Switching Limits

[Pivvy2001 0]

I am an extremely recreational player (read: I don't have a poker bankroll. Instead I play for fun and use some of my discretionary income to allow me to play poker) and focus primarily on limit holdem. I have been beating the 10-20 limit live games recently (I don't play online) and was wondering what people look for when switching limits. This weekend I played 20-40 for the first time live and while I booked a win (10.5 BBs in 5.5 hours), I had a fair amount of swings in the session (including an early downswing that I acknowledge was the result of bad play by me). There were two points in particular that I know that I missed an extra bet because I got gun-shy. My question is what people look for in determining when to move up levels. I know that bankroll is a major factor, but that is not part of the equation here.What I am looking for is comments on:- playing style - things I should look for in my own game that might change as I shift levels- skill level - is there a particular limit jump where the skill level goes up dramatically (i.e. as a general rule is it much easier to switch from 5-10 to 10-20 than it is to go from 10-20 to 20-40)- number of pros that tend to be at the tables- amount of variance (in terms of BBs, not dollars, which would obviously be larger at larger stakes)I appreciate any feedback in advance. Thanks.

[serge 904]

I am an extremely recreational player (read: I don't have a poker bankroll. Instead I play for fun and use some of my discretionary income to allow me to play poker) and focus primarily on limit holdem. I have been beating the 10-20 limit live games recently (I don't play online) and was wondering what people look for when switching limits. This weekend I played 20-40 for the first time live and while I booked a win (10.5 BBs in 5.5 hours), I had a fair amount of swings in the session (including an early downswing that I acknowledge was the result of bad play by me). There were two points in particular that I know that I missed an extra bet because I got gun-shy. My question is what people look for in determining when to move up levels. I know that bankroll is a major factor, but that is not part of the equation here.What I am looking for is comments on:- playing style - things I should look for in my own game that might change as I shift levels- skill level - is there a particular limit jump where the skill level goes up dramatically (i.e. as a general rule is it much easier to switch from 5-10 to 10-20 than it is to go from 10-20 to 20-40)- number of pros that tend to be at the tables- amount of variance (in terms of BBs, not dollars, which would obviously be larger at larger stakes)I appreciate any feedback in advance. Thanks.

I find that the limits at the casino have a huge effect on the skill of the play.For example in a local casino here, the lowest limit is $5-$10 ...In some vegas casinos this would be considered a higher low limit table. So the worst players play $5-10 here, and the game is amazing. Those same players would play $1-$2 if the casino offered it.So the $5-10 game in a casino that is offering $1-$2 , $2-$4 would be significantly tougher than a $5-$10 game where its the lowest game in the house.Makes sense?

[Pivvy2001 0]

I find that the limits at the casino have a huge effect on the skill of the play.For example in a local casino here, the lowest limit is $5-$10 ...In some vegas casinos this would be considered a higher low limit table. So the worst players play $5-10 here, and the game is amazing. Those same players would play $1-$2 if the casino offered it.So the $5-10 game in a casino that is offering $1-$2 , $2-$4 would be significantly tougher than a $5-$10 game where its the lowest game in the house.Makes sense?

That makes a lot of sense. I used to play at Port Perry at the Great Blue Heron and I found that the 5/10 game was easily beatable, but found that limits above that were much more difficult. Now, I play at a casino where they spread 3/6, 6/12, 10/20, 20/40 and up. I find that the 3/6 game is somewhat ridiculous, but that anything above that begins to play like a regular game in which people will respect bets and raises and not chase down to the river every hand (which I acknowledge can be good when people do that).

[serge 904]

That makes a lot of sense. I used to play at Port Perry at the Great Blue Heron and I found that the 5/10 game was easily beatable, but found that limits above that were much more difficult. Now, I play at a casino where they spread 3/6, 6/12, 10/20, 20/40 and up. I find that the 3/6 game is somewhat ridiculous, but that anything above that begins to play like a regular game in which people will respect bets and raises and not chase down to the river every hand (which I acknowledge can be good when people do that).

I was actually referring to the Port Perry game..You just have to adjust your game..In that game i just play ABC poker, play good starting hands, dont make a lot of moves and dont try and bluff the wrong people.Where do you play now?

[king_tanner 84]

There were two points in particular that I know that I missed an extra bet because I got gun-shy.

This is all I had to read to figure that you aren't comfortable in the game.I'm kind of in the same boat as you as a recreational player. I switch limits solely on comfort level. Unless you have any tells on people at the table there is no way to tell that a table is juicy or not (unless you know the players). Every so often I will sit in a game or limit I haven't played before to see if I'm comfortable in it or not. If I get nervous throwing out bluffs or raises, it's obvious that I need to go back to my usual limit. Or if I lose at the higher limit and it hurts, then I need to go back again.Remember as recreational players we should be having fun, not crying at bad beats, or sulking after a bad day lol.So like Serge said, a lot of it is based on what casino you are playing at, and what limits/games they offer.

[Pivvy2001 0]

This is all I had to read to figure that you aren't comfortable in the game.I'm kind of in the same boat as you as a recreational player. I switch limits solely on comfort level. Unless you have any tells on people at the table there is no way to tell that a table is juicy or not (unless you know the players). Every so often I will sit in a game or limit I haven't played before to see if I'm comfortable in it or not. If I get nervous throwing out bluffs or raises, it's obvious that I need to go back to my usual limit. Or if I lose at the higher limit and it hurts, then I need to go back again.Remember as recreational players we should be having fun, not crying at bad beats, or sulking after a bad day lol.So like Serge said, a lot of it is based on what casino you are playing at, and what limits/games they offer.

Thanks for the input. I posted that I know that I missed two bets, because I realize that it shows a lack of comfort. Part of my curiousity though pertains to whether that is typical because it was my first time playing at stakes that high, or if it would be emblematic of my play in the future. I think that if I put hours in at the higher level (and I have a full-time job that I love so the hours for poker are limited), I could get comfortable at 20/40 and be a winning player there, but I am curious of the other considerations so I don't let confidence (and a winning streak) skew my judgment.

[wakiki 0]

I think you should pay close attention to whether it's the better players that make you skiddish, or the higher stakes.