Directly start playing NL 200?

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pokeyou

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I have been playing NL 4 (2 cents / 4 cents) for a while now and mostly breaking even.

I play tight by playing only top 15% hands pre-flop and folding any medium pairs or other weak hands.

I have money to invest and can afford to lose about 500$ every month. Instead of spending a lot of time moving up the stakes, what if I directly move up to playing 1$ / 2$ level and see how I fare there?

I want to make money and this slow grind of 2c / 4c is tiring and not helping much. What are your suggestions and pros and cons of this. Thanks
 
Kurtimus

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I would wait until you're beating your current stakes for a substantial amount before moving up. If you break even at 2c/4c then you may well just be a losing player at 1$/2$. I understand you can afford to lose some money, but that's not really a good habit to get into. Patience is a virtue. Spend some time studying and invest in some teaching tools or coaching if you have disposable income, and work your way up the stakes slowly, is my advice.
 
terryk

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To have the attitude that you have `$500 to lose` worries me,but if you want to `donate` it will be valuable experience,if your paying attention:D But,my advice is to show`em you belong there and your a force to be reckened with,because that`s what i`m going to do when i move up too,and if you fail,so what,atleast you tried,and any man should be able to live with that.:cool:GL
 
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500 bucks, eh?

At the stake you're talking about, you should be sitting down with $200 in your stack. Having two-and-a-half stacks to play with doesn't leave you with any headroom to absorb normal variance.

I suggest pick a stake where you have 50 or so buy-ins at least, so that losing one stack (or a few stacks) won't cripple you. If you're just "mostly breaking even" at micros, I'd say make it 100 buy-ins.
 
Gabinho12345

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At these stakes you can lose 500$ in one day and then what would you do for the rest of the month?
 
Sil3ntness

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I do not advise playing 200 NL if you have only been playing 4 NL.

4 NL to 200 NL online is a HUGE jump in skill level. There will not be that many weaker players in a 200 NL pool of players. You will most likely be the weakest link and will be preyed up on relentlessly. Even if you have 500 dollars to burn every month it would be wise to work your way up in stakes.

Don't chase losses and be humble in playing 4 NL. Put the work and volume in and soon enough you'll be playing 200 NL without having skipped lower stakes. Jumping to 200 NL with no experience is just asking for the road to busto.
 
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ph_il

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Why jump so high?

Even if you want skip 4nl, there is still 10nl. Or even 25nl.
 
Diegol

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buddy the sharks will eat you up in the long run stay in the low stakes, if you loose 500 dls in a day you won't be able to afford play the rest of the mont
 
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pokeyou

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Thanks for all of your replies.

Please help me understand this. If I play tight, how does it matter how good the other players are? I am only getting involved into betting when I have good cards (pre-flop) and strong hand (post-flop). If others want to bluff me then, they can be in danger. Right?

The reason I want to move up is, it is very tiring at this 2c / 4c. For example today I sat for 3 hours with 3$ buy-in and kept waiting for good cards and good flop and it never came. I lost 2.5$ after slowly losing blinds and some bets. I don't bluff but play a str8 game. Other than that if I play tight, I don't see a way how better players can exploit me.
 
dundo84

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For example today I sat for 3 hours with 3$ buy-in and kept waiting for good cards and good flop and it never came. I lost 2.5$ after slowly losing blinds and some bets]
For example you sat for 3h with a 200$ buy-in, kept waiting for good cards and good flop and it never came.You lost 150$ due to blinds and some bets.
Like somebody above said there's also NL10,NL20 and NL50.
I don't bluff but play a str8 game. Other than that if I play tight, I don't see a way how better players can exploit me.
Asuming they know how you play(most use HUD's), they'll steal your blinds, bluff more against you, stack you off from time to time and fold fold fold to your reraising.
Playing tight doesn't guarantee winning, playing with HUD's probably lets you win more and lose less.
So if you decide to move up think about getting HUD software and learn how to use it.
 
terryk

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Thanks for all of your replies.

Please help me understand this. If I play tight, how does it matter how good the other players are? I am only getting involved into betting when I have good cards (pre-flop) and strong hand (post-flop). If others want to bluff me then, they can be in danger. Right?

The reason I want to move up is, it is very tiring at this 2c / 4c. For example today I sat for 3 hours with 3$ buy-in and kept waiting for good cards and good flop and it never came. I lost 2.5$ after slowly losing blinds and some bets. I don't bluff but play a str8 game. Other than that if I play tight, I don't see a way how better players can exploit me.
Give it a try,Mate:) But,give it your best;) (and you can always return to 10 or 25,like the boys said.)
 
diadiavalik

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You need not to change the stakes, but change the strategy of the game, play those more aggressively.
 
terryk

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You need not to change the stakes, but change the strategy of the game, play those more aggressively.
This is a good idea! :) Tight,abc poker isn`t going to get you were you want to go.But you`ll see that.
 
Alucard

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Thanks for all of your replies.

Please help me understand this. If I play tight, how does it matter how good the other players are? I am only getting involved into betting when I have good cards (pre-flop) and strong hand (post-flop). If others want to bluff me then, they can be in danger. Right?

The reason I want to move up is, it is very tiring at this 2c / 4c. For example today I sat for 3 hours with 3$ buy-in and kept waiting for good cards and good flop and it never came. I lost 2.5$ after slowly losing blinds and some bets. I don't bluff but play a str8 game. Other than that if I play tight, I don't see a way how better players can exploit me.

I think you are not that educated about the game from what you've posted.
Your play style is very exploitable. You are way easy to bluff in pot, and when you continue the others know you've a good hand and will lay it down easily. And when you are in the blinds, it typically means free money.
And you are coming to the table with a short stack.
I'd say you'll loose money way quicker if you'll move to NL200.

And I assume you are only playing one table at once which is not that profitable at micros.

If you really want to test the waters, try 10NL first and see how it goes. Best way to improve your game is read strategy articles, and using forums like CC to get others opinions and of course play more.

Use the cash game section to post cash game questions and you'll get better answers :)
 
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Gnikace

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What makes you think that playing tight will prevent you from losing money? U gotta have some tricks, mate... If your opponents know you only play top hands, you will lose money.
 
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pokeyou

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Good ideas to play NL 100, 200 etc...; I will try that before I go up and burn my hands.

Yes I am a novice player. But if I play tight as below, do you think I can safely handle the good players?

Pre-Flop:

Pairs: 88 or above
Suited: Both cards >= 10
Unsuited: AK, AQ, KQ, AJ

Limp with Ax suited, Kx suited

Post-Flop:

don't bluff; bet as per how good your hand is.
 
Alucard

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Good ideas to play NL 100, 200 etc...; I will try that before I go up and burn my hands.

Yes I am a novice player. But if I play tight as below, do you think I can safely handle the good players?

Pre-Flop:

Pairs: 88 or above
Suited: Both cards >= 10
Unsuited: AK, AQ, KQ, AJ

Limp with Ax suited, Kx suited

Post-Flop:

don't bluff; bet as per how good your hand is.

short answer - No
Your knowledge about poker in general isn't good enough from what you are saying here. How many hands per hour are you gonna play with over limiting your ranges like that?
Try some full ring opening ranges and stick to them
 
darthdimsky

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Good ideas to play NL 100, 200 etc...; I will try that before I go up and burn my hands.

Yes I am a novice player. But if I play tight as below, do you think I can safely handle the good players?

Pre-Flop:

Pairs: 88 or above
Suited: Both cards >= 10
Unsuited: AK, AQ, KQ, AJ

Limp with Ax suited, Kx suited

Post-Flop:

don't bluff; bet as per how good your hand is.

You're also factoring in hand ranges and their playability but also not taking into account the mental fortitude these players at higher stakes have. Say you 4b on you AQ, AJ, KQ and finally call with As. Say in that instance the villain sucks out. How will you handle your play from this point on?

First invest in a tracking program. Read the strategy articles on CC and discuss hand histories in the forums. Whatever exploitable mistakes you have now will only snowball out of control in higher stakes.

If you're bored of playing low stakes make a challenge out of it and set some KPIs for yourself around:

  • BB/100
  • Net amount won before moving up stakes
  • Volume of hands / day / month
Plus $500 as a disposable asset is a worrying mindset, like Terry said. Really good cash game players fight tooth and nail for every nickel and dime even if they have a 7 figure BR. Always play to win.
 
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