Can Small Stakes Still Be Beaten in 2025? Let’s Talk Micro Tournaments ♠️

Hello friends from CardChat 👋

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about whether tournaments with microlimits can be profitable in modern games. I've noticed a lot of players saying something like “you can't create a bankroll anymore” or “microlimits are invincible due to variance.”

But from what I've seen on sites like 888poker and GGPoker, there are still a lot of benefits here, especially in the $0.10 to $1 range. The players' fields are weak, and with a patient, tacito-aggressive approach, I think steady deep breakthroughs are still possible.

I recently started analyzing the results of satellites with a low buy-in (e.g., $0.10 → $1) and noticed that even a few successful runs can block many attempts if you carefully manage the bankroll. It seems that the main thing is not in luck, but in volume, discipline and choice of table.

I would like to hear your thoughts on this:

Do you think it is still realistic to make profits at the lowest levels in 2025?

How do you personally feel about micro-tournaments — pure grinding, focusing on learning or just having fun?

And do you think the composition of the players has changed a lot in the last year?


I'm really wondering how others see this — whether microlimits are still a good starting point, or whether the real advantage now lies in moving up faster.

Let's discuss! ♣️
What is your last experience playing Micro-MTT — can they still be beaten?

Definetly beatable. Yes variance is high paired with lots of idiots but one also can take advantage of that.

Building a stack isn't an issue for me but mantaining it!
Yesterday I played the 2.5$ Mini Big Game , was almost out still within late reg and worked my way up again into ITM.
Had an opportunity to stack up again and 9/10 times I would have..

I min raised preflop, hit the K with KJ , some crazy Japanese reraised, I reraised again and he pushed allin ...I call and he reveals K2!! On the river he hit the freaking deuce 🙄 unreal

Pitonealal said:

Let's discuss! ♣️
What is your last experience playing Micro-MTT — can they still be beaten?

Click to expand...

If you can't beat the micros, don't expect to win elsewhere.

If you don't mind me saying.... I think you have a tendency to over-complicate things. 'tacito-aggressive approach'.... I don't have a clue what that means.

It's about EXPLOITING your opponents and in the micros this is the easiest place you'll find to do this. It's not about GTO... or playing balanced (unexploitable), etc. etc. It's about learning how to value bet, learning to adjust to different stack sizes and exploiting the other players on your tables.

Poker Orifice said:

It's about EXPLOITING your opponents and in the micros this is the easiest place you'll find to do this. It's not about GTO... or playing balanced (unexploitable), etc. etc.

Click to expand...

Agreed. GTO is useless in microstakes...trying to implement it results only in frustration...because in order for GTO to work you kinda need opponents with a clue!

Maybe it can help in medium stakes but generally I'd say GTO is only relevant in the top tier

Yeah, micros are still beatable in 2025 — just not easy money anymore.
Most players don’t adjust, so if you stay patient, value bet strong, and manage your bankroll, you’ll still do fine.
I also think micro satellites are worth grinding. I play $1–$2 MTTs on 888, but sometimes jump into the $1 satellites for the $5.50 Big Shot or Mystery Bounty — it’s actually not that hard to qualify if you stay focused.
For me, it’s more about learning and building discipline than chasing big scores.

Pitonealal said:

Hello friends from CardChat 👋

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about whether tournaments with microlimits can be profitable in modern games. I've noticed a lot of players saying something like “you can't create a bankroll anymore” or “microlimits are invincible due to variance.”

Click to expand...

Tip:
Those 'a lot of players saying something like.... ' Avoid wasting time listening to them.

Yes definately.
To beat micro stakes poker, focus on a simple boring tight-aggressive (TAG) strategy. Play fewer hands but bet and raise aggressively when you do. Play in position, avoid bluffing "calling stations" or weak players, and always value bet your strong hands. Strong bankroll management, a focus on a single game type, and disciplined folding are also key to long-term success. I agree with adaption over GTO. And finally a lot of patience and determination.

Bad regs have always complained, that low stakes games (both live and online) are impossible to beat, because there are so many bad players in these games, and they always get lucky. But its just the opposite. The worse people play, the easier it is to beat them. Except if the rake is to crazy or the structure of the game to bad.

As an edit i have to be honest about 1 important thing: Even on the micros, it's gonna be a tough grind. Get the strong mindset of a "poor guy" and embrace variance. If you really want that, you will find a way. But that way is much more than just grinding. The only truth is: The higher the stakes, the lower your edge. Variance will follow aswell.

So keep it up and don't trust that naysayers or some kind of negative people,
Natox

For sure you can beat the micro stakes but is a huge variance especially in tournaments

You can make a profit playing micros, of course. But personally I have found that the more you pay to enter a tournament the more logical the play is, and I have found it easier to make a profit if you play carefully. I know that all the experts wil say that is rubbish...

I just posted about it. Im getting back to the game and im finding it very easy to play micro stakes, mostly because its so easy to tell what range the opponent is playing due to betting behaviour. Most players (specially early on) are predictable, so you can stack on chips and you end up bubbling. so if you are finding hard to have success i think its one of 2 things: 1 you are not registering on time. I know 2 hours of extra play may sound cuttable, but stack early on and you get to the end. 2 you tilt. Rookie mistake but everyone can make when the cost of losing is low. And, after i placed a few times, i kinda leaned to commit last mistake, because placing 3d, after 6 hours and getting 25$ back is not enticing