On Stars, the current largest average pot size per level.

.01/02: $0.68
.02/.05 $1
.05/.10: $3
.10/.25: $6
.25/.50: $14
.5/1: $43
1/2: $103
2/4: $125
3/6: $222

The %age of a buyin each average pot is
.01/.02: 34%
.02/.05: 20%
.05/.10: 30%
.10/.25: 24%
.25/.50: 38%
.5/1: 43%
1/2: 52%
2/4: 31%
3/6: 37%

I realize that average pot size isn't a perfect indicator of how juicy a game is, but it is the best indicator I have. I remember when the average pot sizes at the $25 PLO8 game at Party were up in the $40 range ... what is happening to low limit poker?

Anywho there was a valid reason for posting this. At this point my online roll is seriously depleted so I either have to move down or move to a different game (27TD where I can only 2 table so I need less BR to play at a reasonable level). I was wondering if people though it would be worthwhile to move down for a little while knowing that the low limit games are this tight.

Edit: All of these number are for 6 max.

Are the lower limits softer?
Yes, they are!

There is a huge difference between potsize and good play.
General the play on the top gets much more aggressive and therefor the potsize increases. But its not like there are that much looser.

Yeah, I'd just go wherever you feel comfortable within BR requirements.

With $200 left, you're actually theoretically pretty short-rolled for the $25, although I just get really impatient playing for less than that (and it's gotten me into trouble when I've tried moving up too quickly from the $100).

One BR strategy I've devised, particularly when the stakes aren't serious money (i.e., reloadable in case of doubt): Start whereever you like, then when you're up at least 2 buy-ins for the next bigger game, move there. If you lose those, then it's back down (the trick is actually doing that), but if you win another 2 for the next bigger, move up again, etc.

Also, at least once you get to maybe the $50, I think table selection becomes a more significant issue.

Just another comment: since you play shorthanded you should identify (if you haven't done so already) what type of shorthanded game you like to be playing.

If I see a two guys playing monster pots HU with air then I will only sit down if I think that I have reasonable reads on at least one of them and can outplay them (so if one is a very strong regular and another is a maniac then I probably don't sit unless I feel I am not outclassed by the regular). But at any rate you have to be in the mood for a wild game, sick calls with one pair on the river, etc.

Another thing I sometimes do is this: when I see two players playing HU and the average pot is very small then I will sit, especially if I know these players from 6max games; this is because I think they are playing too tight and not aggressive enough for shorthanded.

I guess that the moral of the story is that high pot averages may be nice but in a shorthanded game doesn't tell you at all that you will make a profit. Sometimes a game where you simply chip away at passive/tight players can be very easy money with a minimum of variance.