Stud vs. HE : Online Profitability

Lawnboy · #1 08-09-2005, 02:18 PM

So I havn't posted much on here, but I've been a regular reader of this column for some time. I've read several times that some posters believe that online HE can be more profitable than online 7StudHigh. So I keep wondering whether I should consider taking up HE.

I've been a Stud specialist for some time and was a regular at the Foxwoods 10/20 game for the last few years with good success, but have moved almost entirely now to online play. I've put in probably 250,000+ hands of 3/6 and 5/10 Stud High on the Party Network with good success. I've tracked my last 70,000 hands with a custom built program. The results are good, I've averaged 2.1 BB/100 hands at 3/6 and 1.8 BB/100 hands at 5/10. I normally play 4 tables at once, but have been experimenting with 5-6 recently(the ability to quickly sit-out at any time is the only way this can be done with Stud). Once rake-back is factored in this puts me just slightly under $60/Hr. These #s might be just slightly above my true expectation based on variance, but I don't think by much if they are.

Now the question is could I make more $$$/Hr playing hold'em? The numbers I have seen for BB/100 for the limit HE guys at these levels aren't quite as high, though some claim so. I've cut my chops some at this game, but obviously would also take some time to get up to speed. The main benefit that I see of moving to HE would be the ability to play more tables at a time, with some practice I think I could probably do 8. Not sure about the variance, but I think it would be about the same with HE(I counted cards in Vegas many years ago, so poker variance seems like a walk in the park compared to the roller-coaster ride of blackjack). The number of stud tables at party seems to be consistant, I don't think this is going away(though 3/6 seems a little less fishy w/ 2/4 in the mix now), but there are obviously many more HE tables out there and it seems much more competition to sit down with the big fishys.

So I don't know, is it worth it to try HE. If so, Limit or NL? Or should I just stick with what I know? Why do you guys think HE is more profitable?

---Lawnboy

beta1607 · #2 08-09-2005, 02:30 PM

Many posters on 2p2 can beat 5/10 HE for 2+ BB/100, considering that you can also play more tables of HE and get more hands/hr. its not hard to see how it could be more profitable for some.

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I normally play 4 tables at once, but have been experimenting with 5-6 recently(the ability to quickly sit-out at any time is the only way this can be done with Stud).

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This is just my opinion, but I HATE when people do this. If you are going to sit out for a couple minutes to go to teh bathroom or get a soda thats cool but dont sit out every couple minutes so you can focus on another table. It is inconsiderate and one of the reasons games break up often.

If you dont mind me asking what is your name on party - I think I have an idea?

frappeboy · #3 08-09-2005, 02:38 PM

My feelings on the matter are that limit hold'em is not any more profitable than stud if you are an expert.. I do think it might be easier to become an expert in hold'em though, which might be the reason why many people seem to have more success with it.

The most profitable game of all, is NL/PL Hold'em and its Omaha counterparts.

BeerMoney · #4 08-09-2005, 02:53 PM

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If you dont mind me asking what is your name on party - I think I have an idea?

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Remember, he's saying 5/10 and 3/6.......... So, good old obdachloser can probably be eliminated..

Lawnboy · #5 08-09-2005, 02:56 PM

Ummmm. I'm not giving away my name on Party. But I will tell you I play under several names as I play all of the skins. Also, I change'em as often as they let me...

Lawnboy

BeerMoney · #6 08-09-2005, 04:02 PM

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Ummmm. I'm not giving away my name on Party. But I will tell you I play under several names as I play all of the skins. Also, I change'em as often as they let me...

Lawnboy

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AWESOME!

BeerMoney · #7 08-09-2005, 05:01 PM

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Why do you guys think HE is more profitable?

---Lawnboy

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1.) HE is easier to multitable.
2.) I think people with absolutely no poker experience will be trying HE before they try stud.

However, if stud is the game you enjoy more, it seems rational it might be the game that you will be best at.

Your current rate of $60 is nothing to scoff at. If you put in the hours, you should have no trouble reaching +$100k at the end of the year.

frappeboy · #8 08-09-2005, 06:14 PM

In "Poker essays" Mason Malmuth says an expert stud player can make $15 an hour playing 5-10. Keep in mind this rate is for B&M, this seems to suggest $30 an hour per table is attainable.

Now I don't think this means that you could make $120 an hour by playing 4 tables, because your win rate is bound to go down.. But $20 per hour per table is certainly not out of the question.

beta1607 · #9 08-09-2005, 06:22 PM

I was making $25-30 an hour at 2 tables of 5/10 not counting rakeback or bonus. I think that more then $65 an hour is almost unattainable regardless of how many tables you play because you hit a wall on keeping up with the games.

This of course takes into account that players like the OP who sit out to play at one table while seated at others are not really 'multitabling' so they have far less table hours then you would think.

BeerMoney · #10 08-09-2005, 06:32 PM

Beta, did you experience any big swings for those 6 months?