Yep. I didn't used to appreciate this, and I'd insist on structuring all NLHE games with deep (at least 200 BB) max stacks by default.
Turns out that's not always as optimal as you might think. Despite my reservations about how annoying short-stack poker can be, sometimes the 40 BB donk-a-thon is the superior structure for the long run.
200 BBs would be fine by me if we were playing nickel / dime blinds, which happens to be MY preferred stakes. But a lot of players like the one's in Eric's game probably wouldn't play if the stakes were that low. For them, even .25 / .50 is probably lower than they like. But his structure allows them to rebuy or top off to higher levels as more money starts to accumulate on the table. And it allows poor little me to play conservatively and stay within my limits. Basically, this lets people who want to play differently or want to stay within a budget play with others who want to play bigger. If everyone in the game is good with 200 BBs, then so be it, but I assume at some point in the past Eric came up with his 80BB approach for good reason. It was already in place when I joined his game earlier this year.Meh, personally I don’t like it. I host different nights, different stakes instead. Having at least 200-300bbs is just way more fun.
I do see the advantage for the casual player though, but I’d just sooner go with tournaments in that case
If he had invited me, and told me that the buy-in was $100, I would have just said thanks, and passed on joining. But I'm really glad that wasn't the case, because I think it's been good for my game to play with these more experienced players and the splashy gambler types. I've learned a lot since I joined this group, and my game play is getting better. So if everyone in your game is about the same level, then yeah, just adjust your blinds so your buy-in is 200 BBs. But if you want to bring in lesser experienced players to grow your group, or to start a new one with players of various levels, then the shallower buy-in approach is a good one.
Since this thread is about trying to get a new group of players together, and they may include players with different thoughts on what stakes they want to play, I think it's an appropriate suggestion.