Stuck at Low Stakes Poker? Here’s Three Reasons Why

For most poker players, there is a tried and tested way to build skills and move up the ladder to tournament play, if that is what you want to do. Learn to play poker using free games, then transition to low stakes cash games to build your skills.

There is a reason for this, playing for 2 cent buy ins means you can get used to playing for money without risking a lot, so if you make a mistake or two, and most players do, it is not a big deal. You can’t learn everything playing free games though, it is different when there is money to be won, and a big part of learning online poker is gaining that experience and being able to focus and play your game still.

However, not everyone progresses easily, and if you find yourself stuck on these low stakes games, not feeling ready to make the step up to higher stake tables, you need to understand why. In fact, this is quite a common situation to be in for many poker players, so the first thing to realize is that you are not alone with this issue.

Let’s look at the top three reasons why you can’t progress, and what you can do about it.

Overemphasis on Small Edges

Read any book or follow poker blogs and websites, and you will be full of information about bet sizes and the intricacies of hand sizes, setting up blockers and more. While all these advanced strategic options have a place in your game, it is very easy to just get crushed under the weight of all these ideas and end up focusing on them at the expense of missing the bigger picture.

While important, these strategies are all about incremental gains, obtaining the smallest edge. At the very top of the game that can be the difference between success and failure, but in these low stakes games, focusing just on these small edges can mean missing out on big opportunities instead. Players at this level are prone to errors, they have weaknesses to exploit that you wouldn’t find in tournament play, and if you are so focused on the small stuff that you miss them, you are not getting the most from your poker.

Low stakes poker games are not played at world championship tournament level, the players you are up against will male lots of mistakes, some play too loose, others are too passive, and many lack even the basic understanding of poker strategies. Instead of hyper-focusing on the small edges, look to being more pro-active with those larger weaknesses where you will find better results.

Quality vs. Quantity in Study

To be the best player you can be, you do need to study the game. But low stakes poker is a very specific environment, full of players who either don’t understand strategy or who apply it very sparingly and incorrectly. As such, while you can learn from studying the hands you play, what you can learn is quite limited.

But again, so many guides tell you that studying your hands is the way to improve, so many players get stuck in a cycle of playing some hands then spending too much time going over every detail after. At this level, playing games, getting comfortable at the table, improving your ability to spot weakness and finding gaps to exploit are much better ways to boost your game.

You do that by playing. So, instead of spending hours going over hands, use that time to play more games instead. That doesn’t mean ignore your research into previous performance, it still has value, but if you put more emphasis on playing hands and taking less detailed, broader looks at performance afterwards you can improve your game faster.

Failure to Address Major Leaks

The focus on honing those small edges isn’t just about gameplay, doing so can impact your own progression too. Fixating on the 1% gains in strategy can also mean you fail to address major flaws in your game, as you only look at the minor ones.

You might be predictable in when you call in specific situations, rely on bluffing too much or don’t respond well to aggressive play, all these things have a huge impact on your game, and your win rate. If you don’t address issues like these, instead focusing on the minutia of your bet size, then moving up to bigger stakes games will put you against players who not only can exploit your weaknesses, but they definitely will, and that can be both demoralizing and costly.

Instead of the distractions of minor tweaks to your game, you must be prepared to first admit, and then address, the big problems. Unless you do, you will never be ready to take the step up to larger stake games. Whether your problem is making poor choices and blaming the luck of the cards, perhaps you get lead by emotions too easily leading to bad decisions, or simply not having the right strategies, having the self-awareness to recognize the issue is essential if you are to improve over time.

The good news is that you can work on these issues, and there are tools you can use to help you focus on and admit they exist to begin that process. Poker bots and other tools that track your play can quickly highlight issues that appear constantly in your game, helping you to see where the problem lies, and then learn to rectify them.

Conclusion

Small stakes poker is a great way to get comfortable with playing in online poker rooms, but it is not the same game as you find in higher stakes poker. Players are not as skilled or experienced, and are frequently low skilled with huge gaps in their strategies for you to exploit.

While training materials talk about fine margins, and they are important further along in your progression, in this environment, it is all about getting the fundamentals right. That means looking for those weaknesses to exploit and just as importantly, looking for the major issues in your own game to learn from and address.

The time for refining your game to get those 1 or 2% advantages over skilled opponents that make all the difference, but here, too much attention to areas of the game that have little influence on the hands you are playing can hold you back.

Stay focused on the bigger picture here, giving yourself the robust foundation of skills that will take you to new levels, from exploiting other players to recognizing your own weaknesses. This is the path to the next level, and how you should spend your time when playing low stakes poker.

FAQs

Why can’t I seem to move up from low stakes, even though I’m winning?

To make progress you must be able to admit to weaknesses in your game, and even where your personal weaknesses are holding you back. At this level, you can still win, but if you move up to better players without addressing issues with your game, then they will be ruthless in exploiting those opportunities. Take the time to analyze your game, and be ready to admit your faults, and do something about them.

How can I improve my patience and discipline at the poker table?

Practice helps, the more you play the more able to control the emotional side of the game you become. However, you need to understand how these issues are effecting your game before you can really address the problem, so use game analysis tools to go through hands and see where you are leaving opportunities to be exploited, so you can work on those areas.

What specific strategies should I focus on to advance beyond low stakes?

Play tight so you are ready to exploit mistakes other players may make, with a balanced approach that will set you apart. Most players at this level get far too focused on their own cards, by talking a balanced strategy, only pushing on high percentage hands, you will find that your win rate goes up.

Is it better to play more hands or fewer hands to succeed at higher stakes?

Low stakes games are a great way to learn, and the more you play the more you can learn, both about the game and yourself. Play as many low-stakes games as you can, but don’t forget to go through your hand history and look for the areas where you are making poor choices, and work on those. This is how you refine your game and get ready for the higher stakes games.

How important is table selection in moving up from low stakes?

You win games of poker by playing against people not as skilled as you are. You can also improve your game by being challenged by your opponents. With low stakes poker, the more games the better, so choice of table does matter. Look for lower skilled players so you can focus on refining your game and learning to implement your strategies. As you progress, seek out more challenging tables to help you grow as a player.