Updated December 3, 2025
Not everyone has the bankroll or inclination to gamble large sums of money. If you've ever found yourself sweating profusely or suffering from feelings of nausea when all-in on a flip, then micro stakes poker might be for you. (Heck, even nano stakes!)
Does this mean that it's impossible to make it big in the world of poker? Not at all — some of the very best poker players of all time started from the bottom and worked their way up.
To set yourself up for success in micro stakes poker, you need a grinder strategy so you, too, can succeed at all levels.
Why Micro Stakes Poker Is the Best Place to Start
Low stakes poker offers a great learning environment where you can build your confidence and strategy without risking hefty sums of money.
And there are other non-financial benefits too:
- Micro stakes poker allows you to get in more volume through multi-tabling. You can play more tables at once, making you a better player faster.
- Nano stakes give you the freedom to experiment. Bet larger, reraise more speculatively, bluff harder.
Most people make the mistake of “under-bluffing” — they’re way too passive. When compared to how computers play, human aggression frequency is almost always lower.
Low stakes poker games provide a safe training ground to make more moves.
A Freeroll Journey — How Practice at Micro Stakes Builds Real Skills
Years ago, the writer of this article tried to teach her dad, David Botfeld, how to play poker tournaments. He wasn't getting it. He didn't understand shove ranges or how to apply pressure.
After setting him up with an online poker account, she showed him how to sign up for freerolls. The main freeroll tournaments he played had more than 700 players, and only the top 10 places got paid.
Tenth place earned about $0.25. But if you got first place? $1.25 — it wasn’t much, especially considering the 7-8 hour time investment.
He was determined to improve at poker tournaments.
WATCH: Amanda Botfeld (@amandabotfeld) and her father David Botfeld both made the money in the largest World Series of Poker main event in history!
Check out our interview with the daughter-father duo to learn more.
LINK: https://t.co/bxv2Toutvs pic.twitter.com/GvtssAuWcs— Card Player: The Poker & Gambling Authority (@CardPlayerMedia) July 11, 2023
So, he kept playing, and within a few weeks, he started bragging:
- “I’m in the top 20.”
- “I’m at the final table.”
- “I’m heads up.”
After less than one month, he grinded the freerolls to more than $4.00 in his account — no easy task given the stakes.
This effort was not in vain. This dad needed to practice at freerolls and micro stakes poker to get better. By the time he returned to the live casino environment, he was ready.
He entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tag Team tournament together with his daughter and made the final table, taking third place.
A few years later, he entered the WSOP Main Event and cashed there, too.
“I was a cash game player for my entire life, and the thing that allowed me to figure out tournaments was freerolls,” he told us at 888poker.
“Without freerolls, I would still be a cash game player playing poorly in tournaments and wondering why.”
Choosing Your First Stake Level
When deciding on the right starting limit at micro stakes poker games, there are two main factors to consider:
- Your current bankroll
- Your current skill level
Poker bankroll management is essential. If you’re playing with hundreds or even tens of dollars, nano stakes and micro stakes poker are your only (responsible) options.
You don’t want to expose yourself to unnecessary financial pressure. Poker is a cruel game, and downswings are inevitable. No one can outrun the dark side of poker probability forever.
If you are brand new to online poker and are still trying to work out if a flush beats a straight, you should study and get familiar with the game away from the table.
After that, start playing the nano stakes. Games are very soft at nano stakes, and any mistakes you do make there will not be as costly.
You can grow at a comfortable pace until you are ready for the micro stakes poker games, and then progress from there.
Bankroll Rules for Low-Stakes Poker
Where you should begin at low stakes poker will primarily be dictated by your bankroll. Poker bankroll management is equally important here as it is at any other stakes.
Let's look at bankroll requirements for different low stakes levels, ensuring you can amass the proper poker volume while multi-tabling.
| Stake Level | Buy-In | Recommended Cash Game Bankroll: minimum 25 buy-ins | Best Game For Player Type |
| Nano stakes ($2NL-$5NL) | $2-$5 | $50-$125 | Brand new players to poker |
| Micro Stakes ($10NL) | $10 | $250 | Players looking to develop |
| Micro Stakes ($25NL) | $25 | $625 | Proven winning players at the lower stakes |
| Micro Stakes ($50NL) | $50 | $1,250 | Experienced players with a solid grinder strategy |
Skill Development at the Micro Stakes
Your skill level should also determine your starting point at low stakes poker — and your discipline will determine how far you go. Even if you have a large bankroll, it won’t help if you don’t have a sound grinder strategy to beat that limit.
In low stakes poker games, players are happy to call you down, so you need to adjust accordingly. Unlike a tournament where there’s a significant consequence if someone calls your bet and is wrong — particularly if you’ve been playing for hours — calling small bets in cash games costs only a few cents.
Sometimes, opponents are content to pay the fee and call that poker bluff to satisfy their curiosity, even if they think they’re losing.
That means the following are key:
- You must be able to pivot and shut down bluffs as needed.
- Reading Opponents. At lower stakes, you will encounter more unconventional players who don’t adhere to textbook strategies.
- Hand Selection. The easiest way to succeed in poker is by playing better hands than your opponents. You need a tight preflop strategy — use RFI charts — to set you up for success postflop.
As you master the fundamentals, the learning curve becomes smoother. You will recognise patterns in play, begin to calculate mathematical probabilities, and become more confident about your decisions.
You will spot some of the same recurring spots and know what to do in each of them.
Practice makes perfect, so don’t move up too quickly. Higher stakes will always be there.
How Volume and Multi-Tabling Accelerate Your Growth
To grow your results and make money playing micro stakes poker, one of the best things you can do is increase your poker volume. Playing more hands will give you more experience — accelerating your learning — and allow you to build a meaningful sample size to track progress.
As you start targeting higher poker volume, it is crucial to be consistent. Adopt a fixed schedule. Set a routine for playing a specific number of hours each day and stick to it. In short, take it seriously and think like a professional. Have a grinder strategy and commit.
Once you become comfortable making decisions quickly and accurately in a poker hand, add more tables.
Multi-tabling is a skill you have to develop just like any other, but it is one of the most significant advantages in online poker.
Provided you are a winning player, multi-tabling will multiply your win rate.
Multi-tabling equals more profits.
Using SNAP Poker to Boost Speed and Efficiency
If you enjoy fast-paced action and your decision-making remains high-quality, a format like 888poker’s “SNAP Poker” is worth a try. You get instantaneous action without the overwhelm of multiple screens.
It works by appearing as a single table and allowing you to fast-fold while moving to the next hand — you don’t need to wait.
SNAP poker saves you valuable downtime. However, make sure your preflop ranges are even tighter because all players have the same ability to fold at lightning speed.
Can You Really Win at the Micro Stakes?
In short, yes. Many of the best poker players started out grinding low stakes online poker games and multi-tabling before gradually moving up in stakes.
The great thing about micro stakes poker is that games are softer and your risk of ruin is lower.
Stay patient and solid because the habits you establish today can lead to profits tomorrow.
Micro Stakes Poker FAQs
What Are Micro Stakes and Nano Stakes in Poker?
Micro stakes are the lowest level of online cash games, usually with buy-ins from $2 to $50. Nano stakes poker is even smaller and covers buy-ins under $5.
How Much Bankroll Do You Need for Micro Stakes?
A good rule in general is to have at least 25 buy-ins for the stake you’re playing for a cash game. For example, $250 for 10NL.
When Should You Move Up From Micro Stakes to Higher Limits?
Only move up when you’re beating your current limit over a large sample and your bankroll supports moving up to the next stake. Always practise good bankroll management.
Is Multi-Tabling Required to Win at Micro Stakes?
Not at the beginning, but once you’re winning consistently, adding tables can significantly increase your volume and long-term profitability.
Why Should Beginners Start With Micro Stakes Poker?
Micro stakes are perfect for learning the fundamentals and getting to grips with poker quickly. Even if you do make mistakes, they are not as costly as in higher stakes games, and you can build confidence without risking a large bankroll.
