1/2 vs 2/4, which is tougher?

[MrEngenic]

For those of you who just recently moved up from party 1/2 and are winning party 2/4 players. What's with all these stories that 1/2 full is much tighter than 2/4 and that 2/4 is much easier? I see many bad players at 1/2 full but after 20k hands I'm break even and average flop % at the tables is only 31. Not at all like 0.5/1. I do not recognize 1/2 like the loose games described in SSH!
Is the grass greener higher up, or is it not?

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
Is the grass greener higher up, or is it not?

[/ QUOTE ]

No.

[Kyle]

The 1/2 is definately harder. Its where all the sharks are.

[MagicFlea]

if the grass is greener, its not much greener. Don't expect to beat 2/4 if you can't beat 1/2, especially with a 1/2 BR. I think the games are tighter than described in SSH in both 1/2 and 2/4 however. (he describes a "tight" game as one with 3-5 players seeing the flop... this is pretty much your ideal table at 2/4)

[toss]

The ideal table is 3 to a flop; the table LAG, the isolator, and the guy who doesn't wanna give his blind up. And sometimes it gets wild and its the table LAG, the isolator, and the re-isolator.

[sammy_g]

If you're not beating 1/2, I wouldn't play 2/4 yet.

Play some 1/2 6 max. It's a much better game.

[flair1239]

Playing 1/2 6-max is not a substitue for beating 1/2 full. There are important lessons to be learned at 1/2. Among them:

1. Table selection.
2. Learning to deal with semi-competent players.
3. Using selective aggression to move rocks off of hands.
4. Stealing pots.

There is no reason that with a little effort and thought that you cannot achieve a simaliar level of success at 1/2 as you did at .5/1.

The adjustments are not major, but you do need to adjust.

[MrEngenic]

I know I should beat 1/2 before 2/4, but is 2/4 easier because of the lack of 6 max tables? I've heard that all the fish play 6 max at 1/2 that's why it's such a rock garden compared to 0.5/1. My plan now is to play like 20k hands more 1/2 or until I've earned like 1000 $ (if I ever do), then play a lot of 6 max to get used to aggression, shorthanded pots and blind steal/blind defence play. Then move up to 2/4.
Just curious what to expect when I move up, if I will find it easier, the same or much tougher...

[brazilio]

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[GetThere1Time]

I think its same-ish. 3/6 is where you see a noticable difference.

[MrEngenic]

It is a rock garden compared to 0.5/1 during the day (european time)! If you compare to 3/6 and up, sure I guess it's not but it's a big difference compared to 0.5/1.

[brazilio]

[ QUOTE ]
It is a rock garden compared to 0.5/1 during the day (european time)! If you compare to 3/6 and up, sure I guess it's not but it's a big difference compared to 0.5/1.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can train a quadriplegic monkey to win at .5/1. 2/4 is a vastly different game than 1/2 full, and if you're not learning the lessons 1/2 full is going to teach you, you're going to be in the hurt locker when your 200BB downswing means 800 dollars instead of 400. 1/2 full might be tighter than .5/1, but you have to understand that postflop weakness outstrips by far any preflop intelligence they might have.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is the grass greener higher up, or is it not?

[/ QUOTE ]

No.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is there still discussion?

1/2 is not a rock garden compared to 2/4, which is where you're talking about moving to. .5/1 is only slightly more difficult than 2/4 live, which a quadripalegic lobotomized monkey can beat. If you beat .5/1 for a good win-rate, then concentrate on making proper adjustments and tweaks in your play at 1/2, and the win-rate will come. When the win-rate comes, then move up.

[GetThere1Time]

[ QUOTE ]
It is a rock garden compared to 0.5/1 during the day

[/ QUOTE ]

and I'm sure 0.5/1 is a rock garden compared to 0.05/0.10 on Pacific. I think you need to redefine your definition of a rocky game. While 1/2 might be slightly tougher its still by no means rocky. Same with 2/4 compared to 1/2. Its a tiny bit tougher than 1/2 but not rocky.

[JoshuaD]

1/2 is eaiser. I've played alot of hands at both, and 1/2 is a party. I don't know why everyone says 1/2 is tougher.

[sammy_g]

[ QUOTE ]
Playing 1/2 6-max is not a substitue for beating 1/2 full.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would turn it around and say that playing 1/2 is not a substitute for beating 1/2 6 max. Learning to play shorthanded is good for your poker.

[ QUOTE ]
There are important lessons to be learned at 1/2.

[/ QUOTE ]
True. You learn a lot of these lessons when you move up from 1/2 6 max to 2/4 and 3/6, however.

[MrEngenic]

All I'm saying is that during european day time, party 1/2 is much tighter and more aggressive than 0.5/1. So I was just wondering what it was like at 2/4. Now I know that 2/4 will apparantly be tighter yet and not looser as the notion on the micro stakes forum seem to be. Some people say they didn't like 1/2 full because it was too tight and moved up to 2/4 after building a bankroll playing 1/2 6-max and 0.5/1. But that's apparently not the way to go.

[sammy_g]

[ QUOTE ]
Some people say they didn't like 1/2 full because it was too tight and moved up to 2/4 after building a bankroll playing 1/2 6-max and 0.5/1. But that's apparently not the way to go.

[/ QUOTE ]
For what it's worth, I moved up playing .5/1 -> 1/2 full -> 2/4 -> 5/10 6 max. When I started playing 5/10 6 max, I really wished I had played 1/2 6 max instead of 1/2 full.

[Fnord]

Consider that on Party the rake structure is much better at 2/4 vs 1/2. Even if the 2/4 game is a little tougher, the lower rake + higher stakes + poor players make 2/4 a much better game.

[uw_madtown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Some people say they didn't like 1/2 full because it was too tight and moved up to 2/4 after building a bankroll playing 1/2 6-max and 0.5/1. But that's apparently not the way to go.

[/ QUOTE ]
For what it's worth, I moved up playing .5/1 -> 1/2 full -> 2/4 -> 5/10 6 max. When I started playing 5/10 6 max, I really wished I had played 1/2 6 max instead of 1/2 full.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hence why you go .5/1 -> 1/2 full => 2/4 -> 3/6 <- 1/2 6-max -> 5/10 6-max -> 10/20 6-max -> 15/30

[Isura]

Going from 3/6 to 1/2 6 max seems like pointless. 1/2 6 max is pretty much 1/2 full in difficulty. Isn't it better to play 3/6 6 max games on other sites?

[Rah]

1. 1/2 is kinda weak/tight. 2/4 is more aggressive, but just as profitable. 2/4 is more fun though.
2. Rake structure. I'd say a breakeven 1/2 player will be a winning 2/4 player.

[SomethingClever]

Stay away from the 1/2 6-max games... these are not the droids you're looking for.

Just kidding. 1/2 6-max is soft as hell. 1/2 full blows but it's still easily crushable.

[rmarotti]

I think going 3/6--> 5/10SH is the best way to learn because it is the most painful.

[Jules22]

fwiw, half the tables i sat at 2/4 were dreadful, with barely 3-4 people seeing most flops. i dont know if most people define that as dreadful, but bear in mind ive been playing live where i routinely see 7-8 people seeing the flop for multiple bets while im the only one who folds more than half their hands, so im spoiled in terms of game selection.

[crunchy1]

[ QUOTE ]
fwiw, half the tables i sat at 2/4 were dreadful, with barely 3-4 people seeing most flops. i dont know if most people define that as dreadful, but bear in mind ive been playing live where i routinely see 7-8 people seeing the flop for multiple bets while im the only one who folds more than half their hands, so im spoiled in terms of game selection.

[/ QUOTE ]

good LIVE 2/4 game <> good ONLINE 2/4 game