1-2-5-5 Limit Question

[mattew]

Hello,

I am heading up to Blackhawk, CO tommorow to the Gilpin Casino to play O8B. The only variant they seem to spread is $1 sb, $2 bb, and $5 min/max bet raise every round. I have never played this structure before. Most of my experience is micro limit online either Pot Limit or structured limit. Does anyone have any suggestions on an approach to this structure?

Thanks
Mattew

Think more pot limit, less limit. Peace, and garlic!

[sy_or_bust]

So if I'm UTG preflop and choose to raise, is the total bet $5?

[kitaristi0]

If I've understood this right, it means that the bet doesn't double on the turn. Thus, you'll want to get more bets in preflop and on the flop (in comparison to playing in a game where the bet doubles on the turn), at least that's how I would approach it.

[mattew]

Yup all bets and raises are $5 on all streets.

[Buzz]

Mattew - In my humble opinion, how to play always depends on the opponents you're facing. And they don't all play the same.

In the game you describe, I'd raise almost immediately with any playable starting hand, just to see what the effect of the raise would be on the particular opponents I was facing.

But then, depending, I would probably mostly limp, generally trying to see the flop cheaply, and then trying to out-play my opponents from there - depending on what happened each time.

Strong starting hands have a better chance to catch a good piece of the flop than weak starting hands, but everything drastically changes after the flop. You still want strong low starters, but it's very difficult to predict what will win for high before the flop. You still want to play for scoops.

Facing a raise before the flop, what to do depends on the raiser and on how the others at the table react to pre-flop raises. If they're all going to call, you can play more hands than otherwise.

It cannot be bad advice to advise you to play tightly while you get the lay of the land.

I'd start out defending my big blind just to create an image and dissuade future attacks - but it's probably generally not worthwhile to defend a two dollar blind in the face of a five dollar raise.

The small blind is trivial. Generally limp for one dollar more when you think the big blind won't raise. Otherwise, fold without a decent hand.

I think you have to just "play poker."

Buzz

[mattew]

[ QUOTE ]
Mattew - In my humble opinion, how to play always depends on the opponents you're facing. And they don't all play the same.


[/ QUOTE ]
Most of the players in the limit hold em games up there tend to be weak passive players in my experience. My guess is that there will commonly be 4 to 5 people seeing the flop in this game. Last time I played hold em up there I had no problem getting paid off when I connected with the flop. People didn't seem to notice that I was playing straightforward tight/agressive poker.
[ QUOTE ]

In the game you describe, I'd raise almost immediately with any playable starting hand, just to see what the effect of the raise would be on the particular opponents I was facing.

But then, depending, I would probably mostly limp, generally trying to see the flop cheaply, and then trying to out-play my opponents from there - depending on what happened each time.



[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is that limping and waiting to see what the flop looks like is going to be my best bet. I observed the O8B game last time I was up and it looked incredibly passive pre flop and then pretty action filled after that.

[ QUOTE ]

Strong starting hands have a better chance to catch a good piece of the flop than weak starting hands, but everything drastically changes after the flop. You still want strong low starters, but it's very difficult to predict what will win for high before the flop. You still want to play for scoops.



[/ QUOTE ]

It is going to be interesting to see how close to the nuts the high hands are. My general strategy on internet O8B at Pokerstars is to play only nuts or profitable draws to the nuts.

[ QUOTE ]


Facing a raise before the flop, what to do depends on the raiser and on how the others at the table react to pre-flop raises. If they're all going to call, you can play more hands than otherwise.

It cannot be bad advice to advise you to play tightly while you get the lay of the land.

I'd start out defending my big blind just to create an image and dissuade future attacks - but it's probably generally not worthwhile to defend a two dollar blind in the face of a five dollar raise.

The small blind is trivial. Generally limp for one dollar more when you think the big blind won't raise. Otherwise, fold without a decent hand.

I think you have to just "play poker."

Buzz

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the advice Buzz. I am looking forward to playing tommorow.

[Amanjyaku]

These games come in several varieties. In some, you can call the BB for $2 and raise to $7. In others, you must bring it in for $5 and can raise to $10.

Conventional wisdom for these games is to play extremely tightly. The $3 from the blinds is not worth fighting over, reduces pot odds, and you can see a lot of hands for very little money.

If the game has "conventionally-playing" tight players, it's best to get out--there's just not enough money to be made. On the other hand, if the players think that the cheap blinds make it possible for them to play any four cards, then the game will be good with multiway pots and lots of chasing.