Nosebleed stakes
The poker term 'nosebleed stakes' is a hyperbolic metaphor used to describe the highest possible betting levels in cash games. It borrows from the idiom 'nosebleed seats' which refers to seats in a stadium or theater that are so high up and far from the action that the 'thin air' might jokingly cause a nosebleed. In poker, this translates to the 'altitude' of the stakes being exceptionally high.Typically refers to games starting at $25/$50 or $50/$100 blinds (often labeled as 5kNL or 10kNL), where pots can easily reach six or seven figures.
Nosebleed stakes by ItsAllForNothing February 27, 2026
