Where is the money coming from in high stakes poker?

[psyduck]

Just wanted to say this is a great thread, and I'm looking forward to more responses from people. This question has been on my mind as well.

I'm going to buy the book that Alan mentioned.

[gergery]

I win a bunch in my regular game and then go move up a level and lose at first. Then I go back down and win a bunch and move up and break even. Then I go back down and win and move up and win a little. Then the new higher limit becomes my regular game and I repeat the process.

I am really just a transporter of money from the low-limit fish to the pros, so they don’t have to waste their time.

And every game has people just like me, no matter what level you're talking about.

[RydenStoompala]

And what's really funny is that most of the rich guys dumping thousands in poker games are doing a minute fraction of the damage to their net worth that many of the low and middle limit players do on an ongoing basis. There's the real story.

[GoCubsGo]

I'm surprised that rich people start out at 5/10. It seems like the equivalent of a guy going out and playing his first round of golf at Augusta. I just can't imagine putting $1000 on the line at a game I know I'm severely outmatched. I guess that's just what you do when you're rich.

[MataWispar]

Lets not forget the small stakes players who have a huge day in a MTT, sometimes winning well over 10k, then decide, "hey I can afford to play much higher now" and don't realize that they are wrong untill they loose half of it.

although to most of us low limit players 5/10 seems like high stakes, to a successful businessman that is nothing. my friends uncle has made himself a pretty penny from nothing. he plays poker some and went to vegas last spring. he walked in one night and sat 100/200 and lost and didn't care because he thought it was fun. one bet in that game is my bankroll, lol. but to him it was pocket change for a good time.

[Python49]

Let's not forget to add the people with gambling addictions who are trying to move up in stakes to recover from their losses quicker.

[VivaLaViking]

I agree, the limit is not an indication of the players ability. And also, everyone gets "stuck" to some degree but I believe that instead of moving up to a higher limit, you should move down until you've recapped you initial investment. That is why "bank roll" management is so important and entering a higher limit should only be entered with an ammout that could reasonably be expected to be won at the next lower limit.

[Hellmouth]

A guy who makes 100X as much as you in income feels the same way about 100/200 as you feel about 1/2. Losing there affects them financially with about as much impact as I feel if I lose at 1/2.

Greg

Overestimation.