9:48pm: Many a poker career has ended on a player’s decision to move up in limits too soon. Conversely, many careers haven’t realized their maximum potential by not moving up soon enough. This is not exclusive to heads up sit n gos. However, this article will cover advice tailored only towards heads up sit n gos.

First off, we’ve already established that 40-50 buy ins is a safe enough threshold to withstand the variance in heads up sit n gos. The question is: what if you’re sitting there with 70-80 buy ins? Is it time to move up? How do you know when it’s time?

I have established a few existing conditions that NEED to be present within yourself and in your game before you decide to take the climb to the next limit:

• Complete and utter mastery of your current limit from a statistical standpoint - This means that you should be absolutely crushing the $5 heads up matches before you decide to move up to the $10s. That begs the question: how does one define “absolutely crushing”? There’s no one set way to gauge this. However, I would fare to say that if you’ve won 58% or more of your games over a sample size larger than 1,000 games - then it’s safe to say you’re CRUSHING IT.
• Complete and utter boredom with the level of competition. Each match should challenge you and push you to get better. If the matches you play have become so easy that you can watch TV while playing two heads up matches, it’s probably a good idea to move up in limits.
• Thriving financial conditions. If you live on your own and/or have dependants, this means you have enough money for 6 MONTHS of bills + enough money for 40-50 buy ins at the level you intend to move up to.
• A strong back up plan. You have to be prepared to fail. The probability of it, given your success in the past, isn’t high. However, there is a remote chance that this upward move won’t work out for you. Being as such, you’re going to have to have a back up plan in case this doesn’t work out for you. You’re going to have to have the discipline to step down in limits when your bankroll is no longer objectively a bankroll for your limits, but rather the correct bankroll for the limit below it. There’s no shame in moving down. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: this isn’t about pride, glory, being a rock star, or fame - this is about money.
• Complete fearlessness. You can’t be intimidated by the thought of moving up. Sometimes people get scared at the idea that the opponents will be too much to handle, even moving up from the $5 to the $10 level. Whenever you need something to inspire you to not be afraid, just think about how the $5,000 heads up players would regard the $20 heads up players. Those are the guys you should fear, not the ones in one level above you. There are many levels of skill, and the sky is the limit in poker. Do not let the fear of the unknown overcome your desire and will to succeed.

If all these conditions are in place, then I would definitely suggest moving up. If even one is missing, I think it would be in your best interests to make sure it is addressed, and then you can move forward from there. If this article even helps one person from becoming like all the others who never realize their potential due to having too much fear -OR- not having enough of it, then I can rest easy.