Micro‑Stakes
Micro stakes are the lowest stakes in poker, usually found only online. Cash games up to $0.10/$0.25 (25NL) are considered micro stakes. The buy-ins can be just a few dollars.
The simple explanation
Micro stakes are where many new players start. You can learn the game for very little money. The competition is often weak, and many players make simple mistakes, but the rake takes a large share of the pot.
A closer look
Beating micro stakes requires a solid, simple strategy: tight preflop play, value betting strongly and few bluffs. The opponents call too much, so bluffs often fail. Because the stakes are low, the results do not matter much for a bankroll, and many players use micro stakes to study and test strategies. Moving up requires a bankroll and a proven win rate.
A practical example
A player buys in for $10 at a $0.05/$0.10 online table. That is a micro stakes game.
Full explanation
Micro stakes are the lowest stakes in poker, usually found only online. Cash games up to $0.10/$0.25 (25NL) are considered micro stakes. The buy-ins can be just a few dollars.
Micro stakes are the smallest betting levels, mostly online.
They are up to about $0.10/$0.25.
The competition is often weak.
They are a good way to learn at little cost.
Alternative spelling: micro stakes, microstakes