🪜 What NL are you playing right now?

Sos1l · Nov 17, 2025

I’m curious to hear about your personal poker journey.

Each of us started somewhere at the bottom, went through mistakes, heaters, downswings, and those moments when we wanted to quit. But eventually, we all find our own stake — the one where we feel comfortable and understand the game flow.

Tell me:
what stake are you playing right now, how did you reach it, and what keeps you there?
Is it bankroll management, comfort, tough regulars at higher stakes, or simply stability?

I believe that moving up in stakes is not a race. The main thing is to play where you’re profitable and feel in control. Moving up only makes sense when you’re ready — technically and mentally.

Share your experience — I think many players would enjoy reading how others found their level.

Pavelmiyah · Nov 17, 2025

No limit 6 player table is best for me

Sos1l · Nov 17, 2025

Pavelmiyah said:
No limit 6 player table is best for me

I also prefer 6 max. Fewer coolers, more action and openings. Do you have a preferred limit: micro, medium, or high?
Some people don't want to waste time and nerves for pennies, some don't want to rush, and some don't have the bankroll to go to the top.

dreamer13 · Nov 17, 2025

Just a year ago, I was playing NL5 at 888 and partypoker, making a small profit. Sometimes, on tilt, I'd reach NL10, and that was scary; I felt like I'd entered the territory of strong players.I personally know many players who, when moving up to a new limit, suddenly forgot what a bluff, a four-bet, a donk bet in a multi-way pot, a check-raise bluff, and so on are, and started playing not poker but get the nuts, which, as a rule, rarely gets paid off.

What I'm getting at is that when moving up in limits, it's crucial to play exactly the same poker as you did before, and preferably aggressively. You should bluff a lot in small pots; players at these limits fold too often, and you should avoid bluffing in big pots, because, conversely, few players fold in big pots at these limits.

Sos1l · Nov 17, 2025

dreamer13 said:
Всего год назад я играл в NL5 на 888 и PartyPoker, получая небольшую прибыль. Иногда, на тильте, я достигал NL10, и это было страшно; я чувствовал, что вошел на территорию сильных игроков. Я лично знаю многих игроков, которые, переходя к новому лимиту, внезапно забывали, что такое блеф, четверная ставка, ставка на донк в многоходовом банке, блеф с чек-рейзом и т. д., и начинали играть не в покер, а получать орехи, которые, как правило, редко окупается. Я хочу сказать, что при повышении лимитов крайне важно играть в тот же покер, что и раньше, и желательно агрессивно. Вам следует много блефовать в маленьких банках; игроки в этих лимитах слишком часто сбрасывают карты, и вам следует избегать блефа в больших банках, потому что, наоборот, мало кто из игроков сбрасывает карты в больших банках в этих лимитах.

I bluff rarely enough that people actually believe me when I do it.
And yes, I also have moments when, after I go up in limits, I start playing too cautiously — becoming overly Dependent on cards, folding too often against big bets, and sometimes being a bit too careful.

I only become aggressive when there is a clear reason for it — a strong hand or a specific opponent type I have notes on, whether it's a tight player or a complete maniac.

Overall, poker is a difficult game. It requires self-work away from the table & consistent study.We’re facing players whose minds work faster than a calculator, and if you don’t want to become a gift or easy prey for someone, you have to learn, improve, and choose your tables and stakes carefully — the ones where you can realistically play profitably in the long run.

thwenth1983 · Nov 20, 2025

Claro! Aqui está somente o texto em inglês, totalmente corrigido e bem escrito para você copiar e colar no fórum:

Good morning, everyone. This is a very important perspective for any poker player: having proper bankroll control and solid bankroll management. I honestly don’t have this control. What I win, I end up spending — I admit it. And I know I should be better at this. After seven years of playing, I should already be at higher stakes. I know players who have been playing for less time than I have and are already moving up, playing $20 and $30 tournaments.

Moving up in stakes isn’t actually difficult. The real secret is bankroll management. From what I’ve read, the ideal is to have at least 100 buy-ins for the stakes you’re playing. For example: if you’re playing $1.10 tournaments, you should ideally have at least $110 in your bankroll. Once you reach $220, you can start playing the $2.20 tournaments.

If you hit a downswing at $2.20 and lose around $100, then you simply move back down to the $1 games. When you reach $330, you can start playing the $3.30s, and so on. If you get to $1,000 or $1,100, then you can start playing the $11 tournaments. The idea is to always adjust: if you lose $200, you move down again to rebuild.

This is how many good players evolve consistently in poker without risking their entire bankroll. I admit I haven’t done this properly, but I’m going to try. That’s really the secret.

hardongear · Nov 20, 2025

I can adapt and play any stake level from 2nl-50nl full-ring and for MTT's anything $5+(up to the Sunday Million) with longer 10+min blind levels.

I enjoy starting with $50@2nl full-ring and working my way to $150-$200@5nl and then when I reach $500@10nl. I start playing $5 longer blind 10+ min MTT's on the weekends while still playing 10nl full-ring during the week. Once I get to $5000 time to cash out some and spend the winnings. Rinse and repeat.

Micro MTT's just aren't worth the time put in at longer blind levels even if you win you're hourly is garbage and as a rec/hobby player I can't even volume in to make it worth it. That's why I start at $5 MTT's not micro's.

Cheers!!!

Uncloggie · Nov 20, 2025

I'm Taking an extended break eh

DarkSage · Saturday at 9:53 AM

Freeroll, thanks. Not wasting a single dime on this rigged garbage.

Mario7 · Saturday at 2:09 PM

I play poker for just over 2 years. 2NL for now. I tried to move up stakes - 5NL, 10NL, perhaps the tries were too short, but I just couldn't win at these higher stakes. So I am back to 2NL, where I consistantly manage to keep + results.

I also play tourneys from time to time: freerolls and $0,25 - $5. But until now I found no way to make tourneys profitable (except of course freerolls

)
I manage to get in the money or even to top 3 from time to time, but rarely enough to earn more I pay for entries. So, I spend part of the money won in cash games for turneys.

Sos1l · Sunday at 4:14 AM

thwenth1983 said:
Кларо! Аки эста некоторые тексты на английском языке, totalmente corrigido e bem escrito para você copiar e colar no fórum:

Доброе утро всем. Это очень важная перспектива для любого игрока в покер: надлежащий контроль над банкроллом и надежное управление банкроллом. Честно говоря, у меня нет такого контроля. То, что я выигрываю, я в итоге трачу — признаю это. И я знаю, что мне следует стать лучше в этом деле. После семи лет игры мои ставки уже должны быть выше. Я знаю игроков, которые играют меньше меня и уже продвигаются по карьерной лестнице, играя в турнирах с бай-ином $20 и $30.

Повышать ставки на самом деле несложно. Настоящий секрет — управление банкроллом. Из того, что я читал, в идеале нужно иметь не менее 100 бай-инов на ставки, на которые вы играете. Например: если вы играете в турнирах с бай-ином $1,10, в идеале ваш банкролл должен составлять не менее $110. Как только вы достигнете $220, вы сможете начать играть в турнирах по $2,20.

Если вы достигли спада на уровне $2,20 и проиграли около $100, то вы просто возвращаетесь к играм с $1. Когда вы достигнете $330, вы можете начать играть по $3,30 и так далее. Если вы наберете 1000 или 1100 долларов, то сможете начать играть в турнирах по 11 долларов. Идея состоит в том, чтобы всегда приспосабливаться: если вы теряете 200 долларов, вы снова спускаетесь вниз, чтобы восстановиться.

Именно так многие хорошие игроки последовательно развиваются в покере, не рискуя всем своим банкроллом. Признаюсь, я не сделал этого как следует, но я попробую. Вот в чем настоящий секрет.

I also couldn't control my bankroll, and whatever I won, I lost when betting on football.
I won about six thousand dollars in poker and lost my entire bankroll in just one day due to negligence.
So you're right — bankroll management is extremely important.
And without proper control, only micro-limits and freerolls await me... and it's just disgusting to play there.

Sos1l · Sunday at 4:26 AM

hardongear said:
Я могу адаптировать и играть на любом уровне ставок от 2 до 50 нл на полном ринге, а для MTT — на любой $5+ (вплоть до Sunday Million) с более длинными 10+-минутными блайнд-уровнями.

Мне нравится начинать с $50@2nl на полном кольце и постепенно доходить до $150-$200@5nl, а затем, когда я достигаю $500@10nl. По выходным я начинаю играть в MTT на 5 долларов дольше вслепую по 10+ минут, а в будние дни продолжаю играть в 10nl на полном ринге. Как только я наберу 5000 долларов, пора обналичить часть и потратить выигрыш. Промойте и повторите.

Микро-MTT просто не стоят времени, потраченного на более длительные уровни блайндов, даже если вы выигрываете, ваш почасовой результат — это мусор, и как любитель/любитель я даже не могу увеличить громкость, чтобы это того стоило. Вот почему я начинаю с MTT за 5 долларов, а не с микро.

Ура!!!

Well done brother. A bright future awaits you if you can overcome all restrictions, go down and then come up again with such skill.
And yes, microstakes and freerolls are a terrible place.
They are not worth wasting time on if you are trained, have a lot of practice, have a bankroll under your belt and use an adapted but flexible strategy in the game.
I wish you good luck in life and in the game 👏

Sos1l · Sunday at 4:28 AM

DarkSage said:
Фриролл, спасибо. Не трачу ни копейки на этот сфальсифицированный мусор.

I hate freerolls If it's not in WPT G.

Sos1l · Sunday at 4:50 AM

Mario7 said:
Я играю в покер чуть больше 2 лет. 2NL на данный момент. Я пытался повысить ставки — 5NL, 10NL, возможно, попытки были слишком короткими, но я просто не мог выиграть при таких высоких ставках. Итак, я вернулся в 2NL, где мне постоянно удается сохранять + результаты.

Я также время от времени играю в турнирах: фрироллах и $0,25 - $5. Но до сих пор я не нашел способа сделать турниры прибыльными (кроме, конечно, фрироллов )
Время от времени мне удаётся попасть в призовой фонд или даже попасть в тройку лучших, но редко бывает достаточно, чтобы заработать больше. Я плачу за участие. Итак, часть выигранных денег я трачу на кэш-игры на вертушки.

I'm also weak when it comes to winning at MTT.
In tournaments, situations force you to play freely — you end up making forced calls or shocks that don't allow you to reach your full potential and win.
Plus, bad bits and coolers will destroy all your hard work in three seconds at the worst possible moment.

This is why I love cash games.
You can throw off a lot of cash, safely wait for strong hands (the blinds don't put pressure on you), and when you clearly have an advantage over your opponent, you hit and take what belongs to you.
You can't sit in tournaments for half an hour without opening your hands, especially in the later stages, and you can't just fold everything Besides monsters into 3bet.
But in cash — you can certainly do it.

I like to wait.
I like not playing in the trash or discovering free ranges, so I don't get into trouble all the time and end up bluffing.
When you have time, you can take your time, because when you rush, you make very risky moves, which leads to serious mistakes.The ability to wait is a powerful weapon against those who cannot wait, and tournaments take away this wonderful opportunity from you.
On the contrary — I love strength, I love confidence.
And even if I lose with AA, KK, AK, set, street or flash, I don't blame myself.
For me Death should Necessarily be beautiful.

hardongear · Sunday at 8:09 AM

Sos1l said:
Well done brother. A bright future awaits you if you can overcome all restrictions, go down and then come up again with such skill.
And yes, microstakes and freerolls are a terrible place.
They are not worth wasting time on if you are trained, have a lot of practice, have a bankroll under your belt and use an adapted but flexible strategy in the game.
I wish you good luck in life and in the game 👏

Thanks for the kind words. But I have zero desire to play poker at any higher a level then I currently do as I have a day(owning and running my business) that I love and it provides enough without me having to become a miserable and unhappy poker poker that grinds his live away eking out a living by playing poker. That decision was made a very long time ago and I'm happy with it. Could I have went that way and been a poker player for a living? pretty likely as the toughest skills to learn are the following: bankroll management, mental toughness/tilt control, game selection, discipline and patience. poker strategy is easy to learn when compared.

I'm just a rec/hobby player who enjoys 2nl-50nl and the challenge of $5-higher level MTT's. Life's to short too be a miserable poker player who grinds his life away playing a card game. It's not a lifestyle that is conducive to have a wife, a good life balance and a happy family life.

Cheers!!!

hardongear · Sunday at 8:25 AM

Mario7 said:
I play poker for just over 2 years. 2NL for now. I tried to move up stakes - 5NL, 10NL, perhaps the tries were too short, but I just couldn't win at these higher stakes. So I am back to 2NL, where I consistantly manage to keep + results.

I also play tourneys from time to time: freerolls and $0,25 - $5. But until now I found no way to make tourneys profitable (except of course freerolls )
I manage to get in the money or even to top 3 from time to time, but rarely enough to earn more I pay for entries. So, I spend part of the money won in cash games for turneys.

Don't be discouraged man trying to move up can bring struggles and maybe they were to short of an attempt keep at it. MTT's are really tough to make any money on that's why I play both cash(during the week) and play MTT's on the weekends. Cash allows me to grow my bankroll slowly whiling paying for the MTT's I play on the weekends. Doing it this way has always taken care of a lot of variance for me. I'd be a lot poor and have a lot higher variance if I only played MTT's. Playing cash helps me smooth out the variance cause I rarely ever suck and have a terrible time for weeks on end at both styles of poker. It's why I stick to mainly to full-ring when playing both styles.....not much has to change in my style of play. When deep stacked in MTT's I play my normal cash style of play, I just add ICM(when in the money) and a short stack strategy when short stacked in MTT's.

With that said I have been playing a bit more 6 max this year when I've had the desire to sit down and play which this year hasn't been much to be honest.

Best of luck with you're poker journey man.

Cheers!!!

Sos1l · Monday at 12:50 AM

hardongear said:
Спасибо за добрые слова. Но у меня нет никакого желания играть в покер на более высоком уровне, чем сейчас, поскольку у меня есть день (владение и ведение своего бизнеса), который я люблю, и он дает мне достаточно, чтобы не становиться несчастным и несчастным покером, который тратит свою жизнь на то, чтобы зарабатывать на жизнь игрой в покер. Это решение было принято очень давно, и я им доволен. Мог ли я пойти этим путем и зарабатывать на жизнь игрой в покер? Вероятнее всего, самыми сложными навыками для освоения являются следующие: управление банкроллом, психологическая устойчивость/контроль наклона, выбор игры, дисциплина и терпение. Покерную стратегию легко изучить по сравнению с ней.

Я просто любитель/любитель, которому нравится играть в 2-50 НФЛ и бросать вызов MTT на 5 долларов выше. Жизнь слишком коротка, чтобы быть жалким игроком в покер, который тратит свою жизнь на карточную игру. Такой образ жизни не способствует рождению жены, хорошему жизненному балансу и счастливой семейной жизни.

Ура!!!

Yes, poker can consume your time, your energy, and your participation in real life.
Because the game requires a lot of attention and you shouldn't let yourself be distracted during the session.
And because of such a complete immersion in the game, your family life and communication with family and friends may suffer.

Sos1l · Monday at 1:00 AM

hardongear said:
Не отчаивайтесь, человек, пытающийся продвинуться по службе, может столкнуться с трудностями, и, возможно, ему не хватило усилий, чтобы продолжать в том же духе. На MTT действительно сложно заработать деньги, поэтому я играю и наличными (в будние дни), и в MTT по выходным. Наличные позволяют мне постепенно увеличивать свой банкролл, одновременно оплачивая MTT, в которые я играю по выходным. Такой подход всегда решал для меня множество проблем. Я был бы очень беден и имел бы гораздо большую дисперсию, если бы играл только в MTT. Игра на деньги помогает мне сгладить разницу, потому что я редко бываю неудачником и неделями ужасно провожу время в обоих стилях покера. Вот почему я придерживаюсь в основном полного ринга при игре в обоих стилях... в моем стиле игры мало что должно измениться. Когда я глубоко погружен в МТТ, я играю в свой обычный кэш-стиль игры,Я просто добавляю ICM (когда у меня есть деньги) и стратегию короткого стека, когда у меня короткие стеки в MTT.

С учетом вышесказанного, в этом году я играл немного больше 6 max, когда у меня было желание сесть и поиграть, чего в этом году, честно говоря, было не так уж и много.

Удачи тебе в твоем покерном путешествии, чувак.

Ура!!

I also play MTT, but I try to keep the rate around 90% in cash (maximum 6) and 10% in MTT.

Poker is the hard way to make easy money.
Thank you my friend and You too good luck at the tables.

Kasztor007 · Monday at 3:12 AM

Right now I’m mostly playing micro-stakes MTTs and $1–$2 Spin & Golds on GG.
I’d still call myself a hobby player, so I don’t put too much pressure on moving up fast – no “shot taking” at stakes my bankroll can’t really support.

I try to stick to something close to 100 buy-ins for the main stakes I play. It’s not perfect BRM, but it keeps me disciplined:

I can enjoy the game
keep learning
and protect the roll at the same time

For me the “ladder” isn’t a race. As long as I’m comfortable, rolled, and feeling in control at a certain level, I’m fine staying there and grinding experience. If I ever move up, I want it to be step by step, not because of ego or tilt, but because my game and bankroll are both ready.

Sos1l · Monday at 8:32 AM

Kasztor007 said:
Right now I’m mostly playing micro-stakes MTTs and $1–$2 Spin & Golds on GG.
I’d still call myself a hobby player, so I don’t put too much pressure on moving up fast – no “shot taking” at stakes my bankroll can’t really support.

I try to stick to something close to 100 buy-ins for the main stakes I play. It’s not perfect BRM, but it keeps me disciplined:

I can enjoy the game

keep learning

and protect the roll at the same time

For me the “ladder” isn’t a race. As long as I’m comfortable, rolled, and feeling in control at a certain level, I’m fine staying there and grinding experience. If I ever move up, I want it to be step by step, not because of ego or tilt, but because my game and bankroll are both ready.

You have very good thinking.
I think the same way. If the quality of my game does not match the level of higher stakes, and I cannot properly compete with the regulars there, I definitely won’t go up.
And it’s not even about the money — it’s about self-respect.
If your skill doesn’t match the level, they will exploit you like a fool.
Why should I let anyone take advantage of the fact that I’m weaker?
First, it’s a hit to your self-esteem, and only then to your bankroll.

“You must prepare for war in times of peace.”
— S. Ueshiba

The poker table is like a boxing ring:
if you’re not skilled like Tyson or Ali, you’ll get destroyed instantly.

Learn, learn, and keep learning.
And micro-stakes are a perfect place for practice.

🪜 What NL are you playing right now?

Sos1l

Rock Star

Pavelmiyah

Rock Star

Sos1l

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dreamer13

Legend

Sos1l

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thwenth1983

Visionary

hardongear

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Uncloggie

Legend

DarkSage

Rock Star

Mario7

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Sos1l

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Sos1l

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Sos1l

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Sos1l

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hardongear

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hardongear

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Sos1l

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Sos1l

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Kasztor007

Enthusiast

Sos1l

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