I started playing NL on March 20 at the 6-max $25 tables (.10/.25 blinds) on Party. Since then I have been pretty successful and have kept a positive win rate since then upwards of 7PTBB/100. Not great, but I ran cold at the $100 tables for a while after running up a nice bankroll on those. However, recently I have been playing more full ring tables at the $100 and $200 (.5/1 and 1/2 blinds) levels and my results say that I'm doing better there. My hypothesis is that I'm trying to push too hard at the 6-max tables and I can't push people around the same way that I could at the $25 and $50 levels. The play is much better and tighter at the $200 level for sure. By playing the full rings, I'm able to change up my game a little bit more and my hands aren't quite as readable. But maybe I'm just a big ###### and suck too...that's a distinct possibility.

Since May 1:
Full rings ($100 and $200 NL/PL) - $1,918 (11PTBB/100) over 5,126 hands
Short handed ($100 and $200 NL) - ($605) (-2.53PTBB/100) over 8,500 hands

I think I better stick to the full rings, eh?

Anyway, the question for you all is...do you find that the play is better/worse at higher limits at the 6-max tables or full ring tables. Also, have you personally made a switch from full ring games to short handed games as you have moved up (or vice-versa)? Finally, do you find that your style of play changes (i.e. your VP$IP, etc.) as you have moved up or down limits?

Obviously, I know that style plays a big part in playing 6-max v. full rings and I also know that it takes a different set of skills to play a certain level (limit) successfully. But I guess I'm looking for a deeper discussion than that. Experiences? Good luck .

Andy

My thoughts...

The variance on the 6 max $200NL games is vastly larger. But your results do look as though you're losing at 6 max.

First off, what are your pre-flop stats? I switch from 25/5 (full ring), to 30/10 (6 max) pre-flop.

Secondly, what's your general plan post flop in 6 max? Quite often neither you or your opponent has very much by the river, so for me having an idea of when to bluff flop and river was important.

Finally, I found I needed twice the bankroll at a given limit to play 6 max comfortably (without scared money) as I did for full ring. Is that an issue for you?

Any specific hands to post?

(FWIW I have 12PTBB/100 in about 6000 hands at 200NL full ring, though it's jumping up and down far more than my full ring PTBB/100 was by that time - eg I've been running bad in the last 1000 hands or so. And probably quite well in my first couple of thousand)

ps Are we going to get kicked into the short-handed forum with this topic?!