Reddit debate! Croatian poker pro Martaimrko is hitting a 9bb/100 winrate at NL200, and everyone’s buzzing about whether this is even possible. Read on for the details and insights!
In the world of online poker, win rates are a topic that sparks endless debate, especially when it comes to the question of what is truly elite at various stakes. Blackrain79, the well-known figure in the poker community, has long been considered an authority on micro and small stakes. He famously claims that a 4 bb/100 win rate is considered elite at NL100. But a shocking new revelation has sparked a fiery debate on Reddit—what if someone is hitting a nearly double win rate at NL200?
Enter Martaimrko, a Croatian poker player who, according to a detailed article on RakeRace, is crushing NL200 with an eye-popping 9 bb/100 win rate. While Blackrain79’s win rate benchmark might be the standard for many players at lower stakes, Martaimrko’s success has left the poker community asking—how is this even possible?
Is 9 bb/100 Online Poker Win Rate Achievable?
To put things into perspective, a 9 bb/100 win rate is considered extraordinary in the poker world. For players at midstakes, a solid 5 bb/100 win rate is considered solid, and anything higher is often thought of as an anomaly. But some Reddit commenters believe that a 9 bb/100 win rate at NL200 could be possible, but with some significant caveats.
One user pointed out, “If you take 100 players with a 5 bb/100 win rate over 300k hands, only about three of them would have a win rate above 9 bb/100.” This comment highlights the wild variance and randomness that is part of the game, and why claiming a consistently high win rate at NL200 is so difficult to gauge. While it’s certainly not impossible, achieving a 9 bb/100 win rate at NL200 would require perfect table selection and an in-depth understanding of player tendencies—two factors Martaimrko seems to have mastered.
Martaimrko: The Real Deal or Just Lucky?
Martaimrko’s success includes all the elements that poker players dream of—countless hours spent honing his craft, dedication to understanding the game, and a razor-sharp ability to exploit weaknesses in his opponents. But not everyone is convinced that his 9 bb/100 win rate is entirely due to skill. One user commented, “You can easily achieve a 10bb/100 win rate if you bumhunt and play at the right tables.” For those unfamiliar with the term, bumhunting refers to the practice of selectively choosing weaker players, which can lead to a higher win rate.
However, despite this skepticism, it’s clear that Martaimrko isn’t just relying on luck or table selection. He actively avoids Zoom tables, instead focusing on regular tables with a much lower table count, usually around 3-6 tables. One Redditor who knows him personally mentioned, “He doesn’t table select and keeps his table count low.” The fact that he can achieve such impressive numbers without relying on selecting weaker tables speaks to his raw skill and ability to read the game in real-time.
Table Selection vs. Raw Poker Skill: What Matters More?
This raises the question: which is more important in today’s poker environment—table selection or raw skill? Many of the top pros would argue that it’s a combination of both. One Reddit user, mrguitarbhoy, suggested that “if you’re crushing NL200 at 5bb/100, you’re very likely a winner at 500NL too.” Moving up in stakes seems to be a logical next step for players who are succeeding at NL200, but not all agree with that approach.
Some commenters warned that while it might be easy to beat NL200, higher stakes like NL500 come with their own set of challenges. “You can get away with overfolding at 200NL, but at 500NL, that strategy won’t work anymore,” said AssignmentNo8361, pointing out the subtle differences in playing styles at different stakes. Higher-level players bring more skill to the table, and a strategy that works at lower stakes might no longer be viable.
Is 9bb/100 NLHE 6-Max Win Rate Realistic for Everyone?
As some Redditors pointed out, the poker environment has changed significantly over the years. “NL10 is the new NL100,” said one user, referencing how even the lowest stakes have become much more competitive as the number of skilled players has increased. It’s not just about knowing your cards anymore—it’s about understanding how to play against a pool of players that are increasingly savvy.
For players wondering about a sustainable win rate at midstakes, it’s clear that game selection and the ability to exploit weaker players are key. But for someone like Martaimrko, whose 9 bb/100 win rate is exceptional even without selecting his tables, it’s clear that mastery of the game itself is what truly sets him apart.
In the end, whether a win rate like Martaimrko’s is achievable for the average player is still up for debate, but his story serves as a powerful reminder that the road to success in poker is about more than just grinding out hands—it’s about understanding the nuances of the game and using that knowledge to outplay your opponents, one hand at a time.
