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View Full Version : Pot Limit Poker the Game of Choice in the UK.


daveymck
07-02-2004, 06:04 AM
I guess this is more relavent to the Uk and European PLayers.

Having been a internet player for two years now I have got a contract in London and have the time and opportunity to gain some much needed live experience.

Online I have mainly played Limit, + the usual NL sng's and MTT's all holdem.

Looking around London the choices were the vic or the gutshot, the Vic seems only to do Pot Limit, as a newbie I deceided to try the gutshot, whilst they have a list for Limit the times I have been there the most it got to was 2, its all Pot Limit or dealers choice.

This seems to fly in the face of the trend in the states and online where it appears in the main Limit that is played. Why is the UK different?

It surprises me particulary at the Gutshot which is looking to cater for people like me ie Internet to Live convertors and new players that the customers there do not want to play limit.

For the beginning live player I think Pot limit has to be the most complex of the HE diciplines to play, as someone used to having a screen telling me what the bet is I find the raising pot action the most difficult part of the live experince, I need someone to keep me right tell me the betting which adds to the stress of this new experince and much shuffling of chips trying to get it right and not make a mistake, and probably adds frustration to the more live experienced players.

Also Limit for a beginner is a better game to learn the dynamics and give slight protection from playing better players. In NL a better player is going to make a beginner make lots of mistakes, in Limit those mistakes generally are not as big and the skill level is slightly negated (a better player is still going to come out on top longer term). I guess Pot Limit is in between. The downside of limit is you probably need a bigger bankroll to have a shot at the game than at a 25 buy in Pot Limit Game.

Be intereseted to know why people think Pot Limit is the game of choice over here and if this will change as hopefully the game gets bigger with all the upcoming TV coverage in the UK.

Sheriff Fatman
07-02-2004, 07:56 AM
The main thing that puts me off the UK casino cash games is not the fact that its pot limit betting (which I don't mind if playing Hold'Em), its the fact that the games are usually self-dealt dealers choice games.

Therefore, not only do I have to run the higher risk of big bet poker but I have to do it playing a variety of games, many of which I'm not familiar with (PLO seems to be the main game of choice so I'm determine to learn this one).

Much as I am keen to learn more about playing Omaha, Stud, Hi/Lo Split, 3-card Irish, etc I don't particularly want this initial experience being in a pot-limit game where one beginner mistake could cost me my stack.

I find it frustrating, particularly after my time in Vienna recently where there were a variety of well-attended limit games at all hours of the day at the Concord. Having got the bug for live play from that trip its frustrating that the local casinos in the UK don't offer a similar choice.

Sheriff

daveymck
07-02-2004, 08:17 AM
I think I have been lucky that I found the gutshot cos as well as dealers choice (which I have avoided) there is generally a £25 pot limit or £50 NL game going as well (well in 4 times I have been) and they have a relaxed feel in general, I have played with a couple of the regulars a couple of whome seem good players and didnt get the impression they were out to fleece everyone.

Best bet for you might be to play in the regular tournies that they have round the various Grovsners etc think they are normally 20 quid efforts but worth it for the experince not sure where you live in relation to one that has these games though. I have now racked up 15 ish real life table hours and am now starting to settle and feel more comfortable at the table, except for the pot rasie thing as mentioned above.