So, you’re a force to be reckoned with at your current poker table. Your bankroll is growing, and you feel ready for the next challenge. But moving up to higher stakes is more than just having the buy-in; it’s a test of skill, strategy, and mental fortitude. Many players get stuck, unable to bridge the gap to the bigger games.
This guide will help you identify what’s holding you back, separating common excuses from the real problems. It’s time to unlock your potential and start climbing that ladder.
Ditching the Excuses That Keep You Small
Before tackling the real issues, you have to get past the delusions that many players use to justify why they aren’t advancing. Do any of these sound familiar?
Excuse #1: “If only I had a bigger bankroll…”
Many players think their bankroll is the only thing holding them back from crushing bigger games. While it’s true you need money to play, this belief is often incorrect. Complaining about your starting funds won’t change anything. The time spent worrying about it is better used to actually
grow your bankroll.
In the long run, your starting bankroll becomes irrelevant. What truly matters are your
poker skills, bankroll management, and dedication to studying. If you’re good enough, the winnings will come, and you will inevitably move up.
Excuse #2: “I’m just so unlucky!”
This is the most common excuse in the book. The truth is, the variance in poker is incredibly difficult for the human brain to process, even for the world’s best players. If they can’t accurately gauge their luck, it’s unlikely an average player can.
You will always have periods of good and bad luck; it’s a permanent feature of the game. Instead of adopting a victim mentality,
take responsibility for what you can control: your preparation, your focus, and how you play.
So, how do you succeed in spite of bad luck? It’s simple:
- Be responsible with your bankroll.
- Grow your skill edge.
The severity of your downswings is directly related to your skill edge—your win rate—and the game’s natural variance. You could try playing a super-tight “nitty” style to reduce variance, but this often lowers your win rate, leading to the same downswings and a lower hourly profit. The most effective solution is to
“get better at poker”. A high win rate makes long downswings almost impossible.
The Real Problems: Strategy and Psychology
Once you’ve set aside the excuses, you can focus on the real reasons you might be stuck.
Game Strategy: When Your “Tricks” Stop Working
At softer, lower-stakes games, you can often win with simplified “tricks” or exploitative plays without understanding the deep theory behind them. However, as you move up, you’ll find that
these tricks hit a ceiling because better players can’t be tricked—they have to be outplayed with solid, theoretical knowledge.
Two common tricks that fail at higher stakes are:
- Blind Aggression: Being hyper-aggressive works in soft games where people over-fold or call too lightly. Good players, however, will not only withstand your aggression but use it against you.
- Nitty-ness: Playing extremely tight can be profitable against loose-passive opponents who will pay you off. At higher stakes, observant players will notice your nitty style, bluff you relentlessly, and fold whenever you show strength, making it impossible for you to win big pots.
There is
no substitute for doing the work and getting really good at the game. If you’re not willing to put in that effort, it’s perfectly fine to stay at the stakes where you’re winning and having fun.
Psychological Barriers: Conquering the Mental Game
For players who have the skills and are putting in the work, psychological barriers can be the final boss.
- Confidence: Winning builds confidence, leading to smart plays and well-timed bluffs. But when you move up, that confidence can vanish, causing you to second-guess yourself, miss opportunities, and retreat into a less effective, “safe” style of play.
- Identity: If you’ve always seen yourself as a “$1/$2 player,” that self-perception can sabotage your efforts at a $2/$5 table. Your subconscious might find ways to bring you back to your old identity. The solution? Forcibly change your identity. Start telling yourself and others that you are a $2/$5 player. Write it down or say it in the mirror. This helps you shed self-limiting beliefs and become comfortable at the new level.
- Fear of Big Pots (FOBP): Higher stakes mean bigger pots, which can be scary and lead to emotional, illogical decisions. A pot that was worth $200 at lower stakes might require a much stronger hand than a $200 pot at a higher stake, but our emotional response doesn’t always adjust automatically. The key is to be aware of your emotions during play. Ask yourself, “Am I folding because it’s the right play, or because I’m scared?”. Recognizing this fear is the first step to overcoming it.
Breaking through to higher stakes is a journey that demands honesty, hard work, and mental toughness. By ditching the excuses, refining your strategy, and mastering your mindset, you can successfully make the leap and thrive in the games you’ve been dreaming of.