Why Most Players Get Stuck at Micro-Stakes

Beating the lowest online poker stakes—like NL2—is less about complexity and more about discipline. At these limits, opponents are typically recreational players who play face-up. Trying to outplay them with sophisticated bluffs or tricky lines often backfires. Instead, the most profitable strategy is value-heavy: bet big with strong hands, avoid fancy plays, and fold when faced with aggression. Many beginners stay stuck at micro-stakes simply because they try to apply mid- or high-stakes thinking in a field where straightforward tactics are king. Elias Holloway, a high-stakes pro who turned $40 into over $1 million in profit, attributes much of his early success to keeping things simple at the micros: