Clearing a Stars Bonus

[Vern]

I had always struggled with the Star's bonus because you have to have large pot sizes relative to the rake below 2/4 and 2/4 was always so tight. .25/50 & .5/1 had to get to $10 pots(20BB & 10BB) respectively, 1/2 had to get to $15 posts (7.5BB). Usually, I played 1/2 there, which is also pretty tight, but at 4 tables doing 240hands/hr, I could get 40-50 points an hour and clear a 600 point bonus in about 13 hours. I have tried the NL tables, since even the low buy in NL tables can get to the $1 rake required to generate a point, but that actually took longer. I even tried the $5 SnG, since they generate 3 points ($.60 equity) for only a $0.50 fee, but that would require 200 SnG, even 4 tabling those would take upwards of 40-50 hours.

This last time however, I learned the wonders of Stars 2/4. It was actually looser than their 1/2 tables(1/2 tables had an average to see the flop of 22-28 and the 2/4 were in the 28-33 range by what PT reported in its Game Time tab). They also only needed 5BB pots to generate a point and you didn't suffer partial rake but no points earned. About 50% of the pots were raked and I cleared the full 600 point bonus in a little over 5 hours of play. 2/4 plays faster as well. I averaged nearly 260hands/hr 4 tabling. I saw rusty JEDI there too, but I didn't say hi. He was too busy getting AA and KK to notice anyone else. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] So from now on, if your bankroll can allow you to play 2/4, my recommendation is to clear the stars bonuses at 2/4 or better.

Vern

Standard Disclaimer, I am by no means an expert at any of this.

[cnfuzzd]

dude, 3/6 6m is waaaaaaaay better.

peace

john nickle

[Vern]

[ QUOTE ]
dude, 3/6 6m is waaaaaaaay better.

peace

john nickle

[/ QUOTE ]

What percentage of hands get raked there? My concern with Stars' tables just applies to whoring.

Vern

[stinkypete]

play the $225 and $114 sit n gos. i cleared my bonus in <2 hours.

[cnfuzzd]

nearly all of them were getting raked, as the game was full of loose passives, with an occasional maniac who would cap it with A high or bottom pair, or nothing at all. When i was clearing the bonus, i was only playing 2 tables as i was still 8tabling my party accounts, but im certain that if i was playing to the max i couldve cleared the bonus in less than 4 hours. Also, the games are so profitable that it more than made up for an extra time. I went up 70BB's clearing the bonus, with some mediocre dealings.

peace

john nickle

[Vern]

Well it is 8pm eastern on Saturday night and there are only two 3/6 full ring tables going, but eight 2/4 tables, so needing to 4 table, I would still have had to have some 2/4 tables open, but I will consider it in May/June when the next Stars Bonus comes along.

I have been datamining the 3/6 stars tables for about half an hour now and they are both around 26-27%, not bad, but getting back to that Stars trademarked tightness.

Vern

[cnfuzzd]

the 6max games dude. You have to be able to play shorthanded, but microlimit shorthanded play should be in any good bonus whore bag of tricks.

peace

john nickle

[Vern]

Yeah, it is in my bag of tricks, mostly Stars & Party 1/2 6max and Paradise 1/2 5max, but I just don't like it that much. Don't get me wrong, I think I can play it well (don't we all think that), I just enjoy the full ring the best and I like to have all my tables at the same limit/style so I don't get confused, which can happen easily for me [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks for the responses.

Vern

[Pokeraddict]

Another good idea is to play stud8 or omaha8 as these split pot games will create bigger pots and more raked hands. They also however play fewer hands per hour.