High stakes vs low stakes poker: What you need to know
There are levels in poker, both in terms of skill and buy-ins. The good news is there are games for everyone.
If you’re completely new to the game, all the best online poker sites offer freerolls and promos that can help you play without spending any money.
If you’re already familiar with the rules of poker, there are games at all stakes. From low buy-in games where people play for pennies to the nosebleeds where pots are worth millions, there are stakes for all bankrolls.
This guide I created outlines the different stakes in poker and offers some tips on how to play at each level. So, for the best poker strategy tips and more, scroll down now.
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The stakes in poker
Poker can be played at any level. From freerolls to high-stakes games, there are stakes to suit all bankrolls and preferences. This guide goes into the specifics of poker at each level but, before that, here are the general categories and their associated betting limits:
Micro stakes poker
- MTT buy-ins = £0.01 to £5
- Micro stakes cash game poker limits = £0.01/£0.02 to £0.05/£0.10
Small stakes poker
- MTT buy-ins = £5 to £19
- Small stakes cash game poker limits = £0.10/£0.25 to £0.25/£0.50
Mid-stakes poker
- MTT buy-ins = £20 to £99
- Mid-stakes cash game poker limits = £0.50/£1 to £2/£4
High stakes poker
- MTT buy-ins = £100 to £10,000+
- High stakes cash game poker limits = £2.50/£5 to £200/£400
Nosebleed poker
- MTT buy-ins = £50,000+
- Nosebleed stakes cash game poker limits = £500/£1,000+
Poker strategy tips: How to play at every level
Before I give you some advice on how to play poker at different stakes, it’s worth pointing out the subtle difference in classifications depending on where you play. Online poker is often quicker and more aggressive than live poker. This is because hands are dealt by random number generators (RNGs) instead of humans.
RNGs keep online poker games fair and ensure hands are dealt swiftly. Seeing more hands per hour forces the action. As such, there is more pressure to make bets. Therefore, you typically need a bigger bankroll when you play online which, in turn, affects the classification of micro, small, medium and high stakes.
For example, a small-stakes game online would be classed as £0.25/£0.50. A small-stakes live poker game would be £1/£2. Why? Because you’ll see fewer hands in a live game. This means you don’t have as much pressure to play pots. In this sense, the game “plays smaller” so I can adjust the definition of small stakes.
The point to remember here is that the definition of micro, small, mid and high stakes will change depending on whether you’re playing live or online. Therefore, when you’re developing a poker strategy, it’s important to keep this in mind and adjust accordingly.
Micro stakes cash game poker strategy
Micro-stakes cash game poker is all about the fundamentals. These are the smallest stakes you can play poker online for real money, which means everyone at the table is either new to the game or a recreational player. The best way to beat novices and recreational players is to play tight.
Why? Because newbies and casuals don’t know any better. They only focus on their cards and don’t think about ranges, stack sizes, bet-to-pot ratios or bluffing. Therefore, the only way to win consistently is to play ABC poker, wait until you have good hands and bet for value relentlessly.
Small stakes cash game poker strategy
In my experience, small stakes cash game poker strategy shouldn’t stray too far from the ABC approach I’ve outlined already. In general, players at this level won’t be thinking about advanced concepts such as value ranges and perceived image.
As before, the motto “tight is right” applies in small-stakes cash game poker. Stick to playing the top 20 poker hands (AA to Q-10 suited) and be aggressive when you enter a pot. If you’re playing a full-ring game, reduce your opening range to the top six poker hands from early position (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, A-K suited, A-K offsuit).
In mid-position, bring in A-Q suited to A-10 suited + 1010 to 77. When you’re in late position, open with all hands in the top 20 if everyone folds to you. Re-raise the top five hands. Finally, limit the amount you bluff in small stakes poker games and value bet relentlessly when you make a strong hand.
Mid-stakes cash game poker strategy
Mid-stakes poker cash games are when you start to come across people who play for a living. These players understand that poker strategy is more than value betting when you make a strong hand. Mid-stakes poker players think in terms of ranges (i.e. a set of possible hands) rather than single hands. They know their perceived image (i.e. loose or tight) matters just as much as an opponent’s image.
Because of this, mid-stakes cash game poker players are more likely to be aggressive and put you in tricky spots. There are various ways you can play against strong mid-stakes players. One strategy is to wait for premium hands, fold a lot in early position, and be aggressive in position when you have strong hands. Another strategy is to fight fire with fire. Don’t back down under extreme pressure when you believe you’ve got the best hand or someone is bluffing.
In terms of specifics, ABC poker is never a bad idea, but let me tell you: don’t be afraid to mix it up. Additionally, think about the range of hands an opponent can have in each spot. Based on this, make moves based on how your perceived range (i.e. what an opponent might think you’ve got) plays against their range. Finally, think about stacks, bet sizing and the size of pots, as well as blockers i.e. cards you’ve got that would prevent a player from having certain hands.
High-stakes cash game poker strategy
High-stakes poker cash games are where the toughest players ply their trade. As a result, you need to be extremely well-versed in advanced poker strategies, including things such as game theory optimal (GTO) play.
Essentially, because everyone knows the fundamentals of poker and what the best strategies are, you get into spots where metagame concepts come into play. Metagame refers to things taking place outside of the actual hand.
In layman’s terms, high-stakes poker players engage in psychological warfare i.e. they think things like, “they know that I know that they know”. Basically, when it comes to high-stakes poker strategy, you need to know what your opponent is thinking about you and do something different. It’s all about breaking conventions, being creative and trying to outthink those around you.
Nosebleeds cash game strategy
Nosebleed poker cash games are an interesting mix of players. In general, high stakes poker strategy applies. However, because nosebleed games are frequented by wealthy amateurs, you don’t always need to be creative and employ strategies such as GTO poker.
If you’re skilled enough to become a nosebleed poker player and a rich novice joins the game, tight will often be right. You might not need to take this concept to the extreme and limit yourself to the top five poker hands.
However, if someone isn’t very experienced, their thinking won’t be much different from a small stakes poker player. The only difference is that they’ve got more money. A potentially effective strategy in these spots would be to bluff very little and make a lot of value bets.
Learn more about the top 10 poker tournaments in the world.
The importance of bankroll management in poker
Bankroll management is the most important strategy concept in poker. Yes, things like bluffing, ranges, value betting and GTO are all hugely significant. However, if you don’t know the stakes you can and should be playing for, you run the risk of going broke before you can use your skills.
Why is bankroll management important?
Because poker is a game of variance. Even if you’re the most skilled player in the world, hands won’t always go your way. This is because luck is an inherent part of the game. For example, let’s say an opponent moves all-in pre-flop and you know they’ve got a weak hand. You call with pocket tens and see that you’re ahead of their A-2.
You can use a poker calculator here to see that you’re a 70% favourite to win the hand. An ace hits the flop and you go on to lose the hand, despite being a huge favourite. You did everything right in this hand but got unlucky because that’s the nature of poker.
Be conservative and embrace variance
Over time you’ll win more than you lose when you make the correct plays, but there is also an element of luck. This is why you should only play stakes that are suitable for your bankroll. Only risking a small amount of your bankroll allows you to ride the ups and downs.
With this said, your bankroll should be money you’ve got available to play poker with. It should be disposable income. From this, the stakes you play should represent no more than 5% of your bankroll. For example, if you’ve got £1,000, your maximum buy-in should be £50 i.e. you should play cash games no higher than £0.25/£0.50.
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What is the difference between high and low stakes poker?
The main difference between high and low-stakes poker is the amount of money it costs to play. In cash games, this means the blinds are bigger in high-stakes games. Because of this, the minimum amount of money you need to join a high-stakes game is higher which, in turn, means your bets will be bigger.
Another difference between high and low-stakes poker is the quality of players you’ll be up against. In general, high-stakes poker players are better than those grinding low-stakes games. High-stakes players have made their way up the ranks. They have a better understanding of poker strategy, so the games will be tougher.
What is considered high-stakes poker?
High-stakes poker is considered any game where the minimum buy-in is a four-figure sum of money. For example, a high-stakes tournament will cost £1,000 or more. For poker cash games, the buy-in for a £5/£10 table will be £1,000, which means it can be considered high stakes by most standards.
What is considered mid-stakes in poker?
Mid-stakes poker games typically have buy-ins within the three-figure range. In other words, any cash game stakes that require you to play with £100 to £999 can be considered mid-stakes.
What is considered low stakes in poker?
Low-stakes poker games cost less than £100 to play. Tournaments that cost £10 up to £50 would be considered low stakes. Any that cost £51 to £99 would be considered low-to-mid-stakes. For cash games, blinds lower than £0.50/£1 can be classed as low stakes.
Is it better to play higher-stakes poker?
Yes, but only if you’re a skilled player with a big enough bankroll. It’s true there’s more money to be won in high-stakes games, but you have to be good enough to take advantage of this potential. Therefore, if you want to play higher-stakes poker games, make sure you’ve got the money and the skills to do so.
What is the hardest type of poker?
Pot Limit Omaha is considered one of the hardest poker variants because there are more potential hand combinations than other games. You have two hole cards in Texas Hold’em. You can use one, both or neither of them in conjunction with the five community cards to make a ranked poker hand.
In Omaha, you have four hole cards and you must use two of them in conjunction with the five community cards. This rule, combined with the fact you’ve got two more hole cards, means there are more possible hand combinations. This makes it tougher to work out what opponents might have. It also increases the variance because hands can be counterfeited by better ones more easily.
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Which poker stake should you play?
The poker stakes you should play will depend on the size of your bankroll. To recap, a bankroll is disposable income that you’ve got set aside for poker. Your life shouldn’t be affected in any way if you lose your entire bankroll (I hope you don’t).
The stakes you play poker for need to represent a small percentage of your bankroll. The generally accepted range is 2% to 5%. However, the tougher the games get, the more conservative you should be. So, if you’re playing high-stakes poker games, I suggest aiming for the lower end of this range.
What are the best websites to play live poker online?
There are many different ways you can play poker online. You can use an online poker site such as PokerStars and compete against other players in cash games or tournaments. You can also use online casino sites, such as those listed below, to play poker-based table games like Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
1. Duelz
New customers can join Duelz Casino and get a £100 first deposit match bonus plus 100 free spins. This welcome bonus is backed by a steady stream of ongoing promotions, including weekly cashback. Duelz Casino is home to hundreds of games, including Casino Stud Poker, which is one of my favorites.
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2. Winomania
This is an offer I also like. You can get a first deposit match bonus up to £100, plus 100 free spins, if you’re a new customer. All you have to do is to create your first (and only) account and deposit £10 or more. Poker fans can try their hand at a variety of live casino games, including Caribbean Stud and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
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3. MrQ
MrQ Casino gives all new (and eligible) customers a no deposit bonus plus 30 free spins after making a deposit and use code TALKSPORT35. As someone who loves exploring different poker variations, I find MrQ's welcome bonus particularly enticing. You can check out MrQ's welcome bonus and play a variety of live poker casino games, including Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud.
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High vs. low stakes poker: Be conservative and move up slowly
There is a hierarchy in poker that’s based on the stakes you play. Moving up this hierarchy gives you opportunities to win more money, but it also exposes you to more risk and, in turn, better players. Therefore, if you want to climb the ranks and move from low stakes grinder to high stakes pro, you need to learn a variety of poker strategies.
This takes time and thousands of hands. You need to embrace the grind and not move up until you’re ready both in terms of skills, confidence and money. In closing, I’ll say this: always be conservative. Poker is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t move up too quickly. Build a solid foundation, progress slowly and enjoy the process of getting better.
About the author
Daniel Smyth
Daniel Smyth has seen the online poker, casino, and betting industry from every angle. He previously played poker semi-professionally before working at WPT Magazine as a writer and editor. From there, he transitioned to online gaming where he’s been producing expert content for over 10 years.
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