For me it's because it fits my roll. As a middle class person with bills I'm not wiling to just plop down 10k to start at say 100nl. Especially not when I knew that at least when I was a beginner the field probably had a big advantage over me. I honestly think starting at 2nl was a huge mistake though. If I had it to do over again probably would have started at 10 or 25nl

I loved the responses here. I think that foreigners in poor countries grind microstakes as said, in their country $150-$500 is a paycheck(e.g. Russia in the provinces)

I have talked to microstakes grinders who did it to prove it or to advertise their skills to people and move up. Also watched their progress.

A lot of people enjoy losing a little bit a month...or win a little bit a month! Recreational as said...

Lastly but most importantly I think missed to build up psychological toughness. To build up BR Discipline. To understand variance which from 2 NL to 10k NL doesn't change any. You can't learn that from a book what a million hands can teach you.

Of course older people or people with life expenses may have issue in the West playing microstakes beyond Recreational. You may make $400 a month but that same person could earn that in a day at their profession or doing some yard work if you're young and fit. Hard to take it seriously a cheeseburger from McDonalds but good habits I guess can be built in the Micros.

So tough to stay in the Micros so tough to get good enough to move up if you stay there long. A lot of old retired guys may just do it as a hobby <3 I am sorta a hobbyist ... IRL the micros taught me to crush most live games. MOST...not all

Because I'm not good enough for Low. Yet!

Because I'm in Thailand

Because you can make more than you think.

4 bb/100 four tabling 50 NL zoom is 20 dollars an hour.

Add in 30 percent rakeback and you make another 10 dollars an hour.

That mean you are making 30 dollars an hour, at home in your underwear playing poker with no risk.

I'm not playing poker for living but I like the feeling when you facing a 3b/4b pot and using your head to give a best solution for it

99% of the hobbies out there people spend on money on to do with zero chance of making a dime back. I can play micro/low stakes online poker and make a bit money on the side as a hobby and just playing for fun/enjoyment. Micro/low stakes also has the advantage of one not having to worry about being cheated(I play on Pokerstars). It's also not as hard as some like to let on to still make a bit of side money playing micro/low stakes.

Cheers!!!

People cheat at Runescape don't underestimate them.

but yes, the risk for fun is worthwhile

I play microstakes to debug changes in my setup, e.g., trying out a new configuration for my table manager.

Also, it is fun to kick the **** out of the idiot losers who play microstakes.

Oh without a doubt they do. They're stupid, get caught daily and banned. Probably like most micro/low stakes idiots who cheat.

Micro/low stakes cheaters if they exist suck terribly though. My 15+ year old TAG+exploits(for my player pool) easily beats them if they exist. My opinion any cheater smart enough to cheat and not be caught and banned(specially from Pokerstars my main site) isn't cheating micro/low stakes not enough money in it for the smart ones. So I worry very very very little about.

It's basically why I've always stayed at micro/low stakes when I can easily afford to play higher. Also why I've stayed and played mainly at Pokerstars for 20+ years. They may suck for some things and their rewards program ain't the best but that ain't scummy trash that don't care about cheaters. And well I don't need a great rewards program to help me be a winning player. I'm winner before rake back and rewards. Rake back and rewards are just the cream on top.

Cheers!!!

I play NL50-NL100
Probably should have already played much higher IF NOT for withdrawing all profit last couple of years... ( 300k+)
Also a reason is trading. I lost money margin trading. I am an IDIOT for doing that... When buy hold strategy beats everything...
Also taxes in my country for withdrawing money...
Also the fact that I bought my own property to live with wife and kids...( yes because of poker I have a place to live and pay all my life expenses)
So basically reason to keep playing microstakes is because of bad money management, high expenses, taxes and extremely bad trading decisions
So Im a confirmed money management fish and I'm trying everyday to become better...

Build Roll on micros, lose Roll on high-stakes satellites

"i started from scratch at the lowest limits" is just a dope story ngl

I might be able to provide a different perspective here.

I am just getting back into the game post-Black Friday and looking to start playing cash games here in Colorado as a hobby. I work a full-time job where I make a great living as a software engineer and have zero aspirations of playing poker for a living. I'm currently going through a course and some study material, which I enjoy, and playing 2nl / 5nl online to work through some of the stuff I'm learning.

I genuinely could not care about pot sizes or action at the table.

For me, the entertainment value is learning about the game and trying to apply material less so than the excitement of the table. If I want to get a fix, I go mountain bike or ski in the backcountry. I play micro stakes to learn and practice what I'm taking in.

I play the micros because that's what I'm rolled for. I live in Australia and since the poker ban hadn't played for a good 7 years until recently. I'd always been a sng/mtt player but the times the mtt's run on the site I found don't suit my lifestyle and sng is no longer profitable. Im 45% itm on them but everyone else is 35%+ too and can't put on the volume.

Solution = learn ring games. Historically I've been terrible at them. Lowest stake I can find games is 20c no limit and they are fishy as all hell. Can usually play 6max with 4 50%+ vp players.

My roll is only at 380 which I consider too low for 20nl but since I can't go lower just trying to ride the swings. If I got to the point I could withdraw 500 a fortnight I'd happily play this level forever but I'll probably move upto 40nl if I'm winning consistently.

I see it more as levels I am trying to beat.
+
As a consistently losing player I could never enjoy the game.
As a winning player you will naturally move up (with good bank roll management).

I make okay money, but cheap as I am, I could never keep piling in money because bigger pots give me a bigger thrill.

Also, I think playing for the thrill, because the size of the pot is so large.
(Wich means it's def to big for your bankroll) Is not a healthy way to play and could lead to addiction.

its so you can learn and build a roll at the same time if you start out playing nl100 how can you possibly learn anything before you lose massive amounts of money

If you haven't studied poker extensively for 2024 you don't belong anywhere but Micros. (for online you're less likely to face bots, RTA, colluders) Watched a guy go from $50 to 5k from 2nl. Though he's a crusher

I think the goal is to play micros for like maybe 4 months or so and then hopefully do well enough to get to higher stakes. I don't think its intentional that we want lower money or anything like that, its just a safe place to start with lower risk and less experienced players.