Moving up in Stakes

This year has been a profitable one for me at the poker tables. As you know from my previous posts I play online quite a bit and also play $2 / $1 No Limit Hold'em on a weekly basis. I have been grinding away at the live game for a little over a year now and I gotta tell you that the game has evolved quite a bit. The players come in day after day and week after week and they all seem to be fairly knowledgeable about what they are doing. Some of the plays that you took for granted as little as one year ago are no longer plays that I would make today.

To say that today's player is a more educated would be an understatement. Seriously, anyone that really wants to become a good No Limit poker player can do so at their whim by simply reading about and playing the game on a regular basis. With time comes experience and with experience comes expertise. This is not to suggest that everyone will instantly morph into the next Chip Reese but it is possible to become a profitable part-time poker player relatively quickly with hard work. Therein lies the key.

After two years of grinding it out in this game I have built a nice bankroll and I am now faced with a problem most poker players would love to have. Is it time to move up in stakes?

Well, that is certainly a reasonable question to ask at this point in my journey. I can honestly answer all of the obvious questions that every poker player should ask themselves before moving up in stakes.

1. Can you beat your current game consistently? Yes
2. Does your bankroll reflect your winning consistently over the long term? Yes
3. Can you handle any swings at the next level of stakes without fear of playing with scared money? Yes
4. Are you a disciplined enough player to move back down in stakes if things don't work out at the next level before hurting your bankroll? Yes
5. Are you hungry and still working to improve your game? Absolutely!

Now that I can look at myself in the mirror and not flinch when I ask and answer those questions it is up to me to make the decision. It may seem easy but when you are going from $2 / $1 to $5 / $10 you had better be awfully sure of your ability to play well and play well consistently. If you have any doubt then you are not ready to take the plunge. The fact of the matter is that the players are better at each level you move up in stakes and you can count on being tested while you attempt to settle into the regular game. There is no hurry and I will make my decision by the years end. Either way I am very pleased with how things have gone this year. There is no pressure for me either way I decide to go and playing out the rest of the year in my current game is probably the smartest move to make at this point. Of course time will ultimately dictate when I make the jump.

Be sure about yourself and your game when making the decision to move up in stakes. Don't let other players influence your decision unless you value and respect their opinions. Be smart and honest and in the long run you will make the best decision for you and be comfortable doing so.

See you on the felt!