Anyone using a rock in their home game? (1 Viewer)

[TwoHomie]

Trying to get my group to play more PLO and BigO, and have seen a few casinos using a "rock" chip(s) with the following mechanics

• A mandatory ~2x straddle from the winner of the previous hand
• Typically in the form of a unique chip in a airtite case or a few chips rubber-banded together
• Action starts to the immediate left of the rock pre-flop
• Post flop action starts to the left of the button, as usual

I think this is a super neat mechanic that could be fun if everyone can get on board with it, but I also worry that it may be adding unnecessary complexity to a less experienced player pool that typically just wants to play for the social aspect.

We typically just play .05/.10, so maybe this would be a .05/.05 with a .10 rock? Curious to hear y'all's thoughts, and whether it's worth the hassle vs. just playing .05/.10

 

[Silver_Fiend]

Why? Just raise your blinds. I dont get why anyone would want to play with a mandatory 4BB straddle. IF you were $1/$2 you just turned the game into a $1/$2/$8

 

[Rakrul]

Every hand seems a bit excessive. I remember playing with kill pots when playing fixed limit and it would make more sense to do something on that criteria (winning two pots in a row).

 

[TwoHomie]

Why? Just raise your blinds. I dont get why anyone would want to play with a mandatory 4BB straddle. IF you were $1/$2 you just turned the game into a $1/$2/$8

Re why? - mostly for the mechanic of pre-flop action not always starting in the same place. Think this has the potential to encourage more action. Also, would be a fun way to sneak in an extra color/denom chip

Re 4bb straddle, I'd probably try and keep blinds equal. .05/.10 produces the same stack depths as .05/.05/.10.

 

[TwoHomie]

Every hand seems a bit excessive. I remember playing with kill pots when playing fixed limit and it would make more sense to do something on that criteria (winning two pots in a row).

Hadn't even considered the similarity to a kill pot. Think I agree that every hand feels excessive. Maybe use some sort of bomb pot mechanic, where it only happens every few orbits

 

[moose]

We play .50/.50 with a $2 rock. You want it worth playing for. Whenever you win the rock, you must post it UTG so it goes into play at least once per orbit but not all the time.

The Rock

 

[Silver_Fiend]

Re why? - mostly for the mechanic of pre-flop action not always starting in the same place. Think this has the potential to encourage more action. Also, would be a fun way to sneak in an extra color/denom chip

Re 4bb straddle, I'd probably try and keep blinds equal. .05/.10 produces the same stack depths as .05/.05/.10.

No, it would more likely discourage action. Have you played in a casino that allows straddles? It only serves to change the betting order. It doesnt cause more people to play, but typically causes fewer to come in on the hand. Players typically resort back to their normal betting amounts, which isnt usually tied to the pot amount.

 

[TwoHomie]

No, it would more likely discourage action. Have you played in a casino that allows straddles? It only serves to change the betting order. It doesnt cause more people to play, but typically causes fewer to come in on the hand. Players typically resort back to their normal betting amounts, which isnt usually tied to the pot amount.

This is good feedback. If it kills action at all or makes the game more complicated, then I don't think it's worth it. Appreciate the insight

 

[Highli99]

We play .50/.50 with a $2 rock. You want it worth playing for. Whenever you win the rock, you must post it UTG so it goes into play at least once per orbit but not all the time.

The Rock

View attachment 662520

This is how I understood the rock to work, and also how @Anthony Martino says it works at hard rock Tampa. Not raising the blinds every hand but sporadically. Fun times.

 

[LeLe]

Nope home game is meant to be causal and fun session, it best to play at losses at Max $100 so no ppl will get too over with the losses and all can have fun and kill time

 

[Anthony Martino]

This is how I understood the rock to work, and also how @Anthony Martino says it works at hard rock Tampa. Not raising the blinds every hand but sporadically. Fun times.

The Rock in Tampa is posted by the winner of the previous hand.

It is posted each hand regardless of position.

In the 2/2 it serves as the only straddle. In 5/5 and above unlimited restraddles are permitted regardless of the rock being in play

 

[joseywales]

Nope home game is meant to be causal and fun session, it best to play at losses at Max $100 so no ppl will get too over with the losses and all can have fun and kill time

Agreed. My game actually limits the total buy in to $50 for that reason. We do let folks buy in past that, which usually ends badly for the table

 

[TricycleClub]

Hadn't even considered the similarity to a kill pot. Think I agree that every hand feels excessive. Maybe use some sort of bomb pot mechanic, where it only happens every few orbits

If it’s a night where I’m hosting and we’re playing hold’em, we usually do double board bomb pots every time a player wins two hands in a row. It adds a little more excitement to the game. It can create more action too depending on who won the previous hand (I.e. your favorite LAG or donkey that’s always invited to spice up the game ) We usually play 1/2 blinds in my hold’em game. If we’re playing mixed PLO games, blinds are usually just 1 or 1/1 and the action ensues regardless of what you do.

 

[ekricket]

We play where you can’t look at your hole cards and you MUST raise every time the action is on you.
Greatly increases the action and it’s not solvable. Perfect!!