Bay 101 Button Charge

[HammerinHank]

I'm new so cut me some slack if this is obvious. Isn't $3 on the button in the 2/4 and 3/6 HE games too high to make the games beatable. Is it the same at the other nearby games or can I get a better deal in a raked or time charged game somewhere else?

I notice the button charge at Bay is the same at the slightly higher limit games but since I am just learning to play I would obviously rather get my lessons at 2/4 or 3/6.

[jen]

I've played at Bay, AJs, and LC. All of the low-limit games have the $3 drop. Time charges only come in to play at the Bay $40-$80 and up and LC $20-40 and no-limit.

I've never played the $2-4, but the $3-$6 should be quite beatable despite the heavy drop. If you've got the bankroll though, then I'd consider moving up to the $6-$12. I started playing poker with $3-$6 at Bay, and that game is completely uninteresting in terms of hand reading -- you'll just learn to play your hand correctly in terms of odds. $6-$12 may not be much better but at least raising gets a little attention.

[offTopic]

I'm new so cut me some slack if this is obvious. Isn't $3 on the button in the 2/4 and 3/6 HE games too high to make the games beatable. Is it the same at the other nearby games or can I get a better deal in a raked or time charged game somewhere else?


You would think so, wouldn't you? I haven't logged anything close to enough hours to state this with any certainty, but I strongly suspect that the play at the 3-6 level is so bad that the game is still beatable. A caveat, though, if you play online and think that you've absorbed some tough beats, you ain't seen nothin' yet! [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I notice the button charge at Bay is the same at the slightly higher limit games but since I am just learning to play I would obviously rather get my lessons at 2/4 or 3/6.

I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but I'd stick with the 3-6 and avoid the 2-4, since you still have to post $3 on the button, but only 2 of it is live. Also, there seem to be way more short buys at the 2-4, and if you thought $90 an hour down the chute at a 3-6 was bad, try it at 2-4 when everyone is buying in for $20...

[SossMan]

I know a couple of places that don't take the drop on the button in the bay area: Casino San Pablo and Sonoma Joe's in Petaluma (which is a very beatable game). Both places have the traditional drop of the Big Blind. (plus another $1 for the bad beat jackpot at San Pablo).
The best deal in town is still a home game w/ no rake, no tips, and plenty of beer purchased from the grocery store.
Let me know if you find one in the bay area.