Poker Articles

This is an article by Andrew Wiggins, A.K.A. "Muddywater," who is an instructor for Cardrunners.com.


Moving down in limits has a negative connotation among poker players. I believe that being able to step down in limits, if done for the proper reasons, can be extremely beneficial for a struggling player. Players often go through “cold runs” during their poker careers. Furthermore, players are very quick to blame these runs on poor cards and unlucky situations. While this can be the case, I believe that poor play often plays a large role in any player’s bad run. When a player convinces himself he is on a bad run, he has created an excuse to play poorly. This produces a vicious cycle that can often be very difficult to end. My formula for ending a bad run begins with taking a few days off from poker. This enables me to “clear my head.” It is vital to have a clear mind when playing. I also advocate moving down a limit from your normal game. There are many benefits to moving down.

Good players thrive on their own confidence. When that confidence is damaged, there will often be adverse effects on their play. A good loose aggressive player (LAG) will make a large portion of his winnings by utilizing his reading skills in marginal situations. In order for a LAG player to make the correct decision in these difficult situations, he must be reading his opponents well and acting correctly on those reads. This can be prove very difficult if a player doesn’t feel confident about his own game. A LAG needs to trust his reads, and it is impossible to do that if that player doesn’t feel good about how he/she is playing.

Stepping down a limit or two is one way to rejuvenate one’s confidence. Players should feel comfortable at the stakes they play. In addition, players will likely be more comfortable at limits lower than their typical level. By increasing their level of comfort, players are able to recover lost confidence.

A player’s bankroll and his attitude towards that bankroll are other important aspects to consider. I believe that keeping an adequate bankroll is very important to playing well. Part of the reason for this is that it enables one to play well, because it eliminates from a player’s mind the possibility of going broke. I have realized that I play much more effectively when my bankroll has over thirty buy-ins for a particular limit.

I mentioned that is important to move down for the proper reasons. I don’t think it is beneficial to stay at a limit until you have lost so much that to avoid going broke, you must move down. I advocate moving down well before you reach that point. That allows you to still have an excessive amount for the lower limit. By doing this, you enable yourself to avoid dwelling on the money aspect of the game. Ignoring the monetary function of the game is essential to reaching one’s potential as a poker player. This also creates opportunities to focus on improving specific aspects of one’s game. I believe it is important for players to single out specific leaks in their game and consequently work to improve them. This can be a costly process that is best carried out at limits where the money doesn’t mean as much.

I am very adamant about moving down when running bad, because it has worked for me. Several months ago, I was in the middle of the worst streak of my life. I had a bankroll of approximately $25,000, which was more than enough for 2/4nl and plenty for 5/10nl. However, after two months of breakeven play at 5/10nl, I decided that something needed to change. I made the decision that it was time to move to 2/4nl and reevaluate my game. I left 5/10nl after playing there for four months. Moving down proved to be one of the best decisions I have ever made during my time as a poker player. Immediately after moving down, my confidence began to return, and I began to win again.

I utilized my time at 2/4nl by focusing on several aspects of my game that I was struggling with at the time. One of these was correctly using position to my advantage. During my first period at 5/10nl, I didn’t fully understand how to play a LAG style. I thought a LAG style consisted solely of raising weak hands (ie. suited connectors) and hoping to connect well with a flop. While working on emphasizing position at 2/4nl, I started to understand that in LAG play, utilizing position is almost as important as the cards you are dealt.

However important position was, I knew that before moving up again, I had to defeat my biggest demon, tilt. I often tilted away thousands of dollars at a time during my first run at 5/10nl. While playing 2/4nl, I was able to focus on improving my emotional control. I realized that poker is a long run game, and I worked to concentrate on that fact as much as possible. I played 2/4nl for a month and a half, and I was able to make huge strides in my game. When I returned to 5/10nl, I was an entirely new player.

I suggest that when players are hitting a rough streak, they take a step back to clear their minds.  A player should not be ashamed in moving down their stakes for a period, and it could be just what they need to get back the confidence they may be missing.