High‑Stakes
High stakes are the biggest betting levels in poker. Online, cash games at $5/$10 and up are considered high stakes, and in live rooms the label applies to games above about $10/$25.
The simple explanation
The word describes how much money is risked per hand. In high stakes games, the blinds are large, so each decision is worth a lot, and the players are usually experienced professionals or rich amateurs. The exact limits depend on the room and the game.
A closer look
Moving into high stakes requires a large bankroll and a strong game, since the swings are bigger and the opponents are tougher. The edge in high stakes comes less from simple mistakes and more from small differences in strategy, such as bet sizes and range construction. Live high stakes games can be softer than online ones, because wealthy amateurs sometimes play with professionals.
A practical example
A $10/$25 live game, where a buy-in might be $5,000 or more, is a high stakes game.
Full explanation
High stakes are the biggest betting levels in poker. Online, cash games at $5/$10 and up are considered high stakes, and in live rooms the label applies to games above about $10/$25.
High stakes means the highest levels of betting in poker.
What counts as high stakes depends on the room, the game and the time.
These games need a large bankroll and a strong game.
Higher than high stakes are the nosebleeds.
Alternative spelling: high stakes