what is spread more?
 

$2-$5 blinds, no limit or $3-$5? question from a poker room manager.

Re: what is spread more?
 

$2-5 by far.

Re: what is spread more?
 

thanks

Re: what is spread more?
 

damn, I thought this was another Brandi thread.

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
$2-$5 blinds, no limit or $3-$5? question from a poker room manager.

[/ QUOTE ]

In Los Angeles County Hawaiian Gardens, Hollywood Park, The Bicycle Casino, and Commerce have $3-$5 blinds in their $200 fixed buy NL games (Hawaiian Gardens uses a $300 fixed buy for this blind).

Hustler has a $100-$300 spread buy with $2-$5 blinds.

Both the Bike and Hustler have a $300-$500 spread buy with $5-$5 blinds.

All of the above games thrive.

Hope this helps.

~ Rick

PS IMHO the $3-$5 blinds helps the action a bit. If you're a manager and a regular is pushing $2-$5 blinds odds are he's a nit.

Re: what is spread more?
 

But Rick, would you agree that $3-5 is more of a California thing? I've never heard of it.

For fair comparison, here are some rooms that, to my latest info or from personal knowledge, spread $2-5 regularly.

Foxwoods
Borgata
Taj
Majestic Star Gary
Prairie Meadows
Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Horseshoe Tunica
Gold Strike Tunica
Wynn
Bellagio
Venetian

You can check out the different buyins linked from here. I sure you can find more $2-5 games, too:

http://poker.wikia.com/wiki/Casino

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
But Rick, would you agree that $3-5 is more of a California thing?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd agree based on your data (which coinsides with my limited play outside California).

In my experience California games in part need higher blinds (relative to the buyin) to generate pre-flop action so the, ahem, "legally required front loaded drop" (i.e., the full drop is taken on any f_in flop) doesn't look so atrocious when you have only one or two limpers. In the case of the five dollar big blind game perhaps more players will complete a $3 SB (rather than a $2 SB) to $5.

~ Rick

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
damn, I thought this was another Brandi thread.

[/ QUOTE ]
lol
I thought the same thing...

Re: what is spread more?
 

Truth is, I am in management and trying to decide what blinds would be best for the game we are about to spread. As a poker player I understand both blind structures and their significance. I can see the increased action with the $3-$5 blind, and at the same time I know that the "nits" would prefer to have less committed to the small blind. I am just interested in deciding what would be best for our room and our players. Thanks.

Re: what is spread more?
 

I think Rick touched on something important. Rake should be a strong consideration.

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Truth is, I am in management and trying to decide what blinds would be best for the game we are about to spread. As a poker player I understand both blind structures and their significance. I can see the increased action with the $3-$5 blind, and at the same time I know that the "nits" would prefer to have less committed to the small blind. I am just interested in deciding what would be best for our room and our players. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally avoid the advice of nits except where you simply need them around in the morning to start games. Rarely is nit advice good for the long term growth of the game. Of course you will need thick skin. Nits will usually play the hours management works and complain more than the action players that really drive the growth of a cardroom.

FYI here are some links to discussions regarding how listening to nits can hurt your room:

Nits and Chained Must Moves

The Nits Preference for undersized Small Blinds

For more search this forum on my name and or Randy Refeld (his new screen name is "RR"). Cross our username with +nit and/or +nits. Rarely do we use that word other than in reference than how bowing to nit thinking will hurt your cardroom.

Hope this helps and good luck with dealing with the nits.

~ Rick

Re: what is spread more?
 

Yeah, I can see how $3-5 would be slightly better for the game. That's a different question than which is more common. And certainly, California's legally-mandated rake structure is pretty much specific only to there.

If you're really asking my opinion, I'd spread $2.50-$5 blinds in all pink blackjack chips. The "Pink Chip Game" as $7.50/$15 limit has legendary status in AC. Why not be the only room anywhere with a NL version?

But it may be good you're not asking my opinion.

Re: what is spread more?
 

Thanks. I agree more action at $3-5$, better for the game and the room, Who wants to play in a game full of people trying to "grind it out"

Re: what is spread more?
 

hey pokerdoug can you say which room you run?
fwiw here in kc we have 3 rooms that all run 1/2 and 2/5 NL and both games thrive consistently at all three venues

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Truth is, I am in management and trying to decide what blinds would be best for the game we are about to spread. As a poker player I understand both blind structures and their significance. I can see the increased action with the $3-$5 blind, and at the same time I know that the "nits" would prefer to have less committed to the small blind. I am just interested in deciding what would be best for our room and our players. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally avoid the advice of nits except where you simply need them around in the morning to start games. Rarely is nit advice good for the long term growth of the game. Of course you will need thick skin. Nits will usually play the hours management works and complain more than the action players that really drive the growth of a cardroom.

FYI here are some links to discussions regarding how listening to nits can hurt your room:

Nits and Chained Must Moves

The Nits Preference for undersized Small Blinds

For more search this forum on my name and or Randy Refeld (his new screen name is "RR"). Cross our username with +nit and/or +nits. Rarely do we use that word other than in reference than how bowing to nit thinking will hurt your cardroom.

Hope this helps and good luck with dealing with the nits.

~ Rick

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking of nits, I had two dealer choice games last night. These people aren't even subtle about trying to follow the action player. Everyone would get on the table change for his table. Then after they got over there he took a table change to get away from them. I think I could film this and sell it. The entire table moved from one table to the other and then back.

edit to add: Everyday they ask for a must move so the can keep the action player from getting away once they get to his table. There is a better chance of that game not being spread to keep them out than letting them have a must move.

Re: what is spread more?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Speaking of nits, I had two dealer choice games last night. These people aren't even subtle about trying to follow the action player. Everyone would get on the table change for his table. Then after they got over there he took a table change to get away from them. I think I could film this and sell it. The entire table moved from one table to the other and then back.

edit to add: Everyday they ask for a must move so the can keep the action player from getting away once they get to his table. There is a better chance of that game not being spread to keep them out than letting them have a must move.


[/ QUOTE ]

Funny you added the edit. I read the original post (without the edit) in my email inbox and had a different take although it was related to must moves.

What I was planning to say (before reading your edit) was that in larger games (when they go two to three games deep) and the game dynamic consists of many sharks or semi-sharks feeding off a very few extremely live players you sometimes need to maintain a must move (and gasp, sometimes even the hated chained must move!) in order to avoid the obvious embarrassment to the extremely live players when players consistently try to follow them around through table changes.

You really have to get up to the higher limits to see this though. If it happens at limits 20/40 and below it's sort of like watching dumpster dining.

~ Rick