Hi, I have been playing poker seriously since the start of this year, and found that I am about break-even at 2NL and comfortably winning at 5NL. I understand this could be down to variance, however, I feel that I am able to c-bet more profitably at 5NL, bluff and bluff catch more profitably at 5NL, and it just seems my playstyle fits 5NL better?
In all fairness, I only have about 30k NL2z hands, and 20k NL5z hands, so of course variance will play a factor in this.
you moved up to where they respect your raises
Originally posted by Tomaloc
you moved up to where they respect your raises
Yeah I think you may be right, I feel like I can make some decent exploits in 5NL that I can't in 2NL that would just end up costing me...
I know this is unrelated to the thread, but I currently am at $82, and I started at $41. Playing 5NL with such a small BR feels dangerous but I don't know how else I will be able to grind up a role...should I invest more money into my BR before continuing? Issue is I'm a student, so this isn't really easy for me to do right now.
Originally posted by Tomaloc
you moved up to where they respect your raises
Chinese proverb : Give a HUD to a man, he'll exploit one day, but teach him to use a tracker... and he'll complain about his AIEV all his life 
"Si debis pedere, pedis superbe. (If you must fart, fart proudly)" VorpalF2F
Originally posted by Tomaloc
you moved up to where they respect your raises
For them to respect your raises, they need to see your folds.
At NL 2 they're not paying much attention to what you do at all.
Cheers,
VS
That was a troll. There is no stakes where they "respect" your raises and it's not what makes you win at this game.
I wish for villains to keep disrespecting me in that regard. Pretty please. 
Chinese proverb : Give a HUD to a man, he'll exploit one day, but teach him to use a tracker... and he'll complain about his AIEV all his life
"Si debis pedere, pedis superbe. (If you must fart, fart proudly)" VorpalF2F
Yeah, I get that, but I do find that if they can see you fold, they generally give you credit for having a hand when you raise.
At NL 2 they don't notice what you folded, raised or sat out. They just play their hand, and hope they get a good flop. If they do, it is off to showdown-land
Cheers,
VS
Ok. Then I think it's more of a live thing in fact. Online you can't master what you are showing and what is actually seen by the guy, how long will he remember it, how will he react and all.
In live you can show and make sure he saw and will remember because he won't have much other infos (no HUD, low hands sample) and probably his ego will come into play too etc.
But in live I used to find the opposite more interesting : show a bluff and then you can value hard ^^
Chinese proverb : Give a HUD to a man, he'll exploit one day, but teach him to use a tracker... and he'll complain about his AIEV all his life
"Si debis pedere, pedis superbe. (If you must fart, fart proudly)" VorpalF2F
I think that one of the original attractions of fast-fold online poker was that people didn't see you often enough to build up an impression of you.
Even in the fast-fold games at the higher limits people take notes -- or at least I think that they do.
If you can't beat a lower level, you are destined to lose at a higher level, even if they respect your raises. Which means you are playing predictably and are exploitable. Which means 5NL players will own you sooner rather than later.
If you can beat a lower level grind out your bankroll challenge there, and only move up when you have enough money to take a shot, and then move back down if that attempt fails.
Don't take shortcuts by depositing more money because the online poker graveyard is full of players who followed that route. Unless, of course, you are proven at higher limits, and can afford to deposit more money to play these stakes. If you are not sure you are not good enough, then don't risk any more money unless you can afford to lose it.
You currently have $81 and I suggest you drop back down to 2NL and grind your bankroll up to $120. Then take a 10 buy in shot at 5NL, leaving you $70 for 2NL if your stay at 5NL is not successful.
"Why do I lose at 2NLz ?"
Winning players lose at 2NL it's called variance. I have lost 28 buyins at full ring during a downswing, and 11 buyins in one day playing 6max. That's why you need a deep bankroll because even winning players can lose for tens of thousands of hands.
hi, i've grinded up to $114 on 5NLz since this post, should I still drop down? I'm fine with dropping to 2NLz but I want to try and grind enough to buy a HUD after my trial expires, which is why I've been playing 5NLz, but I'm very fine with just dropping for 100k hands to see if I truely am a winning player, and at least then I will have a BR for 5nl..
Nope, if you have 114 already you can stay at nl5. Climbing the stakes follow your BRM and you will do fine. Don't focus on results they're meaningless. Also if you have bankroll ready for higher limit there is no point in staying at the lower one, actually it's gonna slow down your progress.
Well I've always went with 25BI BRM which would mean 125 USD but that is a difference of 2 buy ins only, no big deal in my opinion. Also it seems you run hot so your confidence is high therefore it is more likely you will sustain your A game better.
Vamplet: Remain at 5NL but if your bankroll drops to $70 play at 2NL. Always make sure you have a 35 buyin safety net to fall back on. Because I have experienced quite a few 20 buyin + downswings in my time, and I am a solid winning player albeit at 2nl 4nl.
