Home mixed game.

[Oblivious]

I'm thinking about running a mixed game at home. I have some concern however, since most home games people are used to tend to be NL holdem tournaments. The really sophisticated home games are NL cash games. Poker has become so big so fast, that the market of available players are mostly ignorant about what they haven’t seen on TV. I think NL Holdem in general is extremely boring and I think NL tournaments are extremely inconvenient. I would refuse to have a home game that was strictly a NL tournament. I get invited to these crappy little tournaments all the time by players who don’t have the know how to run a cash game.

The question is, if I ran a cash mixed game, could I get people to come? I know you’d say it depends; why don’t you poll people and ask them if they’re willing to play? I have asked players at no limit games if they ever play limit. They usually scowl and say "no way." Like I just asked them if I could [censored] their sister or something. When I ask players who I know are a little more sophisticated if they would come to a home mixed game, they usually say "sure," but they also mention that they’re not too proficient at games other than holdem (Omaha 8/b for example).

Here's the plan... I’m building a new table. It’s going to seat 8 and be really luxurious. We would have a trained dealer in the box. The game will be in a comfortable classy space. I would have it catered and collect a rake. We will start the stakes at 1/2 limit for the limit games and .25/.50 blinds for the no limit and pot limit games. These stakes are small because I don’t want to make players who aren’t used to the games uncomfortable (we can always bump it up later). I will make laminated plaques with the following games on them:
Stud Hi/Lo Regular
Stud 8/b
Stud
Razz
PL Omaha 8/b
PL Omaha
Omaha 8/b
NL Hold 'em
NL 2-7 Single Draw
Hold 'em
Crazy Pineapple 8/b
Chinese Poker (for when we want to relax short handed)
2-7 Triple Draw

The NL games would be played with a 50 big blind cap. As players arrived, I would give the first 4 or 5 players a selection of any plaque. As they sit down their selection is added to the rotation. We play 7 hands of each.

Is it feasible that I can convert NLHE nincompoops to enjoying real poker? It seems to me that everyone would find at least one other game besides NLHE that they'd enjoy (and could select for the mixed game)... but maybe I’m just giving people too much credit for being enlightened and creative.

Prediction: This mixed game will blow up with popularity if the 50k wsop horse tournament is televised. But before that happens I will be short on players.

[TomHimself]

caps are dumb for NL, imo.

[7n7]

If you actually get this going, you've got at least one poster on this board that is insanely jealous.

I've tried on 2 separate occassions to spread a smaller mixed game (Limit HE, Limit O8B, Limit Stud and Limit Stud 8/b) and the experiment(s) failed no matter the stakes. My friends only want to play NL tournies. I can't even get a NL cash game going b/c they're afraid to lose more than $10-$20 at a time.

Basically, I've come to the conclusion that unless I hang around guys/gals more like me (i.e. are obsessed with learning all forms of poker, read the books, post on the boards, etc.) then a mixed game (or any cash game for that matter) ain't gonna' happen.

I'd suggest inviting your buds over and doing a trial run. Make the evening a little more lax rules-wise, kind of a "get to know the games" night so that those that don't know how to play 2-7 or Chinese Poker feel a little more comfortable. From there, see who takes to it and who doesn't.

Look for the ones that seem most eager to learn, play, etc, and put them on your core invite list. If you can find 8-12 guys/gals, then you got a game.

[DavidNB]

I don t know if its just me but having a rake kills the hom egame theory. Your turning it more into a home casino where you want to make some bucks or something. Maybe you can't get the players because of the rake.

Start a dealers choice home game that would have a better chance to succed. The thing with a home game is you have to let players have some input on its running. THis keeps everyone happy and gives them the chance to voice there opinion. I just started a home game on Mondays where I got guys from 3 different groups that were looking for something different. Most were playing these 3to 4 tournemtns a night holdem and each one wanted to try a single game all night type setup. We straighten out a few rules and so on at the begining of the game and its been running great 7-9 guys every game. Its BYOB and a few guys bring some chips and so on.

[NickMPK]

It sound's like a great game, except:

Showing the HORSE final table on TV isn't going to create any interest in a mixed game, because the final table is NLHE only. Plus, ESPN has shown some Omaha and Stud from the WSOP for the last two years...I don't see how this year would be any different.

And I agree, you're going to get A LOT fewer people if you have a rake. And not just because people don't want to pay a rake...it completely changes the legalities of the game. Just ask your friends to defer your food and drink costs, and if you must have a dedicated dealer, he can work for tips.

[Oblivious]

Thanks for the advice all. Regarding the rake, I saw it as only a way to pay the dealer and pay for the catering. I figure both are necessary to create the environment I want. Perhaps I could delay until I get a core group of players who will be loyal after a small rake is instituted.

[ QUOTE ]
Showing the HORSE final table on TV isn't going to create any interest in a mixed game, because the final table is NLHE only. Plus, ESPN has shown some Omaha and Stud from the WSOP for the last two years...I don't see how this year would be any different.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe I misunderstand the plan for this years tournement. This years tournement is new, with a huge buy in. Are you saying that they play horse down to 9 players, at which point they switch to NLHE? I find this hard to believe. Omaha and stud wsop tournements havnt been a big deal because their buy ins have been smaller than the main event. Not the case for horse this year.

Dealers choice games are problematic when mixing stud variations with games using blinds and mixing limit games with NL games. Playing n hands at a time is the only fair way to do it.

[frsdchts]

The final table for the 50k HORSE event is, in fact, no limit hold em.

http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/st...t/Event38.html

That has all the info for you if you're interested.

[Annorax]

[ QUOTE ]
caps are dumb for NL, imo.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quoted for truthery. I'd be making everything PL.

[TIEdup14]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it feasible that I can convert NLHE nincompoops to enjoying real poker?

[/ QUOTE ]

Part of your problem finding players to come to your game might lie in this very sentiment. I like to think of myself as a very well-versed player, but I just happen to think Limit games are boring. My favorite game to play is NL Kansas City. That doesnt make me any worse of a player, just like limit specialists arent any worse players as well.

I can understand that getting together a non NLHE game in this day and age can be frustrating, but having a vindictive attitude towards your players probably wont help anything.

Just my two cents

Good luck [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[MacSwain]

My home game runs like this:
5-9 players
$50.00 Min-$150 Max Buyin

$2/$4 Pot Limit H.O.S.E
$.50 Ante - All Rounds
$1.00 low card Bring in(Stud Rounds)
$1/$2 Blinds(HE and Omaha Rounds)

We play monthly and it has been a success to this point.

Mac