How to get nonstandard games going....
 

Yesterday, I happened to be at the V when they got a 5/5 PLO/NLHE game going. This was awesome and a game I'd play every time I went to the casino if it were running. Short of calling up a critical mass of players to schedule a time and date for such a game, is there any good way to get games like this (i.e. not straight NLHE or LHE) started? Just start an interest list and hope?

a matter of attitudes
 

The real way to get something other than hold'em going is to stop supporting the notion that hold'em = poker.

I understand that the television simpletons just can't comprehend the idea of getting more than two cards (due to their small cranial capacity). But you must understand, these are the same morons that watch nancy grace, like her accent, think hearsay, innuendo and wild speculation are all "kinds of evidence," and never miss an episode of wpt.

Even the title of your post reflects what needs to change. You referred to anything other than hold'em as "non-standard games." Hold'em does not equal poker. Promote and popularize poker again, screw hold'em.

Al

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

With non-standard you mean non-hold'em ?

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

Al,

Way to project a bunch of things that weren't in my OP onto me! I'm glad you found this thread an appropriate place to get on your soapbox about things that have nothing to do with my question.

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

fwiw, "poker" twenty five years ago was Lowball, then it was 7 card Stud, then it was Hold'em. Around the Kitchen Table, it is usually 5 card draw. I am sure that another form of poker will be "poker" in the next few decades.

As for your question. I know that in California, you would be able to ask the floor if they would be willing to spread mixed games. I would start by asking the floor, and then informing other players about your idea.

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

Actually, my OP can also include stakes that are only spread sporadically as well as entirely different poker variants. For example, Caesar's in Vegas sometimes gets a 5/10 NL holdem game going but its by no means a daily occurrence. The 5/10 NLHE at the Venetian is also not something you can count on to be running every day. On a day where there's no game running and not much of an interest list, how do you get a game started? Run around to different tables trying to drum up interest? Getting the game on the list isn't usually too tough as the floor most rooms are happy to add names to interest lists for just about anything but getting more than 2-3 names on them is often a lot harder (and for some reason live players rarely want to play short to get a game started).

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

Bringing a crew ready to play is easily the best hope. But I've had success before by polling my NL table and finding a couple people interesting in a mix game, and then verifying with the floor they'll spread what we're after (don't count on it at all times in all venues), and then visiting a couple neighboring tables to get a couple more names (usually I'll visit a table where I know a player or two and can therefore ask those guys in particular, but loud enough for the whole table to hear--I kinda hate just running around table to table asking "wanna play a mix game?"). If I get a couple more folks, hit the floor up with 5 names and ask him to either just start the game or start an interest list with those 5 names and make an announcement in the room.

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

Answer: triple-draw lowball.

You can play it 3-handed to get it started. Be sure to whoop loudly as you play, letting the whole room know that your table is the fun table.

This might only get you one or two more players, but that's a full game!

And the best part: If you've read the 3-draw chapter of S/S2, you're not only a favorite to win money at this table you started, you're almost a lock!

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

True story... One of the big reasons that I prefer "other" poker games is that I don't feel that many players are as good.

Let's face it. No-Limit Hold'em is basically a crap shoot for all of your chips most places. I saw a guy call a 2k push with Jack-4 pre flop and crack a guy's kings last week. It doesn't require as much skill.

I killed the 5/10 Omaha 8/ob game at the Mirage last month in Vegas, and I'd love to play more of that around here.

Actually, the new poker rooms in WV are very open to spreading anything that you want. They will basically take your name, put it on the board, and when you get a full list, they'll open it up.

The problem is getting a full table. Once you get an alternative game going, it usually stays for a while. The issue is that most rooms will not open a table until they have a full list to call.

But as someone who loves playing a variety of poker, I support different games. Frankly, I look for wherever I can have the highest +EV, and a lot of times, that's not in the NL Holdem pit.

Re: a matter of attitudes
 

[ QUOTE ]
Let's face it. No-Limit Hold'em is basically a crap shoot for all of your chips most places. I saw a guy call a 2k push with Jack-4 pre flop and crack a guy's kings last week. It doesn't require as much skill.

[/ QUOTE ]

You define a crap shoot as putting in 2k as an 86.75% favourite?