$4/8 game w/ $1/2 blinds - strategy?

[Messy Harry]

Just wondering what preflop strategy adjustments, if any, should be made to adjust to a $4/8 game with the $1/2 blind structure where the first raise is to $6?

[Pocket Trips]

see this month's 2+2 magazine...there is an excellent artice on exactly this topic

[Eratosthenes]

The book answer is to tighten up preflop because the blinds are small relative to subsequent bets.

OTOH, I suspect that this game will be a real limpfest, as long as there is no EP raise. So if you can get in an unraised pot with a speculative hand that plays well in a multiway pot, then you are getting very good implied odds.

Preflop position becomes more important. It will be more unpleseant than usual to limp in EP with a speculative hand and then be faced with a raise. If you are in the SB and the BB doesn't raise often, then you complete with almost anything.

Seat selection is important. You need to find your "lucky seat," which will be just to the right of some passive (preflop) players.

I would think that this game would be very profitable for a good player that makes adjustments to this structure.

[Messy Harry]

[ QUOTE ]
there is an excellent artice on exactly this topic


[/ QUOTE ]

An understatement! Thanks for pointing me to this, I had not seen it yet.

[Messy Harry]

Thanks for your response.

[midas]

Harry-

This is Mandalay Bay's 4-8 structure and I offer some observations.

1. Everyone plays looser preflop - anything sooted or connected limps.

2. Superior post-flop play pays off - 3-4 players can be on draws on any given hand - TPTK loses value, two pair suckouts are common.

3. As discussed before, SB will commonly say "I'll see any flop for a buck" - so now BB and SB can have miracle flops - watch out.

4. Evaluate the "regulars" - are they aggressive or passive - I've seen old ladies in this game regularly limp with big pairs.

Avoid the daytime games with the rocks and seek out the "young and fun" tables at night for a profitable session

[Messy Harry]

I know...I played there this past weekend [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[CrashPat]

I would imagine that it will start to play like the 2-10 spread limit games that are common where I play. You seem to end up with a lot of people that play any 2 suited cards, and a lot of people play Axo and Kxo. It also is going to hurt to limp in and then be raised, but it will build a pot nicely if you can raise after a bunch of limpers, as not very many people like to fold after they put in their 2 bits.