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why did online poker get so much harder in the last few years

It feels like the days of easy tables and wild bluffers are long gone. Most of my games lately, even micro-stakes, I’m seeing players who actually know what GTO is and use trackers like it’s second nature. It used to be more about reading people or spotting the obvious “fish,” but now it’s mostly tough calls and narrow value betting. I used to just wing it, see a flop, and try my luck, but if you’re not at least studying some theory you’re just donating at this point.

I wonder if it’s all the training sites, plus those crypto poker apps making it easier for grinders from everywhere to join. The player pool feels tighter and everyone seems to be multi-tabling and running HUDs. Maybe it’s partly people shifting from sports betting during dry seasons and giving poker a real go. I know I spend more time watching hand reviews than actually playing lately, just to stay breakeven. Curious if it’s just me or if folks are noticing the same uptick in difficulty.

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Honestly, most folks overlook how bigger swings mess with your head more than your bankroll. The psychology of trying to claw back after a downswing feels way rougher now than years ago, and I see way more players tilt-buying back in at bad spots.

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definitely seeing that same spike in table quality, but i think the overlooked driver is promos and rakeback setups. sharp regs chase those bonuses hard, stacking micro games just to rack up volume. feels less like classic texas hold’em and more like a numbers grind now.

i’m leaning into using time as a weapon - literally waiting for promo-heavy days or overlay promos to tip the field softer. letting other folks tire themselves out on low-ev grinds can sometimes be a plus-ev move in itself. anyone else pivot this way?

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