$3-6-12 limits advice wanted

I am contemplating a visit to a nearby casino where they spread $3-6-12 hold'em. The "$12" part, as I understand it, means the river limits are either $6 or $12, in any combination (e.g., $6 open, raised to $18, raised to $24, capped at $36). What's the best way to play this type of game (e.g., only go to the river with hands you are almost certain are the best, etc.)? Is this close enough to a $2-4-8 game that suited connectors and small pairs increase in value due to the exponential implied odds? I'll appreciate any help you can provide regarding this structure.

You are absolutely correct in your strategy of playing suited connectors and small pairs due to the implied odds on the higher river bets.

draws that look like they will get paid off offer more value. also bluffs are stronger but cost more. i wouldnt go hog wild playing looser or you will need a second job.

In our book, "Middle Limit Holdem Poker", Bob Ciaffone and I have an entire chapter on this structure in the $10-$20-$40 format. There are some profound changes on how you play the river when you think your hand might be best. You cannot bet a hand at the river for value as much and there is more deception on the turn, at least in middle limit games.

Do I understand the structure of these limits properly or does the "big, big" bet apply on the turn as well?


If the biggest bet is only on the river, does your "turn deception" comment mean that more people are likely to raise/re-raise to force people out and narrow the competition going into the expensive river?


I know it always "depends," but is it safe to assume that top pair/top kicker shouldn't be pushed real hard on the river, even on an uncoordinated board? Is this the source for the comment about not value betting?


Thanks in advance for any responses.

"Big big bet" is only on the river. You heading to Lake Charles?

I was thinking of playing in Coushatta but Lake Charles could work, too. Any recommendations regarding where to play? I only want to play hold'em.

I've played both places. The games are decent but the rake sucks. (10% up to $6 + $1 jackpot).


My buddies and I that went figured that over the 14 or so hours that we played if we were to leave down ~$90-100 that would be like breaking even at a home 'non-raked' game.


So, good luck fighting that off. I managed to leave up a little but that was my first experience at a spread limit like that.


We played the Coushatta daytime on saturday and it was a freggin rock garden. One of the dealers at our table hollers to the floor manager as he's bringing her a setup "Hey, bring some WD-40 over here the next time - this table is tight!!". There was a tourney going on that day and it was down to the final 2 tables when we sat down, so perhaps many of the people that busted out of that sat in the 3/6/12 game for a while trying to recoup their buy-in. Who knows...


The Isle of Capri is a dump - smoky as hell and marginal dealers at best. Pretty skanky people in there too and a good number of decent players. You will get the 1-3 fish at the table from time to time so it makes playing worthwhile.


I played 3 sessions at the Capri and found that each table was very different. It varied from very passive aggressive to loose passive - so be prepared to adjust your game accordingly.


The $12 bet on the end there is nice though. Kind of weird at first, but it's just like playing a standard $3/6 game until you get to the river. During one session the $12 bets came out EVERY river and in another session I rarely saw any $12 bets and if someone used them they took it down right there or it was a heads up situation and both players had strong hands.


I met a few nice people each time I played, but for the most part I found the Capri to be a dump with some real idiots. The coushatta is a nicer room but it's loud - its tucked away in this tent that's chock full of slots. It's pretty annoying.


Both places have that spread 3/6/12 and I think 1/5 stud and then the limits go up to 10/20 so there's nothing lower and nothing in between. So, good thing you only want to play 3/6. :-)


Have fun - I'd be interested to hear what you thought about it when you get back. We were thinking about going again just to get some B&M poker in again but were pretty put off with the rake. If you plan on playing a lot - be prepared to donate $100+ to the casino for their hospitality. :-)

you just saved me a trip to the "grand" state of Louisiana. That rake is crazy! I'll sit at home and play online rather than driving four hours round-trip to pay to play poker. Ugh! [img]/images/frown.gif[/img]

Yup - $7 a pot to the house is a joke. Someone there was telling me though that it's not really the casino's fault - the state taxes the beejezzus out of them on poker for whatever reason. That rake is a nightmare though - worst I've heard of anywhere.


It's not much of an experience either - I like playing at the tables but it's a bitch fighting a rake that large. I guess if you were going to play $10/20 you'd be a little better off but when the house takes a BB + some change out of damn near every pot it starts to hurt a little. I caught several of the dealers over-raking a little too. They wouldn't rake over the $6 but they would put that $4th dollar in when there was $33 in the pot, etc...


We were one card away from a $52,000 jackpot at my last session though. My friend flops quad K's and the the other guy fills up on the flop with J's over K's (KKJ flop). If one more Jack would have fallen then quad J's get stomped by quad K's and I take home ~$1500 bucks for foling my 72o that hand. :-)


The jackpot there is A over 10's full beaten by anything higher and both involved in the jackpot have to play both cards in their hand to qualify.


At any rate, probably a wise choice to stay home and just play online.


I'm going to Vegas the week after next to get my fix though. :-)