Is it in my head?

[Turo]

Hi guys, I have been lurking for a few weeks and decided to post for the first time.
Im sorry if its a dumb question.
I have been playing poker for a few months now. I only Play b&m casinos. I started playing 1/2 holdem, then 2/4 then 3/6 and I can honestly say I never made any profit. Never.
One day I decided to play 4/8 and I won Like 200 dollars. I have been playing 4/8 for about a month now and I can honestly say that I have not lost any money. I Made about 600 dollars in the past two days alone(thats alot to me!).
Is there any special reason that I started winning only after starting to play 4/8? Or is it just in my head?

[Sponger15SB]

It could have been bad luck at the other games or good luck at this....I do know that B&M goes painfully slow and I've probably played more hands today than you have in a month, so you might need a bigger sample size before you jump to conclusions.

[Andy B]

The rake at these low limits is usually brutal. The games are still usually beatable because the players are so bad, but an awful lot of money goes to the house. It could be that the rake is enough less of a factor that you're able to eke out a small profit at the higher limit. I have the impression that you haven't logged a ton of hours at any of these limits, so you may have just been more lucky in the $4/8 game.

[chaos]

With the rake plus the customary $1 tip to the dealer it is hard to beat the very low limit games. With the poker explosion there are more bad players so these games have become beatable.

When I started playing in CA cardrooms, my results greatly improved when I moved up from $3/6 to $6/12. Same rake, same tip but the pots were twice as big on average.

[onegymrat]

Hi Turo,

With the limited amount of experience that you've mentioned, I think that it's purely in your head. That being said, stay where you are for now. It's obvious that you have confidence at the 4/8, which is a good attribute to have when playing. It may also have a bit to do with better play as you are getting the experience you need. Just keep in mind that fluctuations do happen, so solid play is necessary at all times to ride out the good and the bad. Don't let the good streak make you overplay your hands. Otherwise, good luck and welcome.

[rookieplus]

Related question for the more experienced (or maybe the same question asked a different way):

Is it possible that a player's game/style might be more suited for a 4/8 game than a 1/2 or 2/4 game? I'm talking about one-dimensional players who are not particularly good at changing their styles to suit particular opponents or tables.

Is it possible that 4/8 or 5/10 games are populated with more weak/tight players and it is therefore easier to bully them off hands? Don't you need to play the lower limit games differently than medium limit games?

[onegymrat]

Is it possible that a player's game/style might be more suited for a 4/8 game than a 1/2 or 2/4 game?
Yes and no. Limits matter much less than the style of players in which you oppose. It's just much more common to see a loose style of play in limits less than 10/20. That does not particularly mean that you will never face a tough table. So to answer your question with a "yes" would mean that the regulars at his particular 4/8 game are those he will always be facing, and he has a good grasp of their style. This is also assuming that he is experienced enough to recognize how to play them effectively at all times.

Is it possible that 4/8 or 5/10 games are populated with more weak/tight players and it is therefore easier to bully them off hands? Don't you need to play the lower limit games differently than medium limit games?
Again, this refers to my other answer. It is certainly possible to see weak/tight players at these limits, but not very often. Normally, when you move up to middle limits, you will see more tight-aggressives. One needs to keep in mind that the dynamics of your table can change on a dime, and only experience will be able to help you differentiate what/when/how to do. Therefore, to gain this experience and not go broke, it is best to play the lowest limit that interests you until your game is effectively solid. In almost all cases of low-limit play, normal solid play will make you a winner, and "bullying" and "tricky" would not be needed. Your opponents' mistakes will more often push their chips to you than you needing to be creative. Save that when you hit the 10/20 rock garden.

You may be able to play great for a few sessions, and come up a big winner. But to be a great player, you must be able to beat all different kinds of players, lag, maniacs, weak-tight, loose-passive...especially when they're all at the same table.