softness of casiono games

[splashpot]

Never been to a casino, I've only played online. I play 2/4 and 3/6 party. Thinking about going to Foxwoods. How do casino games compare to party games? Tighter, looser, agressiveness?

[TheSeeker03]

I've heard people say that quality of 2/4 games online, is about the same as 5/10 or even 10/20 live.

Say a group of friends goes to Vegas or AC once a year. They aren't here for long and they want to have the most fun. They came to play, not to fold!

I came from AC myself 2 days ago. 2/4 tables were very loose. 3/6 tables varied. Some moderately tight, filled with student age internet generation players who are low on cash, but smart. Not good. But a 3/6 game at Bally's was unbelievably loose, 7 see the flop on average.

But overall, expect loose games.

However, the rake (10%, $4 max) and tipping the dealer will add up.

[jar]

If you have the bankroll for it, I highly recommend the Foxwoods 5/10 kill@100 game. The most important skill in this game (assuming you're a solid player) is adjusting your play to the game conditions. This game often plays like a party .50 game, with 6 or 7 seeing the flop for one or two bets, and chasing with all kinds of nonsense. Sometimes a game like that will tighten up immensely when there is a kill, sometimes it goes maniacal. Some games have one kill pot every hour or so; some you'll go an hour with nothing but kill pots.

If you're beating the 2/4 and 3/6, you'll have no trouble with this game if you have the bankroll. If you don't, watch out, the swings can be massive. Last time I played it, I lost a bundle (probably 2 more bets than I should have) flopping top set vs nut straight. I made it all back and more about an hour later when I built a huge pot for my flush draw that came in, and got KK on my following kill. Flopped the set and bet/3bet. I put villain correctly on broadway when he checkraised the turn. The river paired the board, and he happily capped it.

Also, the rake in this game is not too bad. $2 at the flop, $1 at 30, and $1 at 80. So, it goes to 5% for the last dollar.

[RydenStoompala]

It's entirely different. If you are proficient in 3-6 online, then you will have little or no problem with any of the low limit casino games. The big gap occurs in the behavioral science. Unlike most online games, casino games are stocked with personalities who send all kinds of signals about their play. You get a sense of this online, but it becomes very important in a B+M game. I find them to be quite different in terms of the game experience. The real live casino games are much more enjoyable for me, and I like to play 10-20 (with kill) up to 30-60, or no limit. My people skills dwarf my instant math intuition, so obviously I have a bias.

[splashpot]

[ QUOTE ]
It's entirely different. If you are proficient in 3-6 online, then you will have little or no problem with any of the low limit casino games. The big gap occurs in the behavioral science. Unlike most online games, casino games are stocked with personalities who send all kinds of signals about their play. You get a sense of this online, but it becomes very important in a B+M game. I find them to be quite different in terms of the game experience. The real live casino games are much more enjoyable for me, and I like to play 10-20 (with kill) up to 30-60, or no limit. My people skills dwarf my instant math intuition, so obviously I have a bias.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the responses. I've been beating the 2/4 and 3/6 fairly easily for 5BB/100H for 10,000 hands (I know, small sample size, blah blah). Too bad I don't really have the proper bankroll to play 10/20, nor would I feel comfortable with that much money on the line. Maybe I should pick up one of those books on reading people. I know the book/software forum would get me some better responses, but anyone know of good ones? The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the book on tells by Caro.

[jar]

How big of an effort is a trip to Foxwoods? If it's a relatively easy day trip, say 100 miles or less, I suggest going and playing 2/4 or 4/8 to get a feel for it and going from there. Tells are overrated at the low limits. The much more important thing is to get a feel for the play of each of your opponents. Does the 3 seat only raise when he has the nuts? Is the 7 seat a maniac? Is the 4 seat a solid player? Paying attention to stuff like that is more important live than online, because players will usually stay at the same table for much longer. The only tells I really watch for at low limits are the straightforward "telegraphs". For instance, say you're considering a blind steal in the cutoff position, which is often ineffective in the bottom limits. If the button and the SB already have their cards in hand about to fold, it's worth a shot. If the BB calls, you're heads up with position, and there's a good chance he'll fold. If you see someone behind you already counting out the chips for a raise, maybe you'll want to check. Some people will fake these things, but usually they're pretty accurate. If someone does try to get tricky with stuff like this, that usually provides good information too.

Also, I'll probably be there this Friday, PM if you'd like to meet up.

[splashpot]

[ QUOTE ]
How big of an effort is a trip to Foxwoods? If it's a relatively easy day trip, say 100 miles or less, I suggest going and playing 2/4 or 4/8 to get a feel for it and going from there. Tells are overrated at the low limits. The much more important thing is to get a feel for the play of each of your opponents. Does the 3 seat only raise when he has the nuts? Is the 7 seat a maniac? Is the 4 seat a solid player? Paying attention to stuff like that is more important live than online, because players will usually stay at the same table for much longer. The only tells I really watch for at low limits are the straightforward "telegraphs". For instance, say you're considering a blind steal in the cutoff position, which is often ineffective in the bottom limits. If the button and the SB already have their cards in hand about to fold, it's worth a shot. If the BB calls, you're heads up with position, and there's a good chance he'll fold. If you see someone behind you already counting out the chips for a raise, maybe you'll want to check. Some people will fake these things, but usually they're pretty accurate. If someone does try to get tricky with stuff like this, that usually provides good information too.

Also, I'll probably be there this Friday, PM if you'd like to meet up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the invite, I see you're from Worcester. I live in Needham so Foxwoods would normally be a few hours drive. However I happen to be in Hong Kong at the moment and won't be back til May. In my original post, I didn't really make it clear that I don't intend to go to Foxwoods til this summer. Who knows, maybe when I get back, I'll remember this post and look you up(maybe, probably not, my memory is not good for things like this). Also, maybe I can build up my bankroll enough by that time to play 10/20.