let's start by recapping what a micro limit game is for a comparison.

Online, the micro limits are any Limit game played with coins: Any NL or PL game played with dimes and nickels for blinds. Live, the micro limits are any Limit game with stakes under 5/10: Any NL or PL game with a big blind up to $2.

These games are filled with 2 types of players:

1) People playing strictly for fun (80-90% of micro players)

2) People with a serious interest in learning the game (10-20% of micro players)

Micro limits DO NOT contain gamblers or good players. Gamblers have no interest in betting with silver coins, and good players quickly move out of these limits (if they venture there at all).

Micro limit games typically have family pots, and almost always the hand will go to showdown.


So, what is a low limit game? Online, the low limits are any LIMIT game with stakes between 1/2 and 4/8 stakes. Any NL or PL game with a big blind between $.25 and $2. Live the low limits are any LIMIT game with stakes between 5/10 and 20/40. Any NL or PL game with a big blind between $2 and $5.

Low limit games boast a variety of different players, however most will be the following:

1) Know it alls. A group of players who believe poker is a set in stone game. This failure to adjust is why they cannot move above these limits. Typically these players are small losers to slight winners, and quite cranky. (10%)

2) Players trying the game out. A lot of players will give poker a go with $50-$100. Therefore, you'll find them donking off their money at these limits. (75%)

you'll also find a mix of gamblers, good players, and people learning the game (which is much different than people TRYING the game)

Very few players at these levels are playing for fun. It's easy to lose hundreds of dollars at these stakes and thats not much fun for anyone. You'll notice the lack of fun by peoples demeanors and chat.

To beat the low limits you'll need a solid general strategy, adjusting to your opponents, and patience, just like for the micro limits. However, you'll also need to:

1) start using game and seat selection. Picking games and seats that take advantage of your strengths as a player is crucial as the competition improves. It can often be the difference between a winner and a loser.

2) Reading hands. Since your opponents are now making rational decisions you'll need to be able to deduce their holdings to make the correct decision.

3) player tracking/note taking since you'll come across the same opponents more often (especially in non Hold' em games).

4) looking for and plugging leaks in your own game.Here is where you need to start thinking about poker in a more theorettical way.

If you're sitting in the first available game, are only playing your cards, and have no notes on any of your opponents you'll have a hard time at these limits (especially the upper end of the spectrum). You could still be a winner (maybe), but you will not be maximizing your wins.

I'd add to #1- game selection.

It's an amazing luxury to have so many tables to choose from. Look for the tables with the biggest pots and lurk 'em for a little while. A lot of people make the large mistake of looking at a table's players per flop because they wanna avoid loose tables to avoid bad beats. That's a losing proposition because you're always beat when you get action and the pots you win have little to no value.

As far a good seat selection, can u explain alittle more?

What size stacks do you want to ur right and left?

What size stacks do you want at ur table. Do you want to be sitting at a table with eveyone double the BI, everyone 1/2 the BI or everyone around the BI?

I prefer to have weak players with full stacks close to me and aggressive players/short stacks across from me.

Basic rule of thumb, you want to be on the left of stronger players.

I'd say that proper seat selection (game selection for that matter too) depends on your style.

We all have differing levels of tightness, aggression, hand reading skills. etc. Playing in games with a high level aggression may not suit your style. An ultra-patient player will do well in a showdown poker type game where a a semi-loose aggressive player who relies on fancy plays will have a difficult time in these games.

I like to have aggressive players on my immediate left in big bet poker (the opposite in limit poker). By having them on my left i am able to limp into a lot of pots with strong hands, let the aggro raise and hopefully get called by a player or 2, then come over the top either picking up a decent sized pot or getting called with a good deal of dead money in the pot.

I think this method works a lot better than the old school way of isolating the maniac with a re-raise. Too many players are wise to this method, and it's difficult to raise big enough to keep everyone else out.

example: $1/$2 PLO everyone has $200. aggro raises to $6. you re-raise to $15. players are still getting the implied odds to take the flop with a hand like 6789 A89T suited. If you use my methd of sitting to their right the following happens: You limp, aggro raises to $9, 2 players and the BB call (he's an aggro remember), and you can now re-pop it to over $50.