"Official" Live at the Bike thread (9/15)

[Kevmath]

Tonight's show is scheduled to be a 200 min/max or 300 min/500 max "Ladies Night" game with pink chips included to winners of pots. Whomever wins the most pink chips will win some sort of prize. Last night's 50/100 NL "Whale Game" went well, and the guest commentators did do a good job overall working with Bart. I do have to wonder if including a $5000 max buyin really helps the game, maybe dropping it to 25/50 would work a bit better. www.liveatthebike.com will have all the action starting at 9pm ET thru midnight tonight.

[TomHimself]

the max buyin at 5k is ridiculous

[Kevmath]

I've found out from Bart, it's $40 min/max 1-2 NL Ladies only "tournament" with the pink action chips (paying $100-50-25 for top 3 spots). Guest commentating the first 30 minutes will be Mel Judah

[Kevmath]

I was wondering if this was a cash game.

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
the max buyin at 5k is ridiculous

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily. I only saw the broadcast for a few minutes but I did notice that some of the players rarely play no limit, despite being "whales". The buy-in and structure seemed to be a large version of the fixed buy-in games that have become overwhelmingly popular in LA. These structures make it easier for people not used to deep stack no limit to make the transition.

For example, a few years ago the smalest game had $2 and $3 blinds with a $100 buy-in. Generally you could add $100 if you had $50 and below. The next biggest game had $3 and $5 blinds with a $200 to $300 buy-in. Scaled up re-buy rules apply. Expect 50 to 70 games this size in LA any given evening (among the five major clubs).

Now we have fixed-buy NL games with $5 and $10 blinds and $400 or $500 buy-ins. On a typical night expect about seven games this size in Los Angeles. Note the Bike doesn't have this game (they do have an unrestricted buy game with these or bigger blinds) but they do have a game with two $5 blinds and a spread buy-in of $300 to $500.

Once again, keep in mind these structures make the limit players far more comfortable entering NL and eventually some of the players end up in deep buy games.

~ Rick

[Kevmath]

Rick, the fact that some of the players weren't proficient in NL games was mentioned a couple weeks ago, and I certainly understand that. However, wouldn't having the game be 25/50 work better with a 5k max buyin or do you think making the blinds 50/100 drive out some players who may do well at the higher limit NL games?

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
Rick, the fact that some of the players weren't proficient in NL games was mentioned a couple weeks ago, and I certainly understand that. However, wouldn't having the game be 25/50 work better with a 5k max buyin or do you think making the blinds 50/100 drive out some players who may do well at the higher limit NL games?

[/ QUOTE ]

I checked last nights thread and it was 50/100 blinds with a $500 fixed-buy (didn't check the entire thread but if memory serves they allowed some sort of re-buy if the stack fell below $300 or something similar).

25/50 blinds would work for the "whales" I guess but keep in mind the structure they used is a ten times scaled up version of the game I and many others about town play. I'm shark bait in an unrestricted buy format but love the restricted buy game with $5 and $10 blinds (buy-in is either $400 or $500). When the game has been down for a while the average stack can approach $1500 and it becomes an interesting game.

Anyway, now that traffic has cleared I'm out for the night and plan on making it out to the Bike. I'll either play 20/40 limit holdem (maybe the stud/8) or the restricted buy game with two $5 blinds and a $300 to $500 spread buy. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Regards,

Rick

[cwsiggy]

Sheesh $40 seems low for 1-2 blinds what do I know. I suppose the pink chip thing will stimulate action.

On a side note - the Stars WCOOP event #12 Stud h/l sees Moneymaker in 3rd, Scott Fischman in 2nd and Fossilman in 15th place with 56 left. First pays 66k. They are in the money now.

[Ghazban]

I understand what you're saying but still prefer 100 big blinds at least. Games like the 2/3 with a $100 buyin are ridiculous because there's no postflop play at all until people get deeper. With 100 big blind stacks, the game is still accessible (say 1/2 with a $200 buy in) for those uncomfortable with deepstacked games but there's more play.

[Rick Nebiolo]

[ QUOTE ]
I understand what you're saying but still prefer 100 big blinds at least. Games like the 2/3 with a $100 buyin are ridiculous because there's no postflop play at all until people get deeper. With 100 big blind stacks, the game is still accessible (say 1/2 with a $200 buy in) for those uncomfortable with deepstacked games but there's more play.

[/ QUOTE ]

Still hope to make it out the door but one reason you need higher blinds in LA on the small buy-in games is that for legal reasons they take full drop on any flop. Try doing that with one limper and even smaller blinds. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Also note that the players do get deeper so the game evolves over time yet no NL superstar can sit right down and stack everyone off. IMO this helps keep the games good.

~ Rick