1-2 NL Rake
 

Just started playing live 1/2 NL recently and had a few questions.

1) What is the usual rake for 1/2 NL? Where I play you must cough up $6 each time dealers switch (every half hour) for a total of $12 an hour. Is this normal?

2) I know the answer to this question is going to depend on a lot of factors, but in the most general of senses is this 1/2 game that cost you $12 an hour to play going to be very profitable? The buy-in is between 100-300, and like most live 1/2 NL games 80% of the players were pretty bad.

So how beatable is a game like this where you have to make $12/hr just to break even?
What kinda win rate could an average player expect? a good player?

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

Admittedly my sample size is small, but I just plain destroy 1/2NL games with the same time charge structure. It's very easy to make money at them if your opponents suck, and they generally do.

If you are at a tough 1/2NL table, find another one.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

1. Usual rake in Atlantic City for 1/2NL is 10% up to $4, plus some places drop an additional $1 for a bad-beat jackpot (Tropicana, Resorts, Taj, and Borgata do not have a bad-beat jackpot). Buyins are minimum $60, maximum $300. I personally avoid places with a BBJ, cause that is more money out of your winnings. Yeah, it is only $1, but $1 out of every pot you win adds up after a while.

2. It is hard to compare if $12/hour is a lot when trying to compare it to a rake structure. If you estimate each pot has a minimum of $40 in it, that will result in a $4 rake each pot times on average 25 hands/hour equals $100, divided by 10 players = $10/player/hour.

1/2 NL in Atlantic City is pretty fishy. I believe in Vegas with tourists, it can be more fishy, but that gets offset by those that "grind" 1/2 and 2/5. People new to live poker start at 1/2, so even if your an average player, making your $12 time back should be pretty reasonable.

In my opinion, win rate are hard to estimate. There is no clear formula one can use to accuratly estimate your win/hour.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

Tropicana is actually starting up a BBJ. Straw that broke the camels back for me.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

California rake for 1/2 NL including bad beat jackpot drop
Commerce = 3.50
H. Gardens = 3
Hustler = 5
Crystal Park = 4
Bike = 5
Pechanga = 5
Lake Elsinore = 5

Hope this helps. If anyone wants to know other game rakes in California PM me.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

[ QUOTE ]
California drop for 1/2 NL including bad beat jackpot drop
Commerce = 3.50
H. Gardens = 3
Hustler = 5
Crystal Park = 4
Bike = 5
Pechanga = 5
Lake Elsinore = 5

Hope this helps. If anyone wants to know other game drops in California PM me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

You need to move up to 2/5 to be even against the time charge. $12/hour against a 300 stack is brutal. 2/5 is a little tougher, but the structual advantages greatly overweigh the slight increase in game difficulty.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need to move up to 2/5 to be even against the time charge.

[/ QUOTE ]

No you don't.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

Sucks that Tropicana is starting a BBJ. I am going over next Wednesday, planning to play some 1/2 NL at the Tropicana. Hopefully the BBJ is not up and running by then. If so, looks like Trump Taj for me.

----------------
You can easily make back $12/hour time at 1/2NL. I consider myself a below average player (I haven't even read SuperSystem yet) and I can make $12/hour.

Re: 1-2 NL Rake
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need to move up to 2/5 to be even against the time charge.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree as well. Granted, at foxwoods, it's only $10 per hour with a $300 stack, but I have no trouble making it back.