They usually come from people who are new to online poker. And believe me I get it, people want to know how much money they can potentially make by playing poker.
Unfortunately it isn't always quite so simple in poker though.
However, in this article I am going to give you the answers about what is a good poker win rate in small stakes games these days.
By the way, if you are brand new to poker and you simply want a basic strategy to start winning fast, just grab a copy of my free poker cheat sheet.
Alright, let's jump into it!
What is a Good Poker Win Rate?
First let me give you the short answer:
A good poker win rate is anything above 0bb/100. This is because most people lose at poker in the long run. However, in small stakes games like NL2, NL5, NL10, NL25 and NL50 a good poker win rate can vary from 3bb/100 to 30bb/100.
Now let's talk about what a good poker win rate is for the very biggest winners because I think that is what people want to know.
In my opinion the top 5% of the entire player pool are the ones who are the long term big winners. These are the guys who are winning the highest possible amounts.
These are also typically the ones who are professional poker players. So just to be clear, that is who I am talking about below.
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Game Selection, Table Count and Tilt Contol - Biggest Impact On Your Poker Win Rate
So I will be assuming that they are religiously game selecting (both table selection and seat selection). Elite players tend to always be doing this anyways.
And of course, they are much more likely to be using a high quality poker HUD than amateurs.
Now of course the big thing with game selection is that when you are playing 18 tables at once you simply do not have anywhere near as much time to pay attention to it as someone who is 4 tabling for instance.
The same goes for the quality of your actual poker decisions. This will drastically affect your potential win rate. So I will break down the win rates below into three different volume categories.
I am also assuming throughout this article that these are the players who are very strong mentally. It is just a simple fact that most people will crack under the pressure when the going gets tough in poker.
This is one of the absolute biggest differences between that small group of elite winners in poker and everybody else.
In fact, this is something I discuss in my latest video: 5 Things You Will NEVER See Good Poker Players Do
Now of course the big thing with game selection is that when you are playing 18 tables at once you simply do not have anywhere near as much time to pay attention to it as someone who is 4 tabling for instance.
The same goes for the quality of your actual poker decisions. This will drastically affect your potential win rate. So I will break down the win rates below into three different volume categories.
I am also assuming throughout this article that these are the players who are very strong mentally. It is just a simple fact that most people will crack under the pressure when the going gets tough in poker.
This is one of the absolute biggest differences between that small group of elite winners in poker and everybody else.
In fact, this is something I discuss in my latest video: 5 Things You Will NEVER See Good Poker Players Do
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Lastly, I will also be assuming that they are studying all of the latest advanced poker strategy these days, which is something elite winning players tend to always be doing do anyways.
Because the game of poker is always changing, and therefore if you aren't willing to stay on top of the latest high level poker theory, you will simply get left behind.
And finally, what follows below is just my opinion from playing at all levels of the micros and small stakes games as a professional for many, many years.
If you fail to achieve these numbers (or have already surpassed them) please don't send me hate mail!
Actually one last thing before I get to the numbers though just so we are all on the same page here. What exactly is a bb/100 poker win rate?
Well, in online poker we measure our success (win rate) in terms of how many big blinds you win for every 100 poker hands you play.
So this is why we call it bb/100. You can simply use a program like PokerTracker to easily get your own online poker winrate in bb/100.
This is different from a live poker game in a casino by the way where your winrate is typically measured in terms of how many big blinds you win per hour.
One last quick note, here is what I mean by NL2, NL5 and so on.
Alright, let's get to the actual numbers already!
NL2 win rate: 15bb/100
NL5 win rate: 10bb/100
NL10 win rate: 8bb/100
NL25 win rate: 6bb/100
NL50 win rate: 5bb/100
NL100 win rate: 4bb/100
NL2 win rate: 10bb/100
NL5 win rate: 6bb/100
NL10 win rate: 5bb/100
NL25 win rate: 4bb/100
NL50 win rate: 3bb/100
NL100 win rate: 2bb/100
NL2 win rate: 5bb/100
NL5 win rate: 4bb/100
NL10 win rate: 3bb/100
NL25 win rate: 2bb/100
NL50 win rate: 1bb/100
NL100 win rate: 1bb/100
What is a BB/100 Poker Win Rate?
Actually one last thing before I get to the numbers though just so we are all on the same page here. What exactly is a bb/100 poker win rate?
Well, in online poker we measure our success (win rate) in terms of how many big blinds you win for every 100 poker hands you play.
So this is why we call it bb/100. You can simply use a program like PokerTracker to easily get your own online poker winrate in bb/100.
This is different from a live poker game in a casino by the way where your winrate is typically measured in terms of how many big blinds you win per hour.
One last quick note, here is what I mean by NL2, NL5 and so on.
- NL2 (also known as 2NL) = 1 cent / 2 cent blinds
- NL5 (also known as 5NL) = 2 cent / 5 cent blinds
- NL10 (also known as 10NL) = 5 cent /10 cent blinds
- NL25 (also known as 25NL) = 10 cent / 25 cent blinds
- NL50 (also known as 50NL) = 25 cent / 50 cent blinds
- NL100 (also known as 100NL) = 50 cent / $1 blinds
Alright, let's get to the actual numbers already!
Best Poker Win Rates Possible For Elite Players Who Play 1-8 Tables.
NL2 win rate: 15bb/100
NL5 win rate: 10bb/100
NL10 win rate: 8bb/100
NL25 win rate: 6bb/100
NL50 win rate: 5bb/100
NL100 win rate: 4bb/100
Best Poker Win Rates Possible For Elite Players Who Play 9-17 Tables.
NL2 win rate: 10bb/100
NL5 win rate: 6bb/100
NL10 win rate: 5bb/100
NL25 win rate: 4bb/100
NL50 win rate: 3bb/100
NL100 win rate: 2bb/100
Best Poker Win Rates Possible For Elite Players Who Play 18+ Tables.
NL2 win rate: 5bb/100
NL5 win rate: 4bb/100
NL10 win rate: 3bb/100
NL25 win rate: 2bb/100
NL50 win rate: 1bb/100
NL100 win rate: 1bb/100
By the way, if you want to start achieving winrates like this, I would recommend checking out my free poker course.
I just uploaded it on my YouTube channel last week: 16 Easy Poker Tips for BEGINNERS (Free Course)
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What Are These Poker Winrates Based On?
Now, please keep in mind that I have some of the highest winrates ever posted in these games and that is what these numbers are based on.
I have also been a professional poker player for 10+ years.
Many people keep sharing these poker winrates that I listed above online though and taking them wildly out of context.
In my experience, less than 2% of all poker players will even come close to beating these games for these winrates.
In fact, the vast majority of winning poker players will be in the 1bb/100 to 3bb/100 range, which is still very good (more on that below).
And like I mentioned off the top, the vast majority of people will actually lose at poker in the long run anyways (i.e. a negative winrate).
And like I mentioned off the top, the vast majority of people will actually lose at poker in the long run anyways (i.e. a negative winrate).
But people always ask me "what is possible."
So the winrates above are "what is possible" for the absolute best small stakes poker players in the world, who are utilizing exceptional game selection, have excellent tilt control, and are using the proven optimal winning strategies for these games.
My Poker Winrates (Highest of All Time?)
If you have been following my poker blog for awhile, then you know that I arguably have some of the highest winrates of all time in many of these games, considerably more than what I posted above.
For example, my winrate at NL2 was nearly 30bb/100!
And I also achieved this winrate while mass multi-tabling by the way (20+ tables at a time) which makes it even crazier. All my winrates are posted here by the way.
But you must keep in mind that I achieved many of those winrates 10+ years ago when poker was considerably easier to beat (a lot more bad players).
I am also a 10+ year pro and I have written several books on these games, so I understand the absolute optimal strategy to crush these games.
So, please keep in mind that the numbers that I posted above reflect what is possible for the best players in today's games.
Many of the totally insane winrates that I achieved in the past in these small stakes games, simply are not possible anymore.
Poker Hourly Rate
You might be curious about what this means in terms of how much you make per hour at the poker tables though.
So if you want to break it down even further into your poker hourly rate, then you will need to figure out how many hands per hour you play.
For instance, if you are able to play 1000 hands per hour, with a winrate of 10bb/100 at NL25, then your poker hourly rate would be $25 per hour.
The big blind at NL25 is 25 cents.
1000 hands at 10bb/100 = $25
I think you will want to make sure that you are a solid winning player playing at least these stakes, before you even consider going semi-pro or pro by the way.
I think you will want to make sure that you are a solid winning player playing at least these stakes, before you even consider going semi-pro or pro by the way.
This is something that I discuss in a lot more detail in my latest book.
Keep in mind that all of these numbers are pre-rakeback and pre-bonuses as well. This can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars more per month especially for high volume players at NL25 and higher.
Also, many professional poker players like myself make considerably more in sponsorships, endorsements and other "off the table" earnings these days as well.
This may also include offering personal coaching, book deals, making training videos, streaming and staking which is something that a lot of poker pros do these days as well.
So configuring your poker hourly rate (especially if you are a poker pro) is not as easy these days. But I would personally suggest aiming for a bare minimum of $100 per hour.
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What about a Zoom poker win rate though? A lot of people play fast fold poker games like Zoom, Snap, Fast Forward and so on these days.
Enter your details below and I will send my free poker cheat sheet to your email right now.
What is a Good Zoom Poker Win Rate?
What about a Zoom poker win rate though? A lot of people play fast fold poker games like Zoom, Snap, Fast Forward and so on these days.
This is why I wrote the #1 Zoom poker strategy guide available these days online.
Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your Zoom poker win rate will not be as high as above. You will need to lower the win rates above by several big blinds at least if you play Zoom.
And the reason why is because in Zoom poker games you cannot table select. You also cannot seat select. This will heavily impact your ability to get on the most profitable tables and on the left of the fish.
By the way, in case you were wondering, yes, I do use quite a few poker tools and software when playing Zoom in particular to help me still find the fish and keep track of all my opponents.
For the complete list of all the poker software and tools I use at the poker tables, click here.
However, let me be clear that all is not lost if you play these Zoom games! The main benefit of Zoom is the ability to put in huge amounts of volume and also the convenience of sitting down and playing poker right away.
These two factors alone can often help mitigate a lower Zoom poker win rate so that you actually make more money in the end. And that of course is all that really matters.
Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your Zoom poker win rate will not be as high as above. You will need to lower the win rates above by several big blinds at least if you play Zoom.
And the reason why is because in Zoom poker games you cannot table select. You also cannot seat select. This will heavily impact your ability to get on the most profitable tables and on the left of the fish.
By the way, in case you were wondering, yes, I do use quite a few poker tools and software when playing Zoom in particular to help me still find the fish and keep track of all my opponents.
For the complete list of all the poker software and tools I use at the poker tables, click here.
However, let me be clear that all is not lost if you play these Zoom games! The main benefit of Zoom is the ability to put in huge amounts of volume and also the convenience of sitting down and playing poker right away.
These two factors alone can often help mitigate a lower Zoom poker win rate so that you actually make more money in the end. And that of course is all that really matters.
Can You Make a Living Playing Small Stakes Poker? ($2000+ Per Month)
Something that people also often ask me is if you can make a living in small stakes games these days. And I will just say that that will be a bare minimum of $2000 per month.
Well, honestly it is not going to be easy if you play super low stakes like NL2, NL5 or even NL10. Or say, $10 or less buyin tournaments.
In fact playing super low stakes like this is one of my biggest regrets in my professional poker career.
In fact: If I Started Poker Again, I'd Do These 9 Things
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The bottom line though is this.
Most people in low stakes games will not be able to make $2000+ per month unless they have one of the elite winrates listed above.
You will also need to be multi-tabling, game selecting and have good tilt control.
However, if you are playing at stakes of NL25, NL50 or NL100 online ($1/$2 or $2/$5 live), then it is certainly possible to make 2k per month playing poker.
And that is because there is a lot more money on the line in those games.
Therefore, if you can beat these games at an elite winrate, you might be able to make a full time income (depending on your circumstances of course).
As I have discussed several times on this blog, I spend most of my time grinding online in low cost of living tropical destinations.
Therefore, I don't need nearly as much money to be a professional poker player as some people who choose to live in an expensive Western country like the one I am from, Canada.
Therefore, I don't need nearly as much money to be a professional poker player as some people who choose to live in an expensive Western country like the one I am from, Canada.
I discuss all this in much more detail in my popular 10 years as a poker pro article.
What About Live Poker Win Rates?
What about if you play live poker in a casino though? Well, live poker win rates are not measured the same as online poker win rates. Live poker win rates are measured by how many big blinds you make per hour.
The consensus has long been that in the two lowest stakes games that most casinos spread ($1/$2 and $2/$5), the very best players can expect to make around 10bb per hour.
In terms of a live poker hourly that equates to:
- $1/$2 - $20 an hour
- $2/$5 - $50 an hour
Again, these are the live poker win rates and hourly rate for the very best live poker players in the world at these limits.
The Let Down
Alright, let's inject some reality back into this conversation now. The average win rate and daily earnings of a random person just getting started in online poker are both in fact negative numbers.
Many people get caught up in the spell of the dream poker lifestyle. They have seen the millions being tossed around on TV and they figure that since they dominate their buddies every Friday night or have been "killing it" at the local 1/2 game for an inconsequential amount of hands that online poker is going to be a piece of cake.
The vast majority of them find out the hard way that it doesn't quite work like that. Let me now list the win rates that are much more common for these stakes. Keep in mind that at least 3/4 of people who play poker actually lose in the long run.
So the numbers below represent the average win rate that a winning online poker player (only 1/4 of the player pool) can expect to attain at the various stakes.
Average Poker Win Rate For 1-8 Tables.
2NL win rate: 6bb/100
5NL win rate: 4bb/100
10NL win rate: 3bb/100
25NL win rate: 2bb/100
50NL win rate: 2bb/100
100NL win rate: 1bb/100
Average Poker Win Rates For 9-17 Tables.
2NL win rate: 4bb/100
5NL win rate: 3bb/100
10NL win rate: 2bb/100
25NL win rate: 1bb/100
50NL win rate: 1bb/100
100NL win rate: 1bb/100
Average Poker Win Rate For 18+ Tables.
2NL win rate: 2bb/100
5NL win rate: 1bb/100
10NL win rate: 1bb/100
25NL win rate: 0.5bb/100
50NL win rate: 0.5bb/100
100NL win rate: 0.5bb/100
You can pull out your calculator again and multiply these numbers by your projected daily volume and hourly volume in order to get your daily and hourly earnings.
I hope these numbers prove valuable to all of the financial planners out there who want to know exactly how much they are going to make before they even get started!
Unfortunately though, poker doesn't actually work this way.
You need to put in a lot of time and effort studying your game and improving it if you ever want to make the big money in poker.
Your time would be much better spent simply forgetting about all of your future riches for now and instead focusing on playing as much as you can and working hard on your game away from the tables.
You should aim to develop the work ethic, discipline, emotional control and dedication to continued learning that are all necessary for long term success in this game.
Luckily though there are a few shortcuts these days that can help you achieve one of the best poker win rates much quicker.
Here are my top 2 suggestions:
How to Improve Your Poker Win Rate
Your time would be much better spent simply forgetting about all of your future riches for now and instead focusing on playing as much as you can and working hard on your game away from the tables.
You should aim to develop the work ethic, discipline, emotional control and dedication to continued learning that are all necessary for long term success in this game.
Luckily though there are a few shortcuts these days that can help you achieve one of the best poker win rates much quicker.
Here are my top 2 suggestions:
1) BlackRain79 Elite Poker University
My brand new Elite Poker University offers nearly 17 hours of world class advanced poker training videos, hundreds of step by step example hands and downloadable "cheat sheets."
It covers everything from cash games, tournaments, Zoom, 6max, live, online and more.
You will learn how to play hundreds of difficult spots like:
You will learn how to play hundreds of difficult spots like:
How to play your A♥K♥ on a 8♣7♦5♣ flop, when an aggressive player raises you.
Or how to play your K♠K♦ on a A♥5♣3♥ flop, when one of those unpredictable "fishy" players raises you.
And you will also learn some of my most advanced strategies for mid and high stakes games such as:
How to turn your 5♥5♦ into a highly profitable Triple Barrel Bluff versus a Tight/Passive player on a River of T♦7♣6♣A♠K♥
Or how to check/raise the River for massive value versus the recreational player and as a total bluff versus a Loose and Aggressive regular
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Learn EXACTLY how to start crushing small and mid stakes poker games, play semi-pro or even full time pro. Use my proven elite poker strategies to start winning fast.
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2. Crushing the Microstakes
My other suggestion (especially if you struggle at NL2 or NL5 online or $1/$2 live) is Crushing the Microstakes. This is the #1 selling book of all-time at these stakes.
And I wrote it.
This is the poker strategy book that has now helped tens of thousands of people turn around their results at the lower stakes.
And the reason why is because as the author, I have some of the highest winnings in online poker history at the micro stakes.
Crushing the Microstakes is a step by step A to Z guide which shows you the exact strategies that I have used to crush these games as a 10+ year poker pro.
*New* There is now an optional video course to compliment the book as well where you can watch me play live at the micro stakes, Zoom, 6max and full ring.
You get to essentially "look over my shoulder" as I show you exactly how I created some of the highest winnings in online poker history in these games.
Crushing the Microstakes also comes bundled with my extremely popular FREE bonuses:
- The Starting Hand “Cheat Sheets”
- The Ultimate Zoom Poker Strategy Guide
- Lifetime Access to my Private Poker Forum (I personally help you with your poker hands)
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Final Thoughts
So what is a good poker win rate these days?
Well, as you can probably see, this is very much open for debate. It depends on how many tables you play, how good you are, how much you table select and so on.
But what I do hope you see though is that it isn't easy these days and you have to really be willing to put in the work both on and off the tables if you want to achieve one of the very best poker win rates.
I would also recommend studying some advanced poker strategy if you really want to take your game to an elite level and start making huge profits from poker.
The two best options are:
Get $100 OFF Use Code: ELITE100
Because, if you are willing to put in the effort, then I can tell you that anything is possible in this game.
Here is the view from my condo in Thailand, paid for by 10 million hands of poker!
Look, I am not here to encourage all the dreamers though who keep sending me all these emails asking about how rich they are going to get playing poker.
These are the people who are often doomed to fail in poker because they are thinking about the game completely wrong.
All they can see is dollar signs when they should be worried about putting in work and getting better at poker instead!
I am here however to encourage all those realistic people out there who have the will and desire to improve their poker game and ultimately achieve these top results one day.
Poker isn't easy these days but there is always room at the top for those with the willingness and drive to truly make it happen.
Lastly, if you want to know the strategy that I personally use to make $2000+ per month as a 10 year pro, make sure you download a copy of my free poker cheat sheet.
Let me know your thoughts on the best poker winrates in the comments below.
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