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View Full Version : A general discussion of $2 BB vs. $3 BB no limit games


Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 12:14 AM
OK.

I've been a thinkin' about this topic. I've cussed and discussed 'round town about this topic. And I've come to a conclusion...

$3 big blind for the "small" no limit game is better than $2 big blind.

Obviously, by definition, we're not talking about $2-$5 no limit games, so shut-uppa-you-face if you bring up those games. We're talking "low limit no limit" for LIVE play (no internet discussions either, does not apply here). We're talking what's the smallest no limit game in the house in brick and mortor casinos.....

Most houses spread $1-$2 blinds no limit as their smallest no limit game. There is usually a max buy-in, which is either $100 or $200. That's fine, I don't have a problem with the max buy-in. I also don't have a problem with NO max buy-in, so I won't get into that much here.

But a few houses 'round town have switched to a $1-$3 blind structure for the smallest no limit games. I have heard of, but never actually seen, $2-$3 as being the blinds (I think I would like that game the most, I like there being $5 in starting cash in the pot).

Now some houses have started using $3 chips to play $1-$3 no limit. I have played in these games a couple times, and I basically LIKE them. Sure the chips are a bit confusing, but as one wynn dealer I know says "the players seem to lose all track of the fact that the chips are MONEY, they become just chips." Whatever, whether I like it or not isn't the point, the point is what makes the best game?

Actually, a $3 big blind with $1 chips and $5 chips wouldn't be so bad either. The dealer would actually make LESS change than they already to in 1-2 no limit. Think about it, if two players limp with $5 chips in 1-2 blinds, THREE must limp in order for there to be enough change in the pot for the dealer to make change without going to the rack. If the blind was $3 instead of $2, only TWO would have to limp for the dealer NOT to have to go to the rack to make change for two $5 chip limpers.

In $3 chip games, change is rarely, if ever an issue, thus the game would almost certainly go a little faster for this reason, even if slowed slightly because of the $3 chip confusion issue.

However, from a play standpoint, $2 limps make for some tiny ass pots before the flop. But a $3 limp would make for BIGGER pots with the same number of limpers. This would be slightly exaggerated if you were using only $1 and $5 chips.

Bigger starting pots = more reason to play = more action early. Smaller starting pots = less reason to play = less action early. This is probably why $2-$5 is always so much more of an action game, even tho the blinds are actually proportionately SMALLER in $2-$5. It's the psychology of it all....

Now from the house point of view... Four limpers in $1-$2 = $8 pot = 50c rake or no rake, depending on the house. Four limpers in $3 big blind = $12 pot = $1 rake in virtually all houses. So the bigger blinds = more rake for the house. More action also equals more rake.

So cuss / discuss.

al

JimHammer
08-07-2005, 12:49 AM
But wouldn't it be harder for the dealer to chop a $3 chip when I want to tip .50?

Photoc
08-07-2005, 12:56 AM
Dude, go away. This isn't about tipping.

Photoc
08-07-2005, 12:57 AM
I have seen these 1/3 games in action and the players really dont know the difference between $10 and five $3 chips ($15). It's all chips to them. The 1/2 games just keep getting tighter and tighter with 8 players waiting for one drunk one to sit down, then they all wait for aces or kings before they play.

JimHammer
08-07-2005, 01:00 AM
Sorry. Next time I'll put in a bunch of /images/graemlins/grin.gif's.

That way you can tell it's a JOPKE.

Photoc
08-07-2005, 01:03 AM
I understand it's a jopke but the tipping threads are just so annoying and played out that tipping jokes just aren't funny anymore. Sorry bro.

Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 01:05 AM
[ QUOTE ]
The 1/2 games just keep getting tighter and tighter

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. That's part of why I posted this. The bigger blind games seem to generate more action, in so many ways....

al

Hotrod0823
08-07-2005, 01:08 AM
I've only played in the FW 1/2 game a few times but typical raises are to 10-12 bucks PF. I suspect it would be the same with 1/3. Then you have the rare limp all the way hands. Typical flop bets are 10-15 depending on number of players in the hand.

Soo... 3.00 BB wouldn't change the size of the raised pots IMO but will change the flop action on the limped pots. Thats a good thing.

Think it would do well played with the 1/5.00 chips. White hardly plays in the 1/2 game why should 1/3 require "special" chips?

Photoc
08-07-2005, 01:11 AM
The 1/3 game that Wynn is spreading is partly to make usre of their $3 chips and to try something different at the same time.

Btw, the raises are typically 5 chips ($15) with 3 or 4 people calling because they have no concept of the value of the chips.

Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 01:12 AM
Good reply hotrod, thanks for your input.

I am actually thinking that the preflop raises might actually be proportionately LESS using the $3 chips (thus encouraging more raised multiway pots) than they are with the white chips in $1-$2, but I don't have anything even remotely close to a good sample size to determine this.

[ QUOTE ]
Think it would do well played with the 1/5.00 chips. White hardly plays in the 1/2 game why should 1/3 require "special" chips?

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting observation. Not sure the answer yet to this question, or if there really is a definitive answer.

al

JimHammer
08-07-2005, 01:30 AM
Harrah's here in KC used to spread a 1/2NL game until about a month ago. The floor says there hasn't been enough interest in that game lately, although there was always a pretty good waiting list for it. They do have a couple of tables of 2/5 every night and they are always full.

The typical raise at the 1/2 tables was $10, and $20 at the 2/5. However, there were typically more callers in the lower limit game (much looser). I suppose a $3 big blind would force the standard raise to about $15.

Personally, I prefered the lower limit game due to bankroll considerations. Well, that and the crappier players. Maybe switching to a 1/3 blind game would bring back some of the fish from the 3/6 limit games and generate enough rake to make it worthwhile for the casino.

Hotrod0823
08-07-2005, 01:30 AM
The Wynn has no buy in cap right?

If it was 15 PF with 3-4 calls a pot sized bet on the flop is 45-60 bucks. With a 100 capped buy in that is essentially all in at the flop.

What are the typical stacks in that game?

Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 01:38 AM
At wynn there is no cap on the buy-in. That doesn't usually make that much difference tho, as rarely have I seen the smaller no limit games attract the gigantic buy-in players. I started a new ten handed game there once and no one bought in for more than $300.

However, I would never recommend a MAX buy-in as SMALL as $100 for a $3 big blind game. $100-$300 would be very reasonable. $200 max would be OK, not great but OK. $60-$500 would be acceptable too. $100 min / no max would also be acceptable. With $3 chips it should never be less than $300 as the MAX buy-in (that's one rack of chips). The buy-in really isn't that big of a deal to me. Most will have within reasonable limits of what's necessary to play the game, even if there's no cap.

al

trillig
08-07-2005, 03:43 AM
Who in LV is spreading the 1/3 NL now?

Wynn
Excalibur
Who else?

Is Aladdin?

-Bri

Eder
08-07-2005, 09:14 AM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The 1/2 games just keep getting tighter and tighter

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. That's part of why I posted this. The bigger blind games seem to generate more action, in so many ways....

al

[/ QUOTE ]

Seems to me that changing the low limit nl games to pot limit would be the action generator. Might be tougher on the dealers though.

chesspain
08-07-2005, 09:16 AM
Reading Al's post was like trying to follow a game of Three Card Monte.

bosulli
08-07-2005, 09:46 AM
never seen a 1/3 NL game.

The blinds in 1/2 NL dont get the job done. The blinds need to be more than a tip.

I dont think 1/3 NL will get the job done either.

I play in Tunica, and the norm is 1/2 NL. I say banish 1/2 NL and play only 5/10 NL. 15 dollars is worth making a play for. 3 (or 4) dollars is not worth the effort.

I play in Tunica and they always have 1/2, never 5/10 limit.

Patrick del Poker Grande
08-07-2005, 11:20 AM
[ QUOTE ]
Seems to me that changing the low limit nl games to pot limit would be the action generator. Might be tougher on the dealers though.

[/ QUOTE ]
You're talking about people who can't figure out how much they're betting when they have $3 chips and you want them to have to figure out how much they can bet playing pot limit? What a nightmare this would be for the dealers, as well as any halfway intelligent person playing this game.

Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 11:52 AM
Wynn and excalibur for sure. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that MGM was going to do the same, I will probably go check that out in the next day or two.

al

Al_Capone_Junior
08-07-2005, 11:58 AM
Banishing the small no limit games and replacing them all with 5-10 is impractical. 5-10 is just too big of a game for new players, it would kill most of the action, except for the sharks of course.

al

Al_Capone_Junior
08-08-2005, 12:35 AM
The thing is, if there were ONLY 1-3, the pots would be bigger, there would be more action, and there would be just as many games. Put 1-2 in there and 2-5 dies, particularly if 1-2 has a $200 max buy-in.

al

goofball
08-08-2005, 01:27 AM
I play the 1/3 NL while waiting for a 15 seat at wynn, it's a freaking awesome game. People jsut don't seem to comprehend the 50% jump in things (from $2 units to $3 chips).

It's a big action game.

turnipmonster
08-08-2005, 10:26 AM
I'm a big fan of the two equal blinds thing. I don't get the 2/5 structure at all, 5/5 generates a lot more action IMO. 10/10 is also a good game. maybe ray or al can correct me, but I think having two equal blinds came from pot limit.

--turnipmonster

Al_Capone_Junior
08-08-2005, 12:27 PM
I have also noticed that 5/5 is action city, and have no problem with having two equal blinds. I believe this did come from pot limit games.

al