Baby NL game at Lucky Chances - does this structure suck?

[JSD]

What are your thoughts on this structure? Blinds are $1/$1/$2 ($1 on the button for some strange reason). $4 to open. $100 max buy-in (top off to $100 at any time). $6/half hour collection (ugh!).

I played in it for most of Sat and Sun night and broke even over about 20 hours of play, despite hitting some big hands. You basically pay around $25/hour in collection and blinds.

Anyone else play in this game on a semi-regular basis? There appeared to be a couple of decent regulars in the game both nights, but also enough live ones to keep it interesting.

Also, how do you adjust to the 2xBB to go structure? Interestingly, most raises were in the $12-$20 range, which seems high for a $2BB game, but not so unreasonable for a $4BB game.

[fsuplayer]

That structure sounds horrible and almost not worth playing. Thats half the BB's of Party!

Im sure they will bump it up soon to $200, bc i doubt it will go on for long with that structure.

FsuPlayer

[Justin A]

There's a game near where I live with a $2 big blind and a $50 max buy in. It's been going strong for quite sometime. I think it's better for the casino because it's harder for players to bust out with such a small buy in.

Justin A

[pilamsolo]

I play this game whenever I can (I live in San Jose now so it's not as often as I'd like). I've found the structure to be great, and the game to be very profitable. The $12 an hour collection sounds steep, but the alternative at Lucky Chances is that they collect $3 on the button per hand, which would actually be more expensive. I think one of the reasons that there's always so much action is that the game is played with $1 chips, and attracts a lot of $3-$6 players that underbet pots and make bad calls. This is the only game I've played in where an all-in almost always sees at least one caller, and sometimes 4 or 5. If you can sit and wait for a hand, it's a great game.

[Garland]

I have played this game on 4 or 5 occasions. I think I'm done with it except for once in a blue moon. The rake is steep and blinds don't come in for free. It's a tough game to crack given the structure rake and tip and the waiting game for cards/situations, and I'd rather play Ultimate Bet's NL $100 buy-in $.50/$1 game. If I figured right, I double tabled and played 500 hands one night and paid about $25 in rake. However, I also have bonus dollars accrued that gave me back around $10 for a net of $15 paid to the site.

If I played at Lucky Chances baby NL, and played about 500 hands at 35 hands per hour (generous) that would be about 14 hours. Multiply that by $12 and hour, and it's $168 in rake. Add about $10-$15 in tips and you figure out which is the better bargain.

However, you're correct the players at Lucky Chances are crazy loose and the game is a little better than Ultimate, but not enough to compensate for the rake.

Garland

[JSD]

Yeah, thats pretty much my thought on the game too.

I think it would be a MUCH better game if it were $1/$2 blinds, $2 to go, instead of 1/1/2, 4 to go. The $4 to go bit really blows if you ask me. Oh and make it a $200 buy-in. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Maybe I'll ask the floor about it when I'm there tomorrow night.

[Ulysses]

You might want to check out the game at the Palace in Hayward. 1-2-2, 5 to go. $100 min, no maximum. www.palacecardclub.com (http://www.palacecardclub.com)

I just clicked on the link and noticed this sentence: "If you're hungry, visit the Bistro." Bistro. OMG, that is some f'in hilarious stuff right there.

Anyway, check out the game, it's fun.

[JSD]

Thanks for the tip, El Diablo. I might have to check that game out. Do you play the big NL game at Luckys much? I strolled by it last Sunday night but didn't see anyone who looked like your avatar. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

As an aside - I'm new to playing NL live. Is it common to have to open for a larger amount than the BB? I found myself playing even tighter up front (if thats possible) as a result.

[pilamsolo]

What are the typical stack sizes in that game, and what's the rake? I didn't even know Hayward had a cardroom....

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you play the big NL game at Luckys much?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, but I'm probably going to start playing that game somewhat frequently now. I really haven't played much live in quite a while. Unfortunately for me, I'm not a huge fan of the LC cardroom and I'm also not a big fan of playing cards on Friday night. But I am a big fan of playing live NL, so.....

[ QUOTE ]
As an aside - I'm new to playing NL live. Is it common to have to open for a larger amount than the BB?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here in the Bay Area it is. LC is 10-10-20, 40 to go. 5-5, 10 to go. Palace is 1-2-2, 5 to go. Basically, open for the sum of the blinds.

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
What are the typical stack sizes in that game, and what's the rake?

[/ QUOTE ]

The game plays 11 (yes!) handed when full. In that game, stacks are often something like this: 3 stacks between 100-200, 3 stacks between 200-500, 3 stacks between 500-1500, 2 stacks > 1500. As the game gets later, the stacks sometimes get substantially bigger. When that happens, it is often killed by someone putting an extra $5 blind out, which makes it $10 to open instead of $5. Sometimes (but not that frequently) it gets double killed with a $10 blind, making it $20 to go.

I think the rake is something like $6/half-hour. I'm not sure exactly.

[RollaJ]

[ QUOTE ]
does this structure suck?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but may very well be playing if you can play for a while as people will be building bigger stacks

[potato]

You can sit and play crazy while you're waiting for a seat in the 5-5 on Sunday. Seriously, though, the rake/time really sucks.

Last time I was there some guy stood up and cashed out $1400. In a $100 max buyin game! He saw probably 90% of flops and was routinely busting people (usually by sucking out). It was awesome.

I haven't played in the Palace game before, I'd definitely like to check it out sometime.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

That collection is way too high for the stakes, IMO. Unless it's really REALLY fishy, it would be hard to overcome that much collection.

al

[pilamsolo]

I only have ~100 hours in that game, but it's definately the loosest NL I've ever seen. Where else can you get a $3-$6 player who's down $200 and wants to make it all back in an hour?