Home Run Hold'em

How you would play this game? I haven't played it yet, but may. I suspect the field may be composed of blackjack and other table game players.


One of the local casinos has created a new game they call "Home Run Hold'em". Its bascially HE will the following differences


1) all bets are $5

2) everyone must put in $5 before the flop. There is no other pre-flop betting

3) Of the $5 preflop, $1 goes into the pot. The other $4 goes into the "Home Run Jackpot"

4) If you win a hand you get the pot plus a Home Run clip. If you are the first to collect 4 clips, you get the jackpot. Since the jackpot is $4 * #players * #hands played, it is typically $200-$300.

5) Maximum of 7 handed.


The game is raked, but I'm not sure how much.


Some basic thought I have are


a) forget putting anyone on a hand

b) slowplaying would be correct less often. You may give someone the chance to outdraw you and the pot is worth more than face value.

c) Peoples buffling/calling tendancies may change depending on the number of chips that they have or that other people have.

d) I know some HE players that should move to this game since they call every preflop bet.


Any other thoughts?

How you would play this game?


I wouldn't Mr. Cazz. I would quit playing poker forever before I'd donate one penny to such a stupid game.


Card room managers should be looking to entice new players, not make them broke.


Good lord! I am, or was rather, a professional poker player on the home game/country club circuit and I have never in all my years seen such an idiotic concept for a "poker" game. And that's saying something in my line of work!


Think about it. Seven players (if indeed they can find seven morons in one casino to fill the game) are forced to put in five dollars each to win seven dollars on the flop. So in effect it's a five dollar ante. WITH NO PREFLOP BETTING? AND CAPPED AT THE ANTE PRICE? Are you kidding me?


The strategy to win is simple. Collude with your (figuratively speaking) two best low limit buddies. Then it's profitable.


Best of luck to you. LTL

Card room managers should be looking to entice new players, not make them broke.


If the rake is the same as a typical Hold'em game, then the same amount of money is being removed from the table.

The most important thing for you to recognize is that the skill factor of the game is close to ZERO. In fact, this game has to be unprofitable unless you win a disproportionate # of the Home Run Jackpots. Your poker skills will not be of much value in this game.


Therefore, you entire strategy should be based upon winning the most Home Run Jackpots at the smallest possible cost. Given that, here are some atypical plays you may make.


If you already have three clips, you should call with anything before the river card is dealt. You're implied odds will range from 40:1 to 60:1 based on what you said the Jackpot will be. On the river, you should probably call with as little as Jack or Ten-high.


If you have no clips and other players have three clips, you should probably fold quickly on the flop unless you have a very big hand. If it's allowed, you should step away from the table when other players have two more clips than you. However, I suspect the casino will make rules prohibiting this.