[kayaker]

RIP,
I am in a very similar position as you, having been a winning player at .50/1 (NL100) back before the US legislation scared a lot of us off. I pulled all of my money off and have only recently started playing online again.

This time I started with $30 a friend lent me from his online bankroll. I've played 50c - $5 SnGs and 1c/2c and 5c/10c full ring since I came back and had a difficult adjustment at first. (For those who might ask, starting with this $30 roll was a choice. I could have just paid my friend for much more, but I decided I wanted to see if I could do this.)

There are a few things to keep in mind when playing super-micro (1c/2c and 5c/10c) that will help you make the transition. (It turned into more than I expected, so call it my "10 Suggestions for Super-Micro".)

1. Most players at this level are bad. I don't mean they're not very good, I mean they are BAD. Calling down with bottom pair, chasing flushes when they are clearly priced out, thinking TPTK is a great hand, even with a four-flush and four-straight on the board, etc.

2. Bluffing IS possible, but you really have to pick your spots. A good example is when you think your opponent has a decent PP and you're drawing. An ace hits the turn. It missed you, but you're pretty sure if you had one, it would beat your opponent. This is a perfect time to try a bluff. If you get called, you'll most likely need to give it up.

3. Play tight. OK, so this one is pretty self-evident. Still, it can't be said enough. While you're getting the hang of things at this level, stop playing AT and PPs lower than 88 from EP. Once you start to get a feel for the table you can loosen up a bit, but starting tighter will help lessen the variance.

4. They are not bluffing. Few people at this level bluff. Therefore, if they're betting out, they THINK they have the best hand or can catch it. That doesn't mean they DO, but they think they do. You'll be surprised at how many think they have the best of it with third pair.

5. Min-bets are for losers. Don't min-bet unless you WANT a call. If there are five people in the pot on the flop and you min-bet, expect at least three callers. Conversely, if someone else min-bets and you're on a draw, you have to call. There's nothing more fun that setting a guy off by catching your card on the river because he kept pricing you in. They get mad because you chased, but you know if they had bet more you would have folded.

6. Beware of the Short Stackers. Playing NL2 and see five stacks around 20 cents? Those are Short Stackers (SSers). They will be pushing pre-flop if they play a hand. Some will limp PF and push the flop, but the idea is the same. Take the skill out of the game in hopes of a quick double/triple so they can rat-hole their winnings. There are two things you can do to combat the SSers. A) Don't sit if there are more than two or three - and don't sit with them on your left. B) Don't call unless you have a big hand (TT+/AQ+). Note: Some SSers are better than others. Pay attention to which ones push with crap and which wait for a monster.

7. If you think your opponent is chasing, he probably is. And boy, do they love to chase. A lot of players at these levels will chase flushes like they already have the best hand. And it doesn't matter how high their flush is. 52 suited? That's a monster if they hit the flush as far as they are concerned. Make them pay to chase. You must bet at least the pot if you think your opponent is chasing a flush. Anything less and they are certain to call. By over-betting the pot, you make it a bad mistake for them to call.

8. Straights are frequently NOT chased. Don't ask me why this is, perhaps some of them just can't see that J9 in their hand and 8KT on the board makes for a straight draw. Regardless, straight-chasers are a lot less common than flush-chasers.

9. Think they can't have two-pair on a K73 board when you raised PF? Think again. There are some players who will play any A, any K and any suited Q. Hell, there are some who will play ATC as long as they are suited. (Hence the once-common refrain, "it was sooted!") Reading your opponent at these levels is much more difficult than NL50 or NL100 because at those levels most players only play real hands. At NL2 and NL10, you'll commonly find people who really do play just about anything. If you use Poker Tracker, you'll likely even find some with stats like 80/5/1. (Yes, that would be seeing 80%+ of all flops.)

10. Finally, the biggest rule for playing NL2 and NL10 is to be patient. You will go a round or two (or four or five) between hands you play. You will get sucked out on by a KQ who calls a raise, re-raise and a push PF. And you WILL have losing sessions. But be patient and you can make money and build your bankroll.