advice on moving up from $25nl

[ajs4385]

I have only been playing poker a few months and started out with play money. Around a month ago I started on real money on pacific poker. I played $10 cash games. I deposited 30 dollars and started playing 2 tables at once. I added another table and another. About a week ago I had about $170 in my account. I continued playing 4 tables and moved up to $25 I now have around $300. I am a tight and fairly aggressive player and I have never lost on a session while never really make massive amounts either. I tend play the cards more than the players.

I am wanting advice on what is the best way to move up the levels and is there much difference in skill and what to expect when moving to $50 and $100 levels. I am also wanting advice on software that will help me with my own game and identifying what type of players I am against as I find it difficult identifying types of players as I multi table. Also what books would be useful in my situation

Thanks in advance

[flyingPenguin]

First, read the stickies in the beginners forum about bankroll management. You really want at least 15 buyins before moving to the next level ($750 for $50NL). You seem to be a winning player, but your game style might not be profitable at a higher level, and even if it is a 6 buy-in downswing is peanuts.

Games get tougher as you move up. At $50NL there are less players willing to stack off with bad hands, call with bad drawing odds, etc. You can't rely on your opposition constantly making simple and obvious mistakes as much as at $10NL and $25NL. Hand reading skills become more important, as does a strategy which somewhat disguises your own hands.

For software, buy Poker Tracker for $50 and get a HUD. GameTime+ is free, but PokerAce HUD is better and $25.

[Jupit3r]

As for reading... Theory of Poker is a must read for anyone who plays any variation of poker. No Limit Hold'em: Theory and Practice has helped me a lot too, and it focuses on NL ring games. I've also heard that Doyle Brunson's Supersystem is ok but I have not read it. There's also a book review section here on FTR.

[jackvance]

You seem to be a bit like me. Play rather safe, never really have losing days.. (make $0-$100 or so per day) This kinda changes when you move higher up because the games get more aggressive. It's very common to drop a bunch of buyins when you move up in stakes because you need to adjust, so be sure to have the BR (20xthe buyin). Alternatively, buy in short and play very tight until you get used to the play and the change in $ amounts etc. First time moving up is kinda a crucial phase because if you get hit by some bad luck and drop some buyins, having to move back down really sucks.