$10-$20 VS. $3-$6?

Irah

All of my poker experience has come via online, and friendly home games, so when it came time for me to go to the b&m this year I naturally decided to play 3-6 holdem.  My first two sessions ended with dissapointing losses, and my third with a slight win, but overall i found it vary diffucult to succeed in such a loose game. 

Last night I decided wanted to try to move up in limits, to see if i played  a better game, so I tried to play a 5-10, but since the Yellowhead Poker room doesnt spread 5-10, a decided to sit 10-20.

Overall I had a very good session finishing up over 20 Big Bets in just over 8 hours. I wasnt getting exceptionally lucky, just played a very solid, tight agressive game. ( although I probably one 1/4 of my winnings in the last hour, where some of the older players in the game became tired at 6AM ) 

So my question is, is it safe to jump limits like this, or do you learn neccessary information in the low limits in order to succeed in the higher ones?


thanks,

Irah

BBC Z

you learn neccessary information in the low limits in order to succeed in the higher ones

Also, if you can't beat loose players, what makes you think you can beat tight ones? Ones that will bluff you and raise for free cards oe do any of the other bazillion things good players do?

Are you ready to accept a -100BB loss at 10/20? If the answer if no, then the stakes are too high for you.

UglyJimStudly

Jumping limits is IMHO mostly about bankroll; if you're comfortable playing a higher limit, then go for it. It sounds like you have trouble in loose games, so you should avoid loose games at any limit until you figure out what you're doing wrong.

And yes, being unable to beat a loose game means you're doing something wrong - you make money in poker off of other people's mistakes, and playing too many hands is one of the most basic mistakes people make. If you can't capitalize on that mistake, you're cutting off a major source of poker income. There is the occasional table full of loose-aggressive fakiacs (fake maniacs, John Vorhaus' term for skilled poker players who put tight players off their game by appearing crazy but in fact play fairly solid poker) that can be a nightmare to beat, but the great majority of loose tables at limits like 3-6 and 10-20 have at least a couple of players who are as reliable as ATMs if you're good enough to get your share of their chips.

magithighs

I find that the B&M games are at least one level lower than online games.  So, if you play 5/10 online or some 3/6 online games, it's a real easy transition to a 10/20 B&M game **if your bankroll can support this play.

I believe as you move up in limits some skills become more important -- and the biggest changes as you move through the mid limits 5/10 - 20/40 is the ability of opponents to adjust.  It's not uncommon to find a loose passive 10/20 game and as BBC states, the downswing will be quick and severe if you cannot play in that type of game.  So, as long as you can quickly realilze the type of game you're in and get out, then it won't be a problem.  Just beware.

The other changes is player's ability to put you on a hand, and figure out what you're putting them on.  You won't see many of these players at 3/6 but they will start cropping up at 5/10 and up.

Note, I couldn't beat the Paradise 2/4 game, even after I had moved up to 5/10.  It was just a stumbling block.  I still have trouble with that game.  So, I think it's possible to not beat a lower limit and beat a higher limit.  But you'll have to figure out why.

Cheers
Magi

Bobby

A couple losing sessions doesn't tell you anything. You haven't played nearly enough to say that you can't be successful at loose tables.

Even great players have downswings that can last more than 10,000 hands. That would be an eternity at a B&M.

The variance is especially high in games where a lot of players chase to the river, but in the long run you should be able to make a higher profit from their mistakes.