Currently doing well at 1/3. I have more up than down days and I’ve got about 100 hours live in the last few months. I’ve been playing on and off my whole life but only recently seriously.

I’m considering 2/5 for my next game but I don’t want to buy in over my head. I’ve got about 1500 in my bank roll. What are some things I should consider before making the jump?

First thing I would consider is having a larger bankroll. 1500 isn't enough for the 1/3 your currently playing. Also 100 hours is not enough sample size to see if your currently a long term winner. Some more info on your results over the last 100 hours would be help full. How much are you up over the last 100 hours? What's your win rate? How important is the money to you? If you have a fulltime job making good money and a 1k loss won't hurt and you can just replace it with your regular income than no problem. I think its perfectly fine for folks to take shots at higher stakes if they can afford to lose. But if your trying to be a long term winner I would suggest maybe another 200-300 hours at 1/3. But again much of this depends on your current financial situation.

what he said , 100 hours is like jerking off big deal

$1,500 is not enough of a bankroll to have fun imo. $5,000 would be better. You can still go on a 10 buy in downswing assuming 100bb and have to quit, but what would really more likely happen is you have to slow down maybe move back down to 1/3, maybe replenish your roll from other funds.

If you have just 1,500, you are going to have a hard time psychologically making the best plays - sticking it all in pre with AK or QQ in the right spots, sticking it all in as a bluff, etc.

I'd say the decision would mostly be influenced by 2 criteria.

1. Adequate bankroll. What this means specifically for you will depend on some things.
Is the money replenishable, how important the money is to you, etc.
In general I'd probably want 10 buy ins on the low end (have other income, not a big deal if you lose).
Or 30 buy ins or even more if you're on the other spectrum. And even in that circumstance I'd just take a 4 or 5 buy in shot and move back down if it doesn't work out and try again in a couple of months.

2. Knowledge that you are beating your current game and confidence you can beat the next level.
This can be through observed win rate(which in live play has to be taken w/ a grain of salt. 100hrs is not much).
But also can you identify the edges you have in the game? Do you know what your opponents are doing wrong and how to take advantage of it?

I’ve definitely gotten better and know when I have an edge. I’m studying off the felt and I’ve stopped spewing when I get up. I went an entire 4 hour session this weekend and only paid off 1 25$ value bet from a villain and didn’t get caught bluffing once.

Some of these games I get into now… it’s like the other players are playing face up. I know exactly which scare cards to bluff on and when to slow down… when to value bet. I’ve been playing much tighter and waiting for my spots because the fish at 1/3 will call pretty much anything when I catch a hand.

My game selection has gotten a lot better too. I’ve been in very good games my last 3 sessions and I’m committed to moving tables going forward if I see any serious regs across the table.

I’ve been paying myself with some of my winnings (poker helped pay for a trip to South America) but now I want to build up a bankroll and get serious about this. I’ve been playing 100bb stacks at 1/3 recently as practice, anticipating only buying in for 100bb if I bump up to 2/5. I definitely think some more time at 1/3 will be beneficial but I’m not sure what the magic threshold is before I make the jump

It's a very personal decision. Some people don't raise their blind level until they have 1000 buyins. Some people raise their blind level in the first day, which both seem crazy to me. I don't think you should raise your blind level on the first day because then people will think you'll raise your blind level for anyone. But I don't think you should wait until a 1000 buy ins because you won't be prepared or have any experience. I think you should raise your blind level at least 10-20 times when you're young so you can get experienced with different exciting blind levels and find out what works for you. You'll know you're at the right blind level when it feels like it finishes your sentences for you.

I don't know if there is a magic threshold. But I can tell you what I would be comfortable with.

Bankroll at least 10 buy BI. So $5k if your playing 100bb deep. If you lose your first session at 2/5 drop back down.
At least 350 hours with a profit. at 1/3
I would also suggest not table jumping off of a tough table each time. Play the tougher table so you can get experience playing against better players. I'm not sure about where you play but at my home casino there might be 10-15 1/3 tables going but only 2-4 2/5 tables. So your options are fewer.

My questions is why do you want to move to 2/5? Only then can anyone seriously answer your question.

The big difference between 1/3 and 2/5 is that there are far fewer terrible players and more players will be competent. The 2/5 players will be mostly people who can beat 1/3.
Given that you are making significant efforts to avoid serious players at 1/3 and most likely playing during prime time (Fri-Sat night), I say you're not ready.

You are not ready for 2/5, your not even ready for 1/3. 100 hours is a joke, 4 hour session without paying off a value bet woopi-doo you’re a star lol

1500$ is not a bankroll for 2/5 or 1/3 , maybe its good enough for 10c/25c online but the games are way tougher so its a good way to learn.

I would suggest taking that 1500 online grind it up to 10k then you can have a shot at 2/5.

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However the bottom line is what happens if you lose the 1500 (in either 1/3 or 2/5)? If you're working and can take shots again with a buy in or two on weekends, then your bankroll really doesn't matter. If it's your last 1500 and you're not working, I would first get a job and then start playing again. If you're working and playing part time, just take a shot or two at 2/5 with your profits, if you lose you can always re-start at 1/3.

1500 isn't a bankroll, it's basically a couple buy in's.

You're way underolled for even 1/3. I personally like 20 BI.

My advice would do the following:

1. Play the soft 1/3 until you get to 15BI
2. Then start playing with the Regs
3. Play a 1000 hours, and assuming you're at 20BI for 2/5, take a shot
4. Be prepared to go back down to 1/3 if you drop below 10 BI

lol this isnt a mortal kombat tournament. if 2/5 looks good take a shot, if it doesnt play 1/3. also, accumulate more money to add to poker roll. fwiw 100 hours is nothing, probably play on ACR or something at the lowest stakes and you can learn a lot of lessons much cheaper than it would cost live

Every cardroom/casino can be different. From what I have seen, there are more grinders/pros playing 2/5, although if there are bigger games available, they may be more at the higher stakes.

There are still plenty of fish/whales/recs though. But there are more people out for blood for them. More good players chasing fewer weak players. And the good regs/pros will come after you, so you need to know how to respond.

For the most part, I think you can beat just about any stakes in live poker just being an ABC tight player. But you leave money on the table by not loosening up your range a bit, incorporating light 3bets and 4bets, bluffing, bluff catching in the right spots, floating lights etc.

I see ABC players that aren't absolute crushers putting everyone in spots and making hero calls, but they are just quietly winning, getting paid off despite underbluffing, and not paying off other people as much.

For the most part the losing players at 2/5 are also losing at 1/3. And it is no secret that most 2/5, 1/3, and really just most of all poker players are losing players.

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