Preferred Blind Structure?

[bobbyi]

Disregarding practical issues like the denominations of chips it would require using in your favorite game and focusing only on the theoretical side of what makes the most sense for holdem as a game, if there were going to be a blind structure used uniformly in all limit holdem games and you could select it, what would you choose? Please also respond to say why.

If you would like some structure other than those listed (including esoteric options like three blinds, or blinds in different positions than now, or having the small blind and large blind be switched, or having antes in addition to or instead of blinds), please respond to say what it is and why. I've been thinking about structure more recently and would be interested to hear any thoughts. I know that some people will say it is better to have different structures in different games (and they are right), but for the sake of this poll, we are pretending that one structure is going to be adopted uniformly for all games across the world. Thanks.

[Brom]

I voted for the 1/2 structure. Maybe it's because I'm just so accustomed to it. It seems to me that other structures like 2/3 or 1/3 lead to play that is too far from the "norm" in terms of looseness or tightness respectively. I just take comfort in playing an average game I guess.

I do enjoy seeing a non-standard blind structure game where most of the people do not realize how to adapt properly to it (or they just aren't doing it if they know how). I feel I have an advantage in that I know how the blind structure should be adapted to in these games.

[bobbyi]

I can see why you would rather stick with what you are used to, but remember that hypothetically the new blind structure would be the standard everywhere in the world forever more. So it would become the new "norm" and I think you would quickly learn to adapt. Of course, other players would eventually adapt as well, so I think the gain from the fact that people wouldn't know how to handle a new blind structure would be short-lived. Thinking about the long term, do you still like 1/2?

[Brom]

I realize that I would adapt quite quickly, and after a few months I'm sure I wouldn't even miss the old way. Long term I still like the 1/2. I feel the game doesn't need to be made looser or tighter than it currently is. It also makes for easy counting of bets and therefore pot odds.

However I am glad that the other structures exist in certain games. Games like 15/30 and 25/50 with 2/3 and 3/5 structure are always a welcomed way to juice up the typically tight mid limit games. We need the diversity of blind structures to exist.

If everyone played by one standard blind structure then surely one casino somewhere would want to be "cutting edge" and would introduce a different structure. I think that the novelty of this would make it popular and people would want to play in games other than the boring one they have played everywhere else. Kind of like the grass is greener on the other side. People always want the choice to try something different.

[antifish225]

I love 2/3 from 15/30 - especially for a 'tight' player who does not get into that many hands the 2/3 structure provides a very nice incentive for playing more marginal hands from the sb as it is such a good 'deal' - I think this has helped my post flop play allot as I am having to deal with more varied situations (as opposed to mainly playing 'big cards') - just my opinion though......but in an ideal world I think it would be pretty interesting playing with three blinds structured 1/2/3 - that would add some new stratgeies into the game and change up the math for playing in late position.....imagine all the stealing/defending that would be going on with 2 full bets up for grabs pre-flop......

[bobbyi]

[ QUOTE ]
If everyone played by one standard blind structure then surely one casino somewhere would want to be "cutting edge" and would introduce a different structure. I think that the novelty of this would make it popular and people would want to play in games other than the boring one they have played everywhere else.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, of course. Again, this is theoretical. Obviously, no one has actually selected you to be the sole decider of the blind structure for the whole world. But I still think it is interesting to think about what the best choice would be theoretically. I used to think 1/2, but I increasingly feel that most players play absolutely terrible out of position and that forcing other people to play out of position more often should give me a huge edge, so I'm thinking I may like the bigger small blind better. Pretty much all of my experience is with 1/2 blinds, so it's hard for me to say. Even my local 30/60 uses a $15 SB instead of a $20 (the game is played with a mix of reds and greens). Actually, thinking about whether I would perfer that game to have a $20 SB (not that it's up to me anyway, obvioulsy) is what spurred this poll.

[geormiet]

I think that the increase of the size of the blinds is indirectly proportional to the edge one can have in a game.

look at the two extremes - $0 blinds. You only play AA. Anyone who plays more hands than this will lose to those who are only playing AA.

infinite $ blinds - you have no edge, you just put in your ante and see who wins. Over time everyone breaks even.

Anyway, if this theory is true, then I like the 1/3 small blind. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Jdanz]

I vote for 2/3 because i think i steal better then most.
-JDanz

Edit: also allows for more marginal blind defenses which favors good post-flop players.

[casinogosain]

I too answered 1/2, also because it is what I am used to. Only after I clicked did I think about the question.

I think that if the chosen structure were to be universally adopted, I would choose 1/3. This is based on my observation of live play with 1/3 structures in which people over-complete their small blinds. I think this gives a greater edge to those that play them appropriately.

-Ash

[Brom]

That is a very good point. After voting, I considered that the 1/3 structure was a very close second for me. It punishes the loose players the most for their mistakes, and therefore benefits me with my tight style of play.