When should you move up a level

[bacardirum]

Been playing $0.10/$0.25 NL on Stars, maximum buy in $25 on all tables, playing two tables max. I got to $39 on one table after 2 hours play, and $57 on the other table. I find it very draining for the low rewards after 2 hours play, the problem is I don't think there is so much action, everyone folds, lucky if you have 3 players in the hand before flop, I got my money from just being patient and then trapping the players with lower balances who push all in. Is there a vast difference in players like from $0.10/$0.25 to say perhaps $1/$2 NL, or will it be the same quality of player at these levels too.

[GaF]

Re: When should you move up a level At all levels, you will have some bad players and some good players. Each time you move up a level, the proportion of good players will increase and the proportion of bad players will decrease. I think that the difference in standard between 10c/25c and $1/$2 will be absolutely huge. At the $1/$2 level I think you'll be coming across increasing numbers of regulars who grind out a living from online poker, that you just wont get at 10c/25c. In my mind, to be good at poker, you dont think at all about the money - just the number of big blinds. This works at the lower levels and the higher levels. If you are thinking of the cash at the microstakes, then you'll probably not be motivated and play too loose. If you are thinking about the cash at the higher levels, you'll probably be scared and play too tight. You should always strive to play the best poker you can - forget the money and play for poker chips. If you're doing that, it doesnt matter if you're playing for 10c/25c or $1/$2 (or $100/$200 :loon) To move up I think you need to be sure of 2 critical criteria: 1) You are profitable at the level you are currently playing at. 2) You have the bankroll to play at the higher level, such that you are not scared to play, not scared to lose The first one is quite tricky, and the majority of poker players overestimate their own ability and believe they're winning when they're not. Why? Poker is a high variance game - your edge is small. In the short run, poker is almost 100% luck. In the long run, poker is almost 100% skill. So your time frame needs to be long enough that your bankroll is a measure of your poker skills (if your time frame is too short, then your balance isn;t a measure of your poker skill, but your poker luck!). What kind of time frame is needed? It's tough to say - there's no direct cut off - the more hands you play, the more confident you can become. As a rough guide though, I wouldn't even think about moving up if I've played less than 10,000 hands at the current level - and unless you're totally crushing it, you'll probably want to play significantly more. Number 2, bankroll management, is far easier - suggest you give this article a read - http://www.pocketfives.com/poker-articles/Basic-Bankroll-Management-2425952 When you are ready to move up, on the criteria above - you probably dont want to just move up lock stock and barrel in one go - but to take occasional shots at the next level - give it a go, see how it goes - if it goes well and you're feeling comfortable, then you can build up the shots that you take. If your bankroll takes a hit, then remember you must move down and rebuild your bankroll at the lower level (the level you now know you can win at)