PygmyHero
10-24-2005, 06:48 PM
So I put in my first session of 6 max play today, and I wanted to post some thoughts about it.
What I found most striking was how true the three general comments you read in every thread extolling 6 max are.
In my mind, these are:
1) Play is faster and more exciting (so you clear bonuses more quickly).
2) The players are just terrible.
3) Variance is unbelievable.
Again, I know those things have been said over and over again, but I really think that you can't make someone understand the extent. You really have to experience it yourself to understand.
As for faster play, I was dealt almost exactly twice as many raked hands as I would expect to at full ring, on average (2 tabling each type of game). As for bonus clearing, I had about 2x the number of raked hands I would expect also. I have always read posts saying 'more hands,' but I have never seen anyone put numbers on it. Interestingly, this implies that the same percentage of hands are being raked at full ring as at 6 max. I expected 6 max to be higher (and maybe it will be once my sample size isn't statistically irrelevant). I would be curious to hear what others have found in this regard, especially if they have a large sample of hands from both full ring and 6 max (at the same limit).
As for the players...I guess this is one I always had trouble believing. That is, I've seen Party players at full ring, I've seen Paradise players...how could anyone be worse. And yet many of these 6 max players were. I honestly just didn't believe this was possible. Or, if it were, they would only be a little worse. Nope, I was wrong.
Variance - well I didn't get kicked in the teeth yet. I did lose runner runner and then have my aces cracked in my first 10 hands (a nice little introduction), but I was in the black for my first session. More importantly, I felt I played well. I will be spending some time in PT tonight to see if the deck hit me, and look for places I can improve.
That's all I have. Again, I think its worth reiterating that, as a full ring player, I never really understood all of the things that people were saying about 6 max. I'm not saying I'm converted yet, merely that anyone who hasn't tried it yet probably should. At the least they need to understand why so many people seem to prefer 6 max, and they can find out if it is for them.
What I found most striking was how true the three general comments you read in every thread extolling 6 max are.
In my mind, these are:
1) Play is faster and more exciting (so you clear bonuses more quickly).
2) The players are just terrible.
3) Variance is unbelievable.
Again, I know those things have been said over and over again, but I really think that you can't make someone understand the extent. You really have to experience it yourself to understand.
As for faster play, I was dealt almost exactly twice as many raked hands as I would expect to at full ring, on average (2 tabling each type of game). As for bonus clearing, I had about 2x the number of raked hands I would expect also. I have always read posts saying 'more hands,' but I have never seen anyone put numbers on it. Interestingly, this implies that the same percentage of hands are being raked at full ring as at 6 max. I expected 6 max to be higher (and maybe it will be once my sample size isn't statistically irrelevant). I would be curious to hear what others have found in this regard, especially if they have a large sample of hands from both full ring and 6 max (at the same limit).
As for the players...I guess this is one I always had trouble believing. That is, I've seen Party players at full ring, I've seen Paradise players...how could anyone be worse. And yet many of these 6 max players were. I honestly just didn't believe this was possible. Or, if it were, they would only be a little worse. Nope, I was wrong.
Variance - well I didn't get kicked in the teeth yet. I did lose runner runner and then have my aces cracked in my first 10 hands (a nice little introduction), but I was in the black for my first session. More importantly, I felt I played well. I will be spending some time in PT tonight to see if the deck hit me, and look for places I can improve.
That's all I have. Again, I think its worth reiterating that, as a full ring player, I never really understood all of the things that people were saying about 6 max. I'm not saying I'm converted yet, merely that anyone who hasn't tried it yet probably should. At the least they need to understand why so many people seem to prefer 6 max, and they can find out if it is for them.