20-40 and 40-80 Mirage games

[PokerBabe(aka)]

The 20-40 and 40-80 hold em games at Mirage are now 9 handed. I was told this last week, but confirmed it today with Pam. The reason given by the staff is that the "players requested it". There may be other reasons such as game speed (20-40 is still played with 5.00 chips which is time consuming) and the difficulty in keeping 2 games going. The 40-80 doesn't go much anyway, so I think this is directed more toward the 20-40, which goes almost every day. However, it is often shorthanded anyway, so I'm not sure that restricting it to 9 players makes sense. Babe

[HDPM]

9 handed with no 3d person walking rule could make that game even more in danger of going shorthanded and breaking couldn't it? I don't think a lot of visiting players want to sit down in a 4-handed 20-40.

[mikelow]

More chips create the illusion of action. If you put in $10 chips at 20-40, it would make the game tighter, and it would play tighter.

[andyfox]

I've heard that this is so, and that this is indeed the reason why $20-$40 games are played with $5 chips (and $40-$80 games with $10 chips), but is there any actual, reasonably scientific evidence to support this? There's no question in my mind that the game does get slowed down, especially with the splashers (as opposed to the stackers), when the pot gets 3-bet on the turn or river, and when it's a split pot.

[Noo Yawk]

Hi Babe.
I actually like 9 handed HE, not because it plays different or anything scientific like that. I just like a bit more elbow room!
BTW, with the smokers getting up every other hand to go out on that little ledge they have there, wouldn't that also keep the game shorthanded on a more frequent basis?

[skp]

I don't think that there is any doubt about this. Nearly everywhere, 4-8 and 6-12 games have a lot more action than 5-10 games.

Perhaps, the psychological impact of chasing a (visually speaking) big pot wouldn't affect players at the 40-80 level but at low limt, I gotta believe that this is definitely the case.

[Gabe]

When I was there the 40/80 was always played 9 handed.

[PokerBabe(aka)]

I think that the M should have a 3 person walking rule. But, at this time, they don't. It's true that that the 20-40 game gets shorthanded frequently due to walkers, smokers, people going to eat (remember we don't serve food at the tables here) and guys going to re-up at the ATM. I played the 20 today, and it was nice to have the extra room. At 114 pounds, a girl needs that extra space for her chips! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif As to the chip selection, I don't really care if the game is played with 5 or 10 dollar chips, but I do think it's a bit cumbersome at times with those red birds. /forums/images/icons/confused.gif Today, there was lots of action in the game and I think the guy giving the action would have done so with 10 chips as well /forums/images/icons/smile.gif . LGPG, Babe /forums/images/icons/heart.gif

[PokerBabe(aka)]

Hi Gabe- I didn't know that since I don't play the 40. Babe /forums/images/icons/heart.gif

[mikelow]

If 40-80 was played with $20 chips, would the game play tighter? It might very well. I know, I get mesmerized into some bad calls when I see lot's of yellow chips on the table
and I toss in eight yellow chips on a gutshot.