10 replies to this topic

[Banner17]

Fellas,

OK here's the structure. About 10 players sometimes 11 sometimes 8. Everyone throws in $20 and receives 40T$, blinds start at 1-2 and go up every 20 minutes. No pro dealer, we deal ourselves. Blinds go 1-2, 2-4, 3-6, 4-8 and cap 5-10. Most players have no idea how to play, nobody can tell you the odds of a flush card coming in, but with this structure is this game even beatable?

Whats the best strategy?

[Chet Chetterson]

You are pretty much in shovebot mode from the start. Just try to find the players who will call loose and take advantage of them. If enough eliminations occur then you finally might be able to outplay them 2 or 3 handed. You'll have to gamble due to this structure.

[Jam-Fly]

Fellas,

OK here's the structure. About 10 players sometimes 11 sometimes 8. Everyone throws in $20 and receives 40T$, blinds start at 1-2 and go up every 20 minutes. No pro dealer, we deal ourselves. Blinds go 1-2, 2-4, 3-6, 4-8 and cap 5-10. Most players have no idea how to play, nobody can tell you the odds of a flush card coming in, but with this structure is this game even beatable?

Whats the best strategy?

It does not matter what the structure is, if you are playing with worse players, every game is beatable.


If the structure was better, then you may be able to achieve a higher ROI in the game, but, even if the structure is terrible, you can still obtain a positive ROI for the game.

The only reason a game with a bad structure is not beatable, is if the rake [tournament fee] is very high.

[outsider13]

It should be beatable. Once the blinds get to the second level, just shove. Play the first level very tight. Run good.

[SGFULTON83]

It should be beatable. Once the blinds get to the second level, just shove. Play the first level very tight. Run good.

I think the bolded part will be the key in this particular situation.

[Banner17]

I have basically been playing them to value bet heavily into the loose calls, and shoving all in when I get to 8 big bets or under. There's no rake, but they are still pretty much $20 crapshoots. The top 2 usually chop.

[jmbreslin]

I think you actually have to be a bit more selective than putting yourself into shove-bot mode on the first or 2nd level. The thing about playing against this kind of competition is that you'll get called much lighter than you would against people who actually know what they're doing, which means your fold equity shrinks substantially. Without fold equity you depend much more on hands with showdown value when shoving. Obviously you can't sit and wait for premium hands, but you also can't just go open-shoving J8o from middle position with 8 or 10 BB. When you do get premium hands, play them HARD.

[Banner17]

2nd Question:

Would you guys even bother torturing yourself by going down on Fridays and playing in these? The beers are cheap, but when I play poker I like to win.

[Gallo]

It should be beatable. Once the blinds get to the second level, just shove. Play the first level very tight. Run good.

I think you actually have to be a bit more selective than putting yourself into shove-bot mode on the first or 2nd level. The thing about playing against this kind of competition is that you'll get called much lighter than you would against people who actually know what they're doing, which means your fold equity shrinks substantially. Without fold equity you depend much more on hands with showdown value when shoving. Obviously you can't sit and wait for premium hands, but you also can't just go open-shoving J8o from middle position with 8 or 10 BB. When you do get premium hands, play them HARD.

[RISEorFall]

2nd Question:

Would you guys even bother torturing yourself by going down on Fridays and playing in these? The beers are cheap, but when I play poker I like to win.

depends. if i like the players and we can chill and have a good time, then yeah.
unless $20 is of somewhat significance to you
i wouldnt take these too seriously, though. even if you have a decent edge your variance will be huge.

but then again...cheap beer...im a sucker for cheap beer.

[MaxStPolish]

depends. if i like the players and we can chill and have a good time, then yeah.
unless $20 is of somewhat significance to you
i wouldnt take these too seriously, though. even if you have a decent edge your variance will be huge.

but then again...cheap beer...im a sucker for cheap beer.

Ask them to reduce the buy in to 10 bucks and then just go and sauced. If you drink enough, you'll have saved at least 10 bucks in beer purchases, thereby making your play a freeroll. And who doesn't like a freeroll?