Ante structure questions from a stud noob.

[thirteen]

I'm primarily a Hold'em guy who's diversifying his game. I'm branching out to stud (mostly stud/8). It's likely that this is the first of many stupid questions that I'll ask.

I'm trying to gauge how tight/loose I should play based on ante structure of the game. What is considered to be a high ante? Is there a typical ante/BB ratio ?

[jon_1van]

A tight game has an ante that is around 1/20th BB (5-10 w/ .50 ante)

A medium (good) game has an ante that is around 1/12th (3-6 w/ .50 ante)

A high ante game has an ante this is around 1/8th of a BB (100-200 w/ 25 ante)

High ante games are mostly about getting people to fold.
Medium ante games allow for many skills to be important
Low antes games are mostly about folding almost everything.

For instance,
If you have Jacks after a Q completes and there is a K and an A behind you, you may ::

-Insta-raise in a high ante game
-Call/Fold/Raise in a medium ante game
-Fold in a small ante game.

[thirteen]

Great post. That's pretty much what I was looking for. Thanks.

[mrclean368]

Which is better for a stud newcomer to start with higher ante or lower ante in relation to the BB. My little experience tells me the higher antes have very high variance.

[jon_1van]

[ QUOTE ]
Which is better for a stud newcomer to start with higher ante or lower ante in relation to the BB. My little experience tells me the higher antes have very high variance.

[/ QUOTE ]

It probably depends on your "preferred style". I enjoy the high ante games because I like going crazy.

I hate the low ante games because when I get a hand cracked I feel like I waited so long for that good spot and then BAM I'm down xBB. While in the high ante games I'll lose the same x BBs (or more) but I won't care because I don't expect to win.

So I like the high ante games for 2 reasons.
-Its fun to play hands, and get more hands in here.
-I don't mind losing because I don't "expect" to win


It might be better to start at medium or small ante games because it will be easier to tell if your errors are errors. Because when the pot is laying you 11-1 and all you have a 2 outers for low trips and crappy 2 pair hopes...do you call?? do you fold??? Its just harder to know if you're making errors when you are always hoping for long shots....because its hard to know if you are a victim of varience or just playing bad.