he had a set both times. With 0 draws on the board that are even capable of being in his range is this the easiest fold I've ever made?

Villain (4k) = 13/9/1
CBF/35/CBT/47

Ye pretty easy fold and villain shouldn't be raising that board with sets.One thing to keep in mind vs these type players is checking the flop to induce some turn bets and for deception.These types of player aren't usually calling you down 3 streets with worse.So two bets is probably the most you get out of them.So checking the flop gets you to showdown losing the least when your behind and winning the most when your ahead.And then cbet your decent equity hands like broardways and draws to exploit villains tendencies.

Just got flopzilla and decided to plug in Villian's calling and raising range on the flop. Seems I made a good laydown. Our hand only has 42% equity against it.

Assumptions made

3bets AA, KK QQ/JJ preflop (JJ included though)
Calling range = 99 TT 77 66
Raising range = JJ 88 55 44

However, if we think he's raising his pair + Gutshot then it means we actually have 56% equity so my fold was -ev. I personally don't think he's raising that considering his low "raise flop" %

You understand each Villain's tendencies while playing ten tables.
This is why I can't play cash NLHE while multi-tabling.
Wish I had that ability though, I would have seen KK shoved and lost.

Thanks for showing interest in my thread and for wishing me luck guys!

I think playing with a HUD and having the right stats helps. Also I have dual monitors which are really rather expensive because I used to be a gamer and the 2nd screen is my brothers. having them next to each other means I can very easily follow the action. I find a good mantra at the low stakes is "if in doubt over EV, err on the side of a fold"


Also, I'll be posting hand histories from next week onwards ( after all my exams are over) and regular graph updates once a week on a Sunday evening. Don't want to spam the channel with too many session graphs which are common in these threads, sample size needs to be sufficient to show progress. Each week I'll probably have played about 20k hands so that's a decent sample to be uploading.

Hi TheGenera1,
Here are my stats for 2NL and 5NL.

Success ang good luck with your exams,also with your poker journey.

Nice result there mate, some big swings at 5nl but you managed to push through it, that's the hardest part.

Thanks man, so much work at the moment it's brutal haha.

Almost went on Donky tilt today. Haven't played at all except for this weekend because of Uni so no graphs this week, but I seriously need to get a grip on tilt. I managed fine at 2nl without tilting at all, but 5nl and above just ****s me off so much.

Does anyone know a poker tilt training site lol? Running well below EV atm, 82% favourite etc many times and losing, and then the less obvious variance where you just run into the top of people's range all the time and it sucks.

Anyway, I realise that tilt is the toughest part of poker and makes you question whether you're even a winning player. So far, I'm break even over 10k hands at 5nl. Will resume challenge tomorrow.

I know the feeling buddy it can be a hard battle. You've done the right thing by walking away. I'm currently on NL5 my self, very close to my next level. So it's good for me to keep checking back here to see how you're doing.
For me I play best on 1-2 tables a time I notice you mentioned you play a lot more than that. Maybe try knocking it down a bit and see how you get on then


Edit: my first attempt at bankrolling online, I've been fairly successful playing live and online in the past but was only playing for leisure on the 30/05/19 I won a nice $150 from an initial 40. So I decided to actually try this properly I wouldnt class my self as being a great player but certainly above average. Half these terms you use I have no idea what you mean. But anyway I'm 4 days in and my bankroll has grown 36.95% I've had some mega luck I think. I've played 13 sessions with a total time just under 7 hours. With 165.55BB/100

You will be just fine, 10k hands being breakeven is perfectly ok.
Don’t worry and don’t think you are not good anymore all of the sudden.
Keep playing your game.
Best of luck!

I did walk away, thanks for confirming I did the right thing, playing your C game for hours in an attempt to break even is probably not the right course. Well done on your initial luck! I think 165/100bb is shall we say, not sustainable but it's really really great to win when you start a new level than lose. You mention you are about to move up, how many hands have you played at 5nl? Blackrain79 suggests a minimum of 20k hands at a level before moving up, I personally opt for 60k.

Thank you for the reassurance mate, it's really helpful! Honestly is.

Back down to 2nl we go. -$26.45 in my session today. Few coolers for 150bb etc. O well.

Feels good to be back at 2nl, have to admit. It's so predictable and easy. +4BI already. Good for the confidence. God bless 2nl

Latest 2nl graph update. I will be moving back up to 5nl once I reach $200 in profit. The stake beat me once, but i'll be ready for a second try soon.

I'm also playing cash NL2 and I'm trying to improve my game and really sure I can overcome NL2 and start playing NL5 but I'm still playing and earning money to start playing NL5. One of my biggest goals is just play high stakes and play against the best players around the world like Otb, trueteller and Llinuslove. I'm just trying to focus on NL2 and NL5 and keep going until I get my goals and reach new levels.

And there is me just wanting to beat 50nl online for a decent winrate haha! Best of luck!

Quick update, we're up to $245 profit at 2nl. It's kinda too much fun to move up at the moment, I hardly have losing sessions. Is this madness, or just getting enjoyment from less tilt inducing poker?

Man you crush 2NL! I'd not be feeling any shame sticking at that limit with amount of money you are making and the ability to multi-table Really makes me look like a slouch playing just 1 x 5NL fast table lol. No charts for me as I'm HUDless for the time being, but the Party Poker My Game stats tell me I'm winning 7.6bb over 13300 hands, so it is not a rotten start to playing that level even if I need a lot more hands to prove I'm on the ball. Definitely some high variance at 5NL, was initially doing well, then swung down about 7 buy ins, before rising back up 10-11 buy ins from the low point. Had a sick few days winning something like 30bb/100 to make that recovery, big heater.

Thanks a lot mate, keep grinding out what you're doing! a hud defintely helps, it's why I play on my favourite site, PokerStars. I honestly think I'm gonna make more at 2nl than I would at 5nl. The variance is higher at 5nl, the tilts are worse and the winrate is lower. I do wonder though, if I'd make more if I could somehow push through 5nl up to 10nl. A 3-4bb winrate there would >> 12bb at 2nl. I'm just not sure I'm mentally able to cope. I need some meditation or something.

Had another great session at 2nl today. 2k hands and $18 profit.

If you are mainly playing for fun, then I can certainly see the motive from just taking the easy low variance money at 2NL, and you pay less rake as well. My own experience at PokerStars have been somewhat odd in the sense, that I actually have almost the same winrate at 16NL as I do at 2NL, but for 5NL and 10NL its been much much lower.

Some of this is maybe just variance, but it is also my impression, that the 16NL games somehow tend to attract a higher percentage of bad players. Maybe because the limit is overlooked by some regulars, and because its the highest limit, which pop up, if you filter the lobby to show only micro stakes. So those players, who lost most of their deposit and are looking for a quick dubble or bust, might end up at 16NL more frequently than at 5NL or 10NL.

But obviously you need to be able to mentally cope with much bigger swings to your bankroll, since losing sessions of 50$ or more will be completely normal and not possible to avoid. I will also say, that the difference between 2NL and 5NL is much more significant than the difference between 5NL and 10NL.

Of course, it's more fun to dominate than suffer. Regardless the game does not end to 5NL and we need to beat that at one point, so better just grind 5NL too without thinking it too much at all. Rinse and repeat.

The money you win at 2NL is not really your money anyways, it belongs to ‘learning cost of next level’.

Good luck.

I was thinking you could gradually transition to the next level. That way you don't flood yourself right away. This could especially be done if you multitable. Start w/ 1 NL5 table and the rest 2NL and then keep adding 5NL tables. Just a thought. But your win rate is pretty good.

Thanks for feedback all. I've played 5nl last month, and it was just painful but I think playing 1-2 tables of 5nl and the rest 2nl might be a good way of doing it. Balance out the variance somewhat.

Going to take a couple of days off from Poker and come back next week strong. Been playing a lot recently!

It does good to rest the brain from poker for a few days every now and then.Good luck

What's your screen be on stars and are you still playing 2nl with a mix of 5nl?

Playing 2nl today and will add a table of 5nl from tomorrow onwards My name is the same as this site and on my profile haha.

Played some live 1/2nl last night at my local casino. Got sucked out on by a famous professional boxer.

AA all in against a maniac T-7o and he hit a straight on the turn. All of my stack gone in 15 minutes lol. Grinding online today.

Yes, you are ready, you don't wnat to wait until you have a significant sample size in the micros, or you will be playing for pennies forever, moving up aggresively is better, if you have a bad run, just move down. This way you find out faster at what level you are.

Hey TheGeneral1, how is your bankroll in this moment?
Keep going, just be worried about improve your game and your bankroll will tell you when you can safetly move up. GL.

Bankroll unchanged at the moment, simply haven't had the motivation to play! Counter-Strike has been way too much fun. Going to put in 2k hands + tonight though!

Gl i quit my challenge at 5nl i was beating it but got bored i need to find a challenge that keeps my interest. Maybe ill try the mico challenge again im unsure.

I know what you mean, I think when you play as many hands as we were, we come to expect large winning sessions often. I'm talking $15+ at 2nl and $40+ at 5nl. And when these don't happen regularly it's easy to get fed up.

Once I know I can crush the limit, my mind works in a way where I expect every fish at the table to donate their role as quickly as possible because I know they're going to lose it to me or someone else anyway.

This way of thinking is of course really bad and arrogant, but it doesn't make it any easier to ignore. You know that as soon as you get a reasonable hand, and villain makes 2nd pair or what ever you can stack them! Waiting around for it to happen during break even stretches gets annoying.

Anyway, I took a long break. Roll is sitting at $277. I made $7 last night playing 3k hands of Zoom. I'm going to try and double my roll to $600 before taking another break.

Perhaps take a month off and come back when you find your self missing the game!

Played 5nl for last two days. Doing ok so far. Really hope I make a deep run into the limit before any potential downswings come around, good for my mental health.

Playing zoom at the moment, instead of 10 tabling, I find I can get more hands in at zoom, with hopefully a similar win rate because I'm playing less tables, more hands an hour etc. Monthly figure should be hire if I can maintain same winrate. 20% more hands a month playing zoom.

People fold a lot more at zoom. I find double barrel is enough to shake people off low pocket pairs etc.

7k hand session today. Had some absolutely wild swings. Some huge sucks outs on me, and I sucked out pretty badly too with Kings. Would have been up huge, but some dude with AK beat my AA for a large pot. Huge grind, mentally draining. Tilted a little bit, but not too badly. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

You playing regular speed right, not zoom?

You're similar to me in the sense that 2NL is just my comfort zone where I can dominate everyone, a few buy ins down at 5NL compared to 2NL is worlds apart in relation to my income/lifestyle. I play without fear at 2NL.

Good luck, i'll keep track of this thread.

I went from 10NL regular to 2NL zoom, so zoom and regular has some differences for sure.

Playing zoom atm. The swings are pretty tough. Down 6 buy ins so far.

Finished today's session with 7.5k hands played. It was absolutely brutal, but I finished up $13 in the final 30 minutes of playing. For the first 7hours of play I was down the whole session. Back in the green

I play 50Nl to 200 NL used to be a 1/2 penny player. Just ran my $50 deposit up to $700 over past two weeks....best advice is that it takes years and millions of hands. You’ll get there.