1) 10NL is the limit where you begin to encounter more players actually trying to play well. This doesn’t mean they do play well. But some do. If you play enough, you will start to see regulars too. This leads to competition between you and regulars for the truly awful players money. Consequently, you will get into tougher situations. You’ll start to see lighter 3-bets, isolation plays, squeezes, trickier play, etc. But don’t be intimidated. Just play your game. It’s still only 10NL. Many regs will play too tight, too loose, too aggro or too passive. Identifying player architypes and learning proper adjustments and reading hands should be your focus. Then you need just trust your reads and execute. Your style needs to be value based. Most of your winnings will come at showdown and you will get called light and get raised mostly for value.

2) 10NL is low enough to play under-rolled yet high enough that you can make some OK “hobby” money.

There is no doubt no limit holdem is played at a high level these days. There is a saturation of strategic information and players at all limits are better on average than any time before. Think back to yourself a year ago. Then think where you want to be a year from now. Poker is different for each person and we all have to find our own style and define what success means to us. Keep updating us with your status and progress!!

-Mike