first post by long time lurker

[Harv72b]

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assuming a player was winning money, wouldnt not playing a higher limit be a decision with a -EV associated with it?

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In simplest terms, a player's ability to beat different levels changes with the individual (or, more accurately, with the opponents he's likely to face). Player X may be able to beat 2/4 for 3 BB/100 hands, but struggle to maintain 1 BB/100 on 3/6. Therefore, assuming Player X is unlikely/unwilling to improve his game, and is playing poker strictly for the money, it makes far more sense for him to 4- or 8-table 2/4 than try to move up to 3/6. You will find such drastic differences as you move up in limits, particularly once you get to 3/6.

There are other aspects of the decision, such as whether or not the individual is happy enough making $48/hr 8-tabling 2/4 that he doesn't see the need to move up, or an unwillingness to handle the greater swings in true dollar amounts that come with a higher limit; for example, you may be fine with a $100 downswing while playing .5/1, but the same number of bets in a 5/10 game is now $1000.