Is 1-2 a waste of time??

[Griswald79]

I have recently merging into the live poker world and I need you guys to help me clarify a few things. I started playing 3-6, 4-8 on a casino boat in my town and found it to be a good experience for me as a novice. Heres why:

-I can learn to peg opponents with certain playing styles i have read in books

-I am getting used to the atmosphere (i was nervous my first time)

These are some little things I have picked up in the last couple of months. Recently something has come along and shook (is that a word?) things up. A beautiful card room has opened up 5 minutes from my house with 36 tables. What is the problem you might ask? I live in Florida and this is not on an Indian Reservation. The law in Fl. states that there is a maximum bet of $2 with up to 3 raises.

These games are only spreading 1-2 and 2-2. This is very frustrating for me as a novice.
1-2 seems like a joke to me. There seems to be no skill involved. I am trying to sharpen up what little game I have, and I find it almost impossible to do it in this place. Like I said before: I am new. But I do study the game, read all the books I can get, and lurk on this forum. The majority of the people in this cardroom think of poker as just a way to gample their paychecks, while I think about it as a skill game. Should I play at this new place to sharpen my skills, or should I go back to the Casino boat w/ the 3-6, 4-8,
5-10, etc.? If you guys think I should play at the 1-2 palace....how do I play with these guys (and girls)?

Heres are is a little more information on the 12 hours I have logged in this place. Nobody is tight (besides me). I have played at tables where guys will cap the pot, just so they can say the word "cap". Mostly loose aggressive, the rest are loose passive. I am also down about 20/bb with all this confussion (and bad play on my part). I told my self I wouldn't go back until I posted this thread.

All advice and criticisms appreciated

[Stew]

[ QUOTE ]
I have recently merging into the live poker world and I need you guys to help me clarify a few things. I started playing 3-6, 4-8 on a casino boat in my town and found it to be a good experience for me as a novice. Heres why:

-I can learn to peg opponents with certain playing styles i have read in books

-I am getting used to the atmosphere (i was nervous my first time)

These are some little things I have picked up in the last couple of months. Recently something has come along and shook (is that a word?) things up. A beautiful card room has opened up 5 minutes from my house with 36 tables. What is the problem you might ask? I live in Florida and this is not on an Indian Reservation. The law in Fl. states that there is a maximum bet of $2 with up to 3 raises.

These games are only spreading 1-2 and 2-2. This is very frustrating for me as a novice.
1-2 seems like a joke to me. There seems to be no skill involved. I am trying to sharpen up what little game I have, and I find it almost impossible to do it in this place. Like I said before: I am new. But I do study the game, read all the books I can get, and lurk on this forum. The majority of the people in this cardroom think of poker as just a way to gample their paychecks, while I think about it as a skill game. Should I play at this new place to sharpen my skills, or should I go back to the Casino boat w/ the 3-6, 4-8,
5-10, etc.? If you guys think I should play at the 1-2 palace....how do I play with these guys (and girls)?

Heres are is a little more information on the 12 hours I have logged in this place. Nobody is tight (besides me). I have played at tables where guys will cap the pot, just so they can say the word "cap". Mostly loose aggressive, the rest are loose passive. I am also down about 20/bb with all this confussion (and bad play on my part). I told my self I wouldn't go back until I posted this thread.

All advice and criticisms appreciated

[/ QUOTE ]

You're parenthetical said it all (bad play on my part). If you can't beat the 1/2 game, then you won't consistently beat any game at a higher limit. Now, with that said, your standard deviation is going to obviously higher at this level and some nights you should theoretically have some good winning sessions and others will find you a big loser (relative to the limit) based on the game you described. nevertheless, if you just love playing the game and want to play at a joint five minutes close to home, then you better work on your game and get in there and play some cards. If you feel it's a waste of time and you'd rather play 3/6 and don't have any interest in 1/2 then don't play it. It's really you're personal choice.

I would say this, in the long run, you may find that your win rate at 1/2 per hour could be equivalent to 3/6. I'm not talking about big bets per hour, I'm talking about the fact that it's very easily to win something like $8/hour at 1/2 and that be equivalent to winning the same amount at 3/6. Give the fact that the 1/2 game is closer it may certainly be worth it in that aspect.

[jayadd]

if you playing at coconut creek the only thing good about there is the royal flush jackpots. Stay away and keep going to the boats.

[El Dukie]

What's the rake? I doubt you could win long-term at those stakes after the rake is factored in....

[Griswald79]

The rake is %10 percent of every pot. Thanks for putting it into perspective Stew. If anyone has more advice on how to play at this place, feel free to post.

[Stew]

[ QUOTE ]
What's the rake? I doubt you could win long-term at those stakes after the rake is factored in....

[/ QUOTE ]

4 Big Bets an hour is easily attainable in 1/2 including the rake and I am talking about B$M, not online.

[Tamanon]

Are you going on Sun Cruz in Jax? I know they spread 3/6, 4/8 and 5/10. The 3/6 games there Saturday were pretty hit and miss. One table was pretty solid, good mix of decent players, tight players and a couple calling stations. The other table was thrown off balance by a maniac who raised each hand off his baccarat winnings. If you were there Saturday, I was the guy with the obnoxious girlfriend haha.

I've heard the dog track is a place to really rack up if you play pretty tight, there's a lot of novice players there and perennial gambling types. You'll get sucked out a decent amount, but over the long run you'll be able to make a bit there. Just never expect too much money from a 1/2 table!

[Slacker13]

I live in Ft. Lauderdale and when I first started playing I played the 1-2 games at Seminole Casino for practice but it got old very quick. I personally like higher stakes poker so 1-2 just wasn't cutting it but, it was good practice learning starting hands etc, but that's where it stopped. The games are extremely loose, 8-10 people see the flop every round which don't get me wrong I love loose games, they can be very profitable but I cannot sit there raking in 10-50$ pots and enjoy myself so i think it comes down to preference. If your playing 3/6 & 4/8 and doing well at that level I cannot see going backwards on limits, the object is to move up. I say stay on the boats and hopefully one day the State of Florida passes gambling and we will have a choice. (whole other subject)

[Griswald79]

Slacker

How long did you play at 1-2 before it got old? Did you learn alot from these limits (besides the maniac factor)?

[Slacker13]

I played for a few months, I kept a list of starting hands vs positions in my pocket and would just pull it out when I needed to look, that crowd didn't even notice and I didn't care if they did. I also played the Holdem tournys too, but they are tough because they only play 40 hands and the tourny ends. When it gets to hand 37 everyone but the chip leader stays in and caps the betting, so it comes down to who wins the last few hands. It is probably the stupidest setup I have ever seen, very little skill involved to win. I would stay clear of those unless your just going to practice some tourny skills. Just remember to play tight in a loose game. Good Luck!