Re: How to \"Gracefully\" Win without getting pushed around
 

In the very old days a common structure was for the limits to automatically go up at a certain time. I knew of a game that was 5-10 NL before midnight and at midnight switch to a 3 blind game 5-10-20. As a game goes on their is incentive to raise the blinds as the stacks have gotten larger as people rebuy.

Re: How to \"Gracefully\" Win without getting pushed around
 

In general, you should not feel bad about leaving while way ahead nor should you feel angry at another player if they leave while way ahead as long as it isn't a hit-and-run. But a hit-and-run is very different from what you are describing.

If it makes you feel better, announce 30min ahead of time before you leave, but this is just a courtesy. Never feel compelled to keep playing because you are ahead... only because you feel you have an edge and/or are having fun.

The guy who wants to up the stakes is trying (in part) to throw other players off their A-game by playing at uncomfortable stakes.

I like the idea of increasing the stakes or including a straddle at some preset time (say 11PM) to accommodate everyone's wishes.