When Should You Increase the Stakes?

Let's say you have established a level of play that is paying off for you. You are playing good solid poker and you win far more often than you lose. The game is properly structured, the limits fit your bankroll, and you enjoy the game. What next?

Well, if you are like most poker players, you are probably giving serious consideration to changing to a bigger game.

To which I would say, why not?

There are several factors to be considered before you make that step, however. Money is certainly one of them, but it is not the most important one.

First, do you feel like a winner?

My question may sound a bit naive, but it is meaningful. If you don't feel like a winner and if you don't see yourself beating the higher priced competition, what are you doing in their game?

Every game level has its good and bad points. You will be looking at new faces, new styles and a few new moves. You probably won't be as comfortable in the new higher risk setting as you were in your old game.

Whatever worked for you in the old game should be used in the new setting. If you felt comfortable being aggressive in the old setting, be aggressive with the higher limits. Don't change your game just because the money limits has been altered.

The higher limit players will test you to discover if you are real. How you respond to that test will determine how they treat you in the future. Play a very high standard of poker.Don't let them run over you. But don't give away chips either.

As long as you feel comfortable playing at the higher limit, do it. If you remain consistent to your knowledge of the game and your basic instincts for survival, you should do well -- perhaps surprisingly so.

Don't overstay the game. I would limit your time in the game to between two and four hours. Then take a break and assess your wins and losses.

If you do well at the higher limits, you should consider playing that game more often -- say 20 to 30 percent of your playing time. Stay with the game until it turns on you. If you find yourself booking more losses than wins, accept the fact that you are not quite ready to increase your limits and go back to the softer game that was winning for you.

Remember the players and how they played against you. Eventually you will find yourself playing against them on a regular basic, either in a cash game or tournament setting. The knowledge and insight you gain from the more expensive game should prove invaluable to improving your poker skills. Good luck. Let the games begin.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).