this is one of the biggest questions I have: whe to level up?

If i am a cash player i want to know:

• When can I level up?
• How do I know it's time to play at a higher level?
• What are the necessary factors to play at a higher level?

There are different schools of thought, but the main thing is to be properly bankrolled.

Originally Posted by 5dcanela

this is one of the biggest questions I have: whe to level up?

If i am a cash player i want to know:

• When can I level up?
• How do I know it's time to play at a higher level?
• What are the necessary factors to play at a higher level?

Great question, we all want to move up to the higher stakes and it can be done by anyone

The main questions to ask yourself are

#1 Will I be in the top half of the players at the bigger game
#2 Do I have the money to play at the bigger game (at least 20 buyins)
#3 Am I comfortable with the financial swings at the bigger game

For the first point it's important to note that the specific game is more important than the limit. Just because a game is bigger than you usual play, if the table is full of weaker players it's a fine place to take a shot if #2 and #3 are true.

The main thing is your confidence. When you feel like you are the best player at your regular game or limit then it's probably a fine time to move up, and if you're not a top player then it's a good time to put in more study time until you feel like the top player.

Also it's best not to think about 'getting to the next level' or 'levelling up'. It's better to just think about being a good investor, playing the right hands and playing in the best games, that way you don't miss out on a good opportunity because you 'didn't think you were at the level to play in that game'

Here's a couple of videos that should help you as well,

You Tube

You Tube

Hope that helps, and welcome to the forum!

When you are crushing your current level and properly bank rolled for the new one.

If a player was able to build a bankroll by playing freerolls, this indicates the appropriate level of play. But if you spend money on the game, it also indicates your appropriate level of play. In general, I think that you can spend money only when you manage to earn them.

It's a combination of things, it was for me anyway. Do you have a sufficient bankroll to move up? Do you have a good enough sample of winning in both hands and bb/100? Can you confidently say that you are beating your present games by enough that you feel like you'd be competitive higher?

You can also just take a few shots. If they fail, then just stay where you are at. If they go well, then congrats, you made it.

When you can lose 3 buy ins in 30 minutes and not think twice about buying in for a 4th, then Id say you're comfortable at the level you're at. Also its ok to take a shot at the next level up every once in a while, if it goes well keep playing. If it doesnt then just go back to the level you're familiar with, and try again a few weeks or months later.

Originally Posted by 5dcanela

this is one of the biggest questions I have: whe to level up?

If i am a cash player i want to know:

• When can I level up?
• How do I know it's time to play at a higher level?
• What are the necessary factors to play at a higher level?

Set a bankroll management strategy .....

If you decide 40 buy ins is what you want to start at at X level. Once you win enough to have 40 Buy ins at the next level its time to move on.

If you follow some kind of bankroll management scheme, the answer will give itself. However I like to add, that just because your bankroll has grown to a level, where you are allowed to play a higher limit, does not mean, you have to do it every session. When moving up I am a huge fan of doing it gradually and being selective in the beginning. Only good tables, less tables at a time, and only when you are ready to play your A-game. If you are tired, sleep deprivated, drunk, hungover, stressed etc, this is not the time to take on a bigger challenge and more risk at a poker table. So either you dont play at all, or at least you stick to the limit, which you are very familiar and comfortable with.

When u feel like you're crushing the current level and you feel confident that you're ready for the next one....

Chris Ferguson, i think it was, went from 0-10,000$ in a year. He only played in free tournaments until he won $. Then after he earned 100$ he would never play with more than 1% of his total bankroll. I think he played in one dollar tournaments until he earned 100$, but either way it is a good strategy. You never know when you could get a bad beat so always play safe.

Originally Posted by 5dcanela

this is one of the biggest questions I have: whe to level up?

If i am a cash player i want to know:

• When can I level up?
• How do I know it's time to play at a higher level?
• What are the necessary factors to play at a higher level?

this will depend on your cash level, pokerstars encourages it, for example, there is always a minimum to be able to play cashi games, so I suggest you make some calculation with some margin of safety in case you lose, then have and be able to recover .......


ie for example:

I have 100 $ I will play cash game at most 0.10 / 0.20 why ?!
because it's 10% of my cash, which means that:
in the big possibilities and statistics, trusting my game, playing the right way, if I lose it will be enough to recover me! .... understood what I meant?! iuoHE oiuAEh A complicated trying to write ... but well I tried to give a suggestion! :P

this question is interesting for me

I have the same problem
on a small limit I will win on a big one I can't

Hello friend.If you like to level up always keep in mind to have available bankroll and dont make a loan from friends etc.Always play what you can .After practicing at cash game you can play at a higher level.Skill and practice can be gained after a lot of games .Good luck.

I think that you have to be careful with level ups, because nothing guarantee that win any games in high stakes. So practice a lot and start with the smallest and up next level and so on not immediately the highest one. And of course leave money if you can not win you can return the lower levels.

Are 20 buy-ins minimum buy-in for calculating bankrolls?