can you beat the rake on small limit games

[Arbitrage]

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No, $1-$6/hr is not worth it.

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That's entirely dependent on a number of factors -- most importantly one's value system/motivation for playing and opportunity cost.

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Opportunity cost of playing 3-6, meaning what the person is sacrificing during the time he is playing in the game(the $ he could be making if he were working instead, the utility he gets from spending time with his family). I can only think of ways in which OC would prevent someone from playing 3-6, unless there was a negative OC (somone would be playing BJ if he weren't playing 3-6).

But you are right, it is worth it for many people to play low limit, primarily those who enjoy playing the game.

[AKQJ10]

Suppose you don't have bankroll for $6/12 or whatever, so the OC of not playing $6/12 doesn't exist. Suppose you hate spending time with your family, don't have any other hobbies, etc. etc. Or suppose that you want to learn to beat small stakes so you can build a bankroll and move up rather than raiding the savings account on a speculative poker venture.

That's all I was saying -- what's not worth it for you might be worth it for some.

[what23]

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my local casino is extremely loose and i have averaged about $20 an hour just at 3 6 limit.

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unsustainable

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on a daily basis of course, im sure it will go down, but Friday - Sunday the tables r crazy loose so i don't bother w/ the old ppl during the week that never bet

[bernie]

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[on a daily basis of course, im sure it will go down, but Friday - Sunday the tables r crazy loose so i don't bother w/ the old ppl during the week that never bet

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No 'buts', it will go down. We'll be waiting for your post when you haven't won on fri-sun night for about a month and everyones hitting every hand imagineable on you. Reverting back to the mean can be a rough ride.

b

[PorkchopDJG]

Agree with Bernie here,
3/6 can be profitable if you understand and impliment what is taught in SSHE but there is a lot of variance in these crazy loose tables. It's good having these idiots cold call your AA with 96off but some nights they will continue to catch on you and it's frustrating.
You will post a lot of big wins but also some big losses when that calling station or maniac hits that 2nd pair on your AA at the river or that flush after you hit trips on the flop.

[Frond]

Do some of you agree that when you are starting out(to build up your bankroll that is) that one should play the very lowest limits available when playing live and then see if you do well for a sustained period before moving up at all? If your cardroom offers say LHE of 2-4, 3-6 and 4-8 and upwards, you have been playing for over a year or so on line and some live, forego the 2-4 for the rake & tips and jump right to 4-8 if you have the bank or do like online and stay at 2-4 until you feel that you can beat it comfortably? Seems like lots say don'tbother with 2-4 live but for those who say this just how many hands and or hrs have you put in at live 2-4 to really tell? Are you simply going off of what others have said?

[thebeebster]

4/8 is the first beatable level, unless you don't toke.

[disjunction]

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I can. You can't.

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[kabouter]

And there are still people who play this game for fun right? So you can make like 3 bucks an hour get free drinks and have fun, sounds worth it to me.

[SplawnDarts]

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Do some of you agree that when you are starting out(to build up your bankroll that is) that one should play the very lowest limits available when playing live and then see if you do well for a sustained period before moving up at all? If your cardroom offers say LHE of 2-4, 3-6 and 4-8 and upwards, you have been playing for over a year or so on line and some live, forego the 2-4 for the rake & tips and jump right to 4-8 if you have the bank or do like online and stay at 2-4 until you feel that you can beat it comfortably? Seems like lots say don'tbother with 2-4 live but for those who say this just how many hands and or hrs have you put in at live 2-4 to really tell? Are you simply going off of what others have said?

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I would not play a game where the rake is greater than or equal to a big bet. Even if your opponents are horrible and you can beat that rake, they will all end up stuck significant amounts (since the house will be raking more than a buyin from the table every hour) and they will likely tighten up and play better to get even. Then you'll likely stop being able to beat the rake.

In a casino raking 10% up to $4, I would start at 3/6 if not 4/8. Any practice you feel you need before jumping in could be obtained on someone's fake-$ internet site. The play is pretty bad initially, but when you get into a game that you can't aford the buyin for without having already won a bunch, the play starts looking a little better. Decent practice for the newbie.

If you're a consistent winner at small stakes real-$ online, there is no reason to play 2/4 live.