In what way are tables at higher limits more difficult than micro?

[questions]

I haven't played much at the higher limits (3/6, 5/10, etc.), but it's often said that playing at those limits require better skills and different skills than what is required at the micro-limits.

I'm curious if someone here can explain how play at the higher limits differs from play at micro-limits?

[tarheeljks]

basically, the players get better as you move up. it is comparable to an athlete moving throughout the amateur ranks and eventually to a professional level (if he's lucky). as he/she advances the competition improves, so it becomes more difficult to play well.


in general the play is more aggressive as you move up, but this isn't the only reason why the games are harder. as the limits increase, you will find that the players are better at exploiting the leaks and tendencies of their opponents. just think of the skills it takes to be good at hold'em-- hand reading, value betting, bluffing, etc. the players at higher limits do these things, and others, better than those at lower limits

[drzen]

My understanding is also that your hand selection will need to change. Hands that you can play at microlimits are no longer profitable in tougher games. Also, you can play profitably at microlimits without stealing many blinds. You couldn't do that higher. You will also find fewer really predictable players because you have fewer players who are only looking at their own cards.

[futuredoc85]

the good players are much better than the good players at microstakes, the bad players are usually also better than the good players at microstakes and there are not a lot of them.

[LarryLaughs]

Yeah, less poor players. Slim to none of hopeless players.

Agressive play. In low limits a typical passive table is a goldmine for TAG play.

[sharkscopeaholic]

Your opponets will make much less mistakes. It sounds obvious, but think about how many times someone hit a monster on you checked it and you nailed them. Things like this wont happen much. They wont be giving you good odds to hit your hands like the micros often do.

[Ray Zee]

players will make less mistakes against you and you will make more mistakes against them.

plus you will have more players that play better than you to compete against.

as you move up in stakes less players will be in the pots with you and playing with the best hand will not be as important as how you play your hand.