I aint payin' the Ante.

Hi everyone, I had a question regarding the tournament structure at "PokerStars" versus "PartyPoker." I thought that after a certain level in the tournament there begins an ante fee regardless if your in the hand or not. Thats how its done in Casinos and WSOP. PokerStars seems to follow the same pattern but "PartyPoker" does not take an ante in tournaments. Why is that?
[Sorry if this has been answered before.]
Also, doesn't this offer some type of advantage by not having an ante, or does it not matter?

Thanks!

Antes start at the second level of 100/200 and are 25 I believe. This is level 7 or an hour and 3/4 in.

Edit: Had the sites in question in reverse. It probably has to do with having less chips in play in Party Poker tournaments.

[TomHimself]

short stacks have a advantage at party poker

[HeroInBlack]

I only play on PokerStars myself, but my feeling is that the antes really ratchet up the action and reward blind-stealing a lot more. Usually the ante makes it 2.5 BB in the pot before anyone does anything, rather than 1.5BB in a non-anted game. That's a pretty big difference.

As a matter of fact, my mark for when I really start stealing blinds aggressively is whenever the antes come into play.

It automatically decreases everyone's M value and mandates a good bit more action. I think for this reason, those of us that are willing to get in there and play some pots and get a little LAGgy benefit greatly during ante time over those that want to fold til they get a big hand.

But again, I've never played really without the ante, so criticism from those that have is more than welcome.

But why does PartyPoker do this though? Why follow such an unconventional approach considering its one of the largest and "good" poker sites out there?

[Big_Jim]

For the same reason they won't fix the incorrect position of the SB and BB when playing HU on cash game tables.