I have been a poker player since before Money Maker won the world series. I study allot and love the game. Having said that I am frustrated because I want to build a bankroll from the micro stakes online and work my way up the stakes. I am in no way a noob and I am a winning live player yet I cant seem to beet what is supposed to be the easiest of stakes. It seams just to be a waste of time grinding at this stake.
Yes there are fish at the micros and many I know but the micros just have too low a profit margin to build a BR after rake and variance. Has anyone else had this same experience?
I'm considering giving up my goal of grinding online poker and giving up online poker altogether and sticking to live. Unless I can hold on to any hope that its beatable. Im seriously doubting weather grinding through the stakes starting with micros is even possible any more this day of age. I'm no dumby, I am verry knowledgable about the game, I've studdied allot and all signs are pointing to it isn't.
Can someone give any evidence towards me being wrong and that I just have a Giant leak in my game that only gets exploited in online play and not live.

I was successful @ the most micro of stakes before pokerstars closed to American players. See 00Govan00 at PPR.

Only advice I would give is play tight and smart, take notes on players, etc.

good luck : )

^^Agreed. You have to play tighter than your normal game to be able to build a bankroll. I am in the process of doing the same thing (round 2 for me).

Personally, I almost get bored when im playing 4NL, 10NL even though im playing 4-6 tables at a time. I try to stick to my plan of doing that and just putting in the time with a solid TAG or even ABC game. I was shocked to review my own games and realize playing that tight works, people will just call you down light at those stakes. Tight value betting, and a lot of folding will get it done for you.

Also I seem to see the same 5-7 people at my tables mixed in with 2-4 fresh players each session. Target the newcommers, they tend to come with money and leave quickly without any. Usually dumping a 1-2 buy-ins in under 100 hands. They will be your best bet.

Solid posting youz twoz.

Bottomline, games are tougher even at micro stakes online now but still very beatable. Comparing live play vs online play is like comparing apples and oranges. I play a couple times a month down at Foxwoods and I can say with 100% confidence that 90%+ of the live "pros" playing 2/5 would have no shot of beating even 25NL online.

I am a fulltime professional and coach and heard the same sentiments expressed by some of my students. I preached that it could be done but wanted to put my money where my mouth is.

I actually did a BR builder challenge where I started with a $500 deposit and started at 20NL. After having a BE first month including RB(I play and beat mostly small and midstakes, so this was a discouraging start but just proof that variance can wreak havoc in the short term) I was able to grow the roll to over $5k the next month. In my blog, I chronicle what I did and how I did it. If you are interested, let me know in this thread and I will send you a PM of where you can find this and answer any questions that you may have.

With solid fundamental play plus good table selection and RB/bonuses, it is definitely doable. Disvalue also hit the nail on the head. It is really a very simple formula at the micro stakes. Play tight and play from IP as much as possible. Bet your strong hands for value and fold marginal hands early in the hand as to avoid making a big costly mistakes on later streets in marginal spots. Recognize your opponents and bet accordingly. IE: You aren't going to get 3 streets of value with TPTK vs most NITS/REGS so dont try yet be able to recognize the calling stations that you will be able to.

Micro stakes players have so many leaks that you don't need to worry about being exploited or making fancy plays. Plain and simply bet when you have it, fold when you don't. I guarantee that if you do those things, you will at the very least BE with your play so after RB and bonuses, you will make money. Lastly, be patient, I have found that anytime I am in a hurry to move up stakes, it usually doesn't end well.

Here is one of my mantra's that one of my coaches told me and it has stuck and I repeat it at nauseum.
"It's better to make a tight fold too early, as opposed to a marginal call too late" (GoMukYaSelf-high stakes crusher)