Structure for a Home Game with great(?) action (2 Viewers)

[Qef699]

I would like to have som fresh ideas of Home Game structures that encourages action but also care taking among friends .

We have been playing the same structure for almost 20 years now, idea is simple, start low for everyone to be able to join but finish strong for the most "eager" players.
Usually a 6 hour session starting with the host to secure some dinner and drinks. No Limit Texas Holdem Cash Game. Max 9 players.
The list of potential players to join is about 40 and we always manage to fill up the table and keep everyone friendly and happy! 6-10 games / year. All players will pitch in $10 to the host to cover food/drinks since we cannot achieve a fair rotation of hosting due to living conditions etc. (I end up hosting alot more games ).

NOTE: we play SEK not USD! Total amount on the table usually ends up around 8-16k.
6 - 8 PM => Max Buy in 200 and blinds 5/5.
8 -10 PM => Max Buy in 500 and blinds 5/5.
10 - 12+ PM => No Max buy in limit and blinds 5/5.

We usually push out 2 racks of 5's / 2 racks of 25's and then continue with 100's to have some weight on the table.

Comments / ideas for improvments?

Inspiration pics:

 

[kaimat]

20 years of good times? Sounds like you're living the dream.

 

[foreverdev]

You could always do bomb pots!
If you’re not into that level of action, perhaps even just having a BB ante of 1BB can help drive action. This has been a huge game changer at my game. Or even more if you do an auto straddle if you have smaller demons (seems like you have 5+) so it would be like blinds 1/2 but with the straddle, it would be 1/2/5. The idea is that the more money in the middle preflop, the more likely someone will get greedy and want to raise, and those with more money in will look at their sunk costs and want to be in the hand too.
Looks like a fun game!

 

[justsomedude]

Topless dealer would spice things up.

 

[Qef699]

Some nites there is usually lots of straddling, other nites it's slower pending you joins the game! We allow unlimited live straddles so can get crazy sometimes!
Perhaps 1 extra BB after 8PM and then mandatory straddle after 10PM will further increase action!

Yea, all those games really adds value for me(us I hope)!

Found some old classic pic: (still using 1 markers..)

 

[Machine]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 20 years, who needs change?

There are two paths here. If the group as a whole is open and looking to have more challenge and fun, I would start by introducing Pot Limit Omaha, go slow. If everyone is folding preflop you can introduce 'Courchevel' It's basically PLO but you see a card before you take action. If everyone is calling preflop great no need to intro Courchevel.

I suggest this because if you're looking for the game to be more fun, you'll want to play mixed games. Most mixed games are variants of PLO or build on similar strategies. Next step in this path / evolution would be playing BigO, as this introduces high / low.


If the group is opposed to moving off holdem, then I would try to introduce pineapple. Next step after pineapple would be 4-card pineapple, and then into PLO.

Ultimately, you're trying to get to Badacey and Derailment so you can witness 3 boards going away. When the last card matches on all three boards, there is a special action, we play it the best hand across all three boards swoop. This is the latest one for my group, I won, 8's full of 3's. Some will play it, the best hand you were dealt wins. We play it as bomb pots, so there is no preflop action, due to this I prefer playing it as Ultimate high instead of best dealt hand wins.

Happy Journeys!

 

[Qef699]

""If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 20 years, who needs change?"" => perhaps is mostly me who is being more and more "bored" and looking for some new angles..

PLO I have played couple of times but not in this regular set-up! Agree it's a lot of fun and lots of action! Not sure why we haven't tried that to be honest, we have been strict Holdem! I might try this, if flagged in advance it should work!
Never played Pineapple but will look into that as well! Thanks!

 

[Machine]

 

[Eriks]

Firstly, welcome fellow Swede and nice set! Where are you based? Stockholm area myself.

6 - 8 PM => Max Buy in 200 and blinds 5/5.
8 -10 PM => Max Buy in 500 and blinds 5/5.
10 - 12+ PM => No Max buy in limit and blinds 5/5.

If it works for your group then I guess it works but I wouldn’t care for that structure. Is the issue that you have some players who don’t wanna buy in for more than 200-500? If you have a 40 player pool, why not have different stakes for different nights instead? Maybe 1/2 on the smaller nights. That’ll give them a lot more room to maneuver with 200-500. 40-100bb poker isn’t very fun imo.

I think the most common cash game structure used by members here is 200bbs buy-in/rebuy or match half the biggest stack.

Fun additions besides adding other poker variants are bomb pots, nit game, 72-game

 

[Qef699]

Firstly, welcome fellow Swede and nice set! Where are you based? Stockholm area myself

Cool! Göteborg for me! Did not spend alot of time at Casino latest years but still very sad they shut us down!! (the CC Stockholm is closed as well rite?)

Yea, I guess there is a good mix of people who mostly wants to socialize and some who are more into the game itself and it's not that easy to find new poker players unless you want to risk going outside friends/collegues circle!

NOTE, the structure is re-buy, MAX 200 means unlimited re-buys at 200 etc.

Fully agree that 200BB makes it more interesting => but I kind of enjoy also the shortstack part of it, kind of relaxing and some different parameters to consider..

Your proposal to split up the game into high/low stake I have for sure considered, I also think 6h is borderline for a proper game, would prefer 8-12h! But family and work takes it's toll so at least my place 12PM is dead end lol for a friday game.

There are two paths here. If the group as a whole is open and looking to have more challenge and fun, I would start by introducing Pot Limit Omaha, go slow. If everyone is folding preflop you can introduce 'Courchevel' It's basically PLO but you see a card before you take action. If everyone is calling preflop great no need to intro Courchevel.

Still think next move will be to try Omaha at next game!

Thanks guys!!

 

[Eriks]

Cool! Göteborg for me! Did not spend alot of time at Casino latest years but still very sad they shut us down!! (the CC Stockholm is closed as well rite?)

Yep, it closed this April. I didn’t frequent it, wasn’t a fan of the high rake and the 9-10-handed games.

Yea, I guess there is a good mix of people who mostly wants to socialize and some who are more into the game itself and it's not that easy to find new poker players unless you want to risk going outside friends/collegues circle!

I’ve found it’s better to make friends with poker players than trying to make poker players out of your friends

NOTE, the structure is re-buy, MAX 200 means unlimited re-buys at 200 etc

Not sure I understand. After 10 pm players can buy in/add on for whatever amount they want?

 

[Qef699]

Not sure I understand. After 10 pm players can buy in/add on for whatever amount they want?

Yes.. normally no major changes happens, but we allow any buy in after 10PM. Sometimes the highest stack is matched by another similar stack and the chase is on!

 

[drgg]

Spend money on a better table, other than that looks like a great time

 

[Qef699]

Spend money on a better table, other than that looks like a great time

haha yea!

 

[ThrowBack]

Having All in buttons will encourage people to use them

Bomb pots, pineapple