Beating Low and Mid Stakes NLH in 2025

The poker landscape is constantly evolving, and mistakes that were common a decade ago are now rarely seen. As a result, the dream of making a living from poker is no longer as accessible as it was during the online poker boom. Today’s average player is significantly stronger and more informed than in the past. However, beating the game is still very much achievable.

While becoming a top regular in any format is more challenging than ever - given that today’s elite players are true poker virtuosos - you can still consistently win at low and mid stakes in 2025. The key lies in being more disciplined, structured, and strategically sound than you were a few years ago.

Despite the game's evolution, poker remains, at its core, a contest of discipline and consistency. So what does it take to become an above-average player today? Here's our take on how to beat No-Limit Hold 'em at low stakes in 2025.

Stick to Solid Ranges - Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Over the years, strategies across virtually every poker format have become more refined and aligned with optimal play. The same goes for preflop ranges in the most common situations. In 2025, you can easily access well-constructed opening ranges, 3-bet ranges, and cold calling ranges for nearly every standard spot.

The key is simple: consistency in using your ranges is what makes them effective. While this may sound obvious, many players still fall into the trap of justifying speculative deviations in an attempt to "exploit" their opponents. It’s easy to convince yourself that certain off-range hands are worth playing - but more often than not, this leads to trouble.

The mechanism is straightforward: if your preflop play is too loose, you'll frequently end up with hands with little to no showdown value. And when you realize you can't win the pot without bluffing, it's tempting to start firing with hands that don’t belong in your bluffing range.

At low and mid stakes, most of your profit comes from getting paid when you hit strong value hands — not from trying to outplay your opponents in marginal spots. Occasional bluffs are fine but should be made with the best possible combos. If you want to find a solid balance — without diving into the advanced math behind range construction — start by sticking to tight, well-defined preflop ranges.

Whenever you face aggressive action from solid, tight opponents, think twice before calling with marginal holdings — especially out of position. Realizing equity in these spots is difficult, and deviating from your ranges too often will likely cost you money. Be especially careful with hands on the fringe of your VPIP range; discipline here goes a long way.

Don’t Miss Thin Value — Especially on the River in Position

As mentioned earlier, most of your profit at low stakes — and even at many mid and high-stakes games — comes from betting your value hands and getting called by worse.

That’s why developing the ability to identify thin-value spots is one of the most valuable skills in poker. Executing thin value bets correctly can significantly boost your win rate. One of the most common leaks at micro and mid stakes is failing to value bet hands that are clearly strong enough — especially on the river. You’ll often see players check back decent top pairs without even considering a bet.

The river is the best street to start applying thin value bets, especially when you’re in position (IP). There are no more cards to come, and the game tree is simplified: your opponent can call, fold, or raise. This makes decision-making more straightforward — and more profitable for disciplined players.

So, how do you know if your hand is strong enough for a thin value bet?

Let’s assume you’re on the river in position. Your first step should be to visualize your opponent’s likely range and how it interacts with the board. When considering a value bet, ask yourself the following key questions:

• Does my opponent’s range contain many strong hands?

(In most cases — especially after they check — it doesn’t.)

• Would they check a hand that beats my value bets?

(Some players might check hands that are strong enough to bet themselves)

• What portion of their range is likely to call my bet with a worse hand?

(You want to target second-best hands that still feel “too strong to fold.”)

• Is this opponent capable of check-raising as a bluff?

(If not, you can value bet thinner with less fear of getting blown off your hand.)

Solvers have shown us that, in many river spots, the in-position player should prefer larger sizing - typically between half-pot and overbet. That’s because your bets reopen the action, and you want to make them count. Betting just for the sake of it isn’t enough — your action needs justification.

The most common reason for betting in these spots is simple: your range contains a high number of natural value hands, and you want to extract maximum value from worse hands while still applying pressure with your bluffs.

And one last tip: when you do get check-raised on the river at these stakes, believe it. Unless you have a very strong read, it’s usually best not to pay them off.

Don’t Try to Be a Hero Too Often

Game theory optimal (GTO) strategy assumes that every player is perfectly balanced — always bluffing and value betting in the right proportions. As a result, GTO often forces you to put chips into the pot even with marginal hands, because you can’t win money without taking risks.

This way of thinking is extremely useful for learning the game and building a solid baseline strategy. However, there’s one important caveat: your average opponent at micro and mid stakes is far from balanced.

That’s why, against unknown or passive players, it’s often correct to fold more frequently than solvers would suggest. Being disciplined in spots where your opponent is unlikely to bluff will save you significant money over time.

A common leak at these stakes is calling too frequently with hands like QQ–AA in situations where the betting line clearly indicates strength. More experienced players recognize that many of these spots are heavily under-bluffed — and that bluff catchers lose value if your opponent simply isn't bluffing.

This is where solvers become incredibly valuable. They allow you to adjust your calling frequencies based on assumptions about your opponent’s range construction and bluffing tendencies.

Let’s consider a practical example:

You defend the Big Blind versus an UTG open. The flop comes A♠ A♥ Q♦ — your opponent c-bets 30%, and you call. The turn is the T♥, adding a flush draw. They continue for 70%, and again, you call. The river is the 9♠, completing no draws. Now they fire one last barrel.

In the graphic below, you can compare how often you should call the river assuming:

• a balanced opponent with enough natural bluffs (left side),
• a player whose range is almost entirely value (right side).
  

As you can see, the difference in optimal calling frequency is significant — 50% versus 24%. This is just one example of how proper adjustments can separate long-term winners from break-even players.

Discipline and Study Lead to Real Progress

There’s still plenty of money to be made at the micro and mid stakes in No-Limit Hold’em — even in 2025. The key lies in consistent discipline, smart decision-making, and using the right tools to sharpen your edge away from the tables.

With Deepsolver, building a well-rounded and efficient strategy becomes much easier. Whether you're fine-tuning your ranges, analyzing tough spots, or prasticing your postflop lines, you’ll get precise, solver-backed feedback tailored to real in-game situations.

Try it for yourself with a 7-day free trial - and start bridging the gap between theory and profit.