To live players: why do you play limit?

[gobbledygeek]

Last night I just surpassed the 700 hour mark of 2/4 B&M. Up $1500, which includes a $280 bad beat table share, so I'm killing the game to the tune of 0.54 BB/hour.

Never played internet; sounds a lot harder. Plus since I'm on the computer all day at work, the last thing I want to do is be on the computer at home (which I never am, I don't even have home internet). Plus I like the social interaction of card games.

Never played no-limit in the casino. I make enough mistakes at limit that cost me a BB here and a BB there; making those same types of mistakes for a whole stack doesn't really appeal to me. No-limit sounds stressful, plus from what I hear the tables are all business and no fun. Plus I have no idea how to play that game.

Never played anything higher than 2/4; might start taking some shots at 4/8 if my winning ways continue.

I play 2/4 live limit because (a) cokes are free, (b) it's a fun way to pass the time in-between my other hobbies (girlfriend, friends, hockey, soccer, music, etc.), (c) the tables are fairly social and entertaining, (d) I'm better at it than most others at my table and (e) what the hell else am I supposed to do on a night I'm not doing anything, stay home and watch TV? I'm not really making any money at it (I immediately kill any profit any time I order food), but what the hell, so far the dinners are paid for.

The hardest part I had starting out was psychologically justifying the amount of money I was blowing on this entertainment (I started out down 300BB in the first couple of hundred hours). Maybe I've improved along the way, or just run good, but now that I know I'm just as likely to lose 40BB as win 40BB in a session and yet still come out ahead in the long run (ok, so 700 hours is only about 17.5K hands but I'm hoping it's a pretty good sample size), taking the losing sessions in stride is now pretty damn easy. For the record, I think I've only had 3 more winning sessions than losing sessions.

Bottom line: I play it cuz I enjoy it and so far it hasn't cost me any money.

GoncuspofmajordownswingG

[ProfessorBen]

Because I can beat 20/40 at a good clip.

[TheCount212]

I like studying the table. I like knowing that my TTP may get runner-runnered and I haven't wasted three hours playing in a tournament to get bounced in such a ridiculous manner. So instead of bemoaning my bad luck I just play the next hand.

[mikeca]

1) I have a lot more experience at limit than NL.

2) I feel more comfortable playing limit, probably because of experience.

3) People playing limit are friendlier, less into playing mental games.

4) Local card rooms do not offer NL (its illegal), but do offer spread limit which plays close to NL.

5) Waiting lists for low limit games are much sorter than the spread limit games.

[HoneyBadger]

I'm no live player, but still, I could answer (?) I'll be quick! For me it's because I severely suck at making decisions, for anything in life. For every NL question like, "should I call his all-in?", I can only return a blank look and say, "I honestly don't know".

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I pretty much agree with all your points. Well maybe not the dinking part. Don't get me wrong, I like to drink, but not while putting money at risk.

I also add that limit is a fundamentally more aggressive game, less laying in the weeds and waiting to spring.

Plus I learned to play the game seiously before there was an internet, and limit was what there was to play.

[James.]

because more of the fish are at the limit tables than the NL tables. otherwise i'll be playing NL.

[Frond]

I knew when I first sat down to a live 2/4 game last year(my very first time playing live),that I was better than almost the entire table. Not a brag but the truth. I had studied a lot and prepared quite a bit before and was nervous. I knew I could beat LLHE live with more time, reading, studying hands etc. Starting to happen now. I think I have a good feel for the game. I just like the rhthym of the game I guess. NLHE seems way too serious. I think that there are just as many if not more bad players in NLHE but I still like Limit much better.

[mrcunningham]

I think limit is easier to be successful if you're better at decision analysis than the average player and don't have much time to study and play.

[Frond]

Also, I like playing drawing hands more and you frequently have odds to do so in limit vs. NL.