Why stepping down in stakes can be +EV

OK I haven't played in a long time but it doesn't mean I haven't thought a lot about the game. Especially the last couple of months I've taken some time to rehash the last few years of my poker "career". I use that term loosely lol

If you read my last blog post I mentioned I wanted to get to the 6.50s and really put in a ton of volume but not move up regardless of my bankroll right now. Part of it is cause I got plans for the money outside of poker. Partly because I want to start off slow and get myself back into the SNG mindset and at the small stakes my mistakes won't be as noticeable and I can over come them easier because of the bad play and I shouldn't have to table select those games.

Lastly and most importantly for me is the variance. I think I can handle the swings better now than I did over the last year that I played. Losing some huge pots late in MTTs when I was running bad and needed those scores really crushed my spirit when Stevie staked me. And last year in Vegas when once again I got so close to the Main Event seat it took away all my desire to play anymore.

But anyway to get to the point of this. I think for most people playing in smaller games are probably more profitable and less variance than you think. I know as poker players we are always trying to get every little bit of +EV we can. And there's nothing wrong with it if you can handle the swings. But a lot of people can't. They get into a downswing and try to adjust their game. They start to doubt their play or make plays out of frustration and costs themselves more money.

I think sometimes we may be better off to stay out of higher variance games. I know I'd be more willing to pass up small amounts of +EV to play in games where my swings were lower. To me playing in a game where I know I could make a steady profit with smaller swings would be better. Just because I'd be less likely to tilt and enjoy playing more. If I enjoy playing more I'd be more likely to put in more volume, make less mistakes due to tilt, continue grinding out a steady profit, and keep myself in a better mood at and away from the tables.

You really have to find stakes that you can play and feel comfortable about. I think in the past I tried to squeeze out as much profits as I could and played in games where maybe I had an edge but it was smaller than I thought. Add in a bad run and not compensating enough for better players and playing less games because I was busy trying to table select and I bet my edge in those games was minimal. Where if I had stepped down a level I could have played with a bigger edge, less tabling selecting, and gotten in more games and steady profits. But anyway I'm rambling and need to get ready for my game tonight.

good luck at the tables...