New 1-2 NL Games

[bav]

When Wynn gets a 1/3 game going with everybody at the table holding >$5000, the blinds are completely ignorable. And I've been at a few $500 buyin 1/2 games that played more like 2/5 at Palms with $30 pre-flop raises being "normal". So yes, OP has a point. If you get a table full of deep stacks who want to play big, the blind becomes immaterial. But this is more the exception than the rule.

But even with $100 caps, few games are such that a 3x BB raise will do anything except build a large pot to play for. When you're putting in $6 and folks are used to playing 4/8 where the first pre-flop raise is to $8, they just aren't going to think twice about coming on in.

Every 1/2 table is different and goes through different phases. You just have to go with the flow. If your raises to $10 are being called by 6 people, go bigger. If your raises to $15 never get called, back off. Often all it takes to completely change the character of a table is one player change. Replace the rock with a wild guy who tosses $25 for every raise, and eventually people will start playing with him. Replace that guy with the rock and the table will tighten back to where $10 raises are normal.

[otter]

Here in MI and in many 1-2 games I've played in Vegas the standard raise is usually about 8xBB

[otter]

Damn good post.

[keith123]

you know, i've played at casinos where they bumped up the max buy-in by a lot and it doesn't change the preflop action much, except i suppose there are fewer all-ins. you'll still see a ton of limp pots, people opening for 10-15 with a bunch of fish calling, some opening for 5-7 bucks to pump the pot (usually holding small pairs), and you'll see the 20-25 dollar bets from people trying to pick up the limps and people playing hands that scare them.

after the flop, there is more of a difference, but of course there will still be guys buying in for the minimum.

[VoTrooper99]

If you want to protect a pocket pair at Foxwoods, you're betting AT LEAST $15 preflop...all the way up to $30 on some tables.