TheYeti
3 of a Kind
Only 40 big blinds? That's pretty short, isn't it? What's a typical opening raise at your game?
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What are your home game blinds & buyins (14 Viewers)
- Thread starter PapaWheelie
- Start date
Only 40 big blinds? That's pretty short, isn't it? What's a typical opening raise at your game?
rum3002576
High Hand
it is short but that's all the kids wanna play for at one time. opening bud is normally $2. they don't make sense they only play for 20 at a time but will have multiple buy ins lol
How about.25/.25 blinds?
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rum3002576
High Hand
.25/.50
Yep, I was trying to say "how about" doing .25/.25 blinds instead? Would that possibly change the opening bet to $1.00? Or do you think they will still open to two bucks?
- Once/month, Pineapple or Texas Holdem Tourney
- $50 BI
- Unlimited $50 RB until 1st break
- $25 add-on at 1st break
TheYeti
3 of a Kind
Fingerz
High Hand
My buy-ins are for Mahjong and it will vary between which game we play. While this isn’t exactly for poker, you can still find some similarities to poker buy-ins.
$.50/$1 game has a $25 buy-in. This is a friendly game and has 2 rebuys. It rarely gets to that point. This game is for family, close friends and some newcomers. We can also alter this game to play a $.25/$.50 game with a $20 buy-in. The $20 buy-in makes it attractive to the newcomers playing it.
$2/4 game has a $100 buy-in. This is a little more aggressive and has 2 rebuys. This game is for our regulars and goes for several hours.
$3/6 game has a $300 buy-in. This is the most aggressive game we play. We cap it at 1 rebuy. While there is a $4/8 game and higher, we do not play it. The 3/6 is agreed upon by everyone prior to playing it. It can get expensive and heartbreaking. Especially if the game goes for multiple hours and you’re losing!
$.50/$1 game has a $25 buy-in. This is a friendly game and has 2 rebuys. It rarely gets to that point. This game is for family, close friends and some newcomers. We can also alter this game to play a $.25/$.50 game with a $20 buy-in. The $20 buy-in makes it attractive to the newcomers playing it.
$2/4 game has a $100 buy-in. This is a little more aggressive and has 2 rebuys. This game is for our regulars and goes for several hours.
$3/6 game has a $300 buy-in. This is the most aggressive game we play. We cap it at 1 rebuy. While there is a $4/8 game and higher, we do not play it. The 3/6 is agreed upon by everyone prior to playing it. It can get expensive and heartbreaking. Especially if the game goes for multiple hours and you’re losing!
Host only Hold'em games, but with some tweaks:
All in all, not big stakes.
Most of this group are not NL fans, so it's really for family and friends to catch up and chat. But I've had lots of interest and it's gone well.
- $0-$5 Spread Limit game
- $0.25/$0.50 Blinds
- Buy-ins typically $60-$100
- Dedicated Dealer (me, now that I have a shuffler )
- Full Kill (win 2 in a row, then $0-$10 Spread)
- $2 or $3 Bomb Pots (everyone gets one Bomb Pot button to use during the night - some nights I allow BP scoops to also win the BP button just used)
- Pick-a-card prop bet (gotta be some other name for this): Everyone gets a "random" card denomination. If it pairs on the flop, then everyone owes that person $1. If it trips on the flop, then everyone owes $3.
All in all, not big stakes.
Most of this group are not NL fans, so it's really for family and friends to catch up and chat. But I've had lots of interest and it's gone well.
churlbut18
Full House
There’s only 1 correct answer 
$2/$4 Limit
$1 small blind, $2 big blind
$100 buy in (1 rack of $1s)
$2/$4 Limit
$1 small blind, $2 big blind
$100 buy in (1 rack of $1s)
Match the stack makes so much sense!
We do match the big stack at our game as well. Detractors argue however (and rightly so) that it puts stronger players at an advantage vs. weaker players who run up a stack early. i.e. stronger players can just add on and go after the weaker players' stacks.
One could argue that matching to half the big stack is better for the long-term health of a home game, as it helps weaker players have a better chance of actually having the occassional nights where they hold onto their chips after running up a stack, and thus, keeps them coming back.
Hasn't been an issue at our regular game, but I can see the logic in it. Indeed, at my meetups and special events, I always run one table with low stakes and match half the big stack, just to keep things friendly.
Absolutely match no more than HALF the big stack, or you are allowing players who have the financial capability to use their pocket as a weapon. Let alone with uncapped buy-ins.
If a maniac or quasi-maniac player demands 20BBs in every hand for a flop, sorry the game isn't true to its supposed stakes (blinds).
If a person has chosen to play in that game based on blinds, he may very well NOT have the financial liquidity in the pocket, required to see the maniac to his demise and profit from it.
And don't tell me our player has to tighten-up, because how much can you tighten-up before your big pairs are obvious to everybody?
If a maniac or quasi-maniac player demands 20BBs in every hand for a flop, sorry the game isn't true to its supposed stakes (blinds).
If a person has chosen to play in that game based on blinds, he may very well NOT have the financial liquidity in the pocket, required to see the maniac to his demise and profit from it.
And don't tell me our player has to tighten-up, because how much can you tighten-up before your big pairs are obvious to everybody?
GamingWithChips
3 of a Kind
Ya, I've never liked the idea of match the stack...I often see people justify it by saying "but but but, how can they possibly win their money back if they can't re-buy to match the big stack??"
Idk, how about you play better...
jxfan
Two Pair
I’ve found a good sweet spot with .25/.25 blinds and $50 starting stacks! For .25/.50, I feel like $100 buy ins give better action since you’re relatively more deep stacked - otherwise pre flop raises would virtually commit your stack with lower buy ins like $40-50 (imagine a raise to $2 then a 3 bet to $10)
jxfan
Two Pair
Agree with this 100%, and makes the game feel more about just the money rather than enjoying playing cards
GamingWithChips
3 of a Kind
I will put a caveat and say it can depend on your group. If you are a tight knit group that isn't taking advantage of your friends and match the stack is used "conservatively", or if you do match half the stack, then I can see the appeal. But past that and when friends of friends or randoms are involved I think it's a bad idea in general.
Pay to win defeats the purpose of any game or sport.
jxfan
Two Pair
Yup I've mainly seen it happen with the latter scenario - most of my players are long time friends or people I've met at other games in the area. It's really the tone of the game that matters to me the most. Similarly, when everyone has bought in a couple times and the average stack is $100+ it makes sense to allow people to buy in for more, and not feel like they are perpetually short stacked.
This is a very interesting discussion and I have been thinking about this a lot since I play from .25/.25c games to 5/10 games my self.
I enjoy fun poker and I want some skill and banter involved. If I want to play to win some real money that is not the game I want to host with my friends.
So I have tried hosting a cash game where the buy in is 20-30 usd and for me that does just not work. Players get really splashy and don’t care about the money. Raise it up to 50$ and suddenly everyone cares and plays better. .25/.25 blinds and march half the big stack
I have also been designing a game that I have tested with good results as I want my players to play more split pot games.
Buy in 50-100$ and you get a mountain of 1s
Blinds are 1/1 Pre flop and flop max total bet per person is 5 and turn and river is 10. Just split pot games and there is a kill that makes it 2/2 with 10/20
It is a mix of limit and spread limit what ever the correct term for it is. Limit stacks in a spread limit game. I like it and hope to host more of it.
Tournaments I like to have atleast two tables unless people are ready for buyins if 100$ or more, two tables 50$ buy in is awesome and always attracts players.
I enjoy fun poker and I want some skill and banter involved. If I want to play to win some real money that is not the game I want to host with my friends.
So I have tried hosting a cash game where the buy in is 20-30 usd and for me that does just not work. Players get really splashy and don’t care about the money. Raise it up to 50$ and suddenly everyone cares and plays better. .25/.25 blinds and march half the big stack
I have also been designing a game that I have tested with good results as I want my players to play more split pot games.
Buy in 50-100$ and you get a mountain of 1s
Blinds are 1/1 Pre flop and flop max total bet per person is 5 and turn and river is 10. Just split pot games and there is a kill that makes it 2/2 with 10/20
It is a mix of limit and spread limit what ever the correct term for it is. Limit stacks in a spread limit game. I like it and hope to host more of it.
Tournaments I like to have atleast two tables unless people are ready for buyins if 100$ or more, two tables 50$ buy in is awesome and always attracts players.
I don't know why @GoJo_Dingo would want to be able to buy in for so much when he just goes from big stack to felt in 3 hands anyway
So why any complaint then? I'm only helping you guys out...I don't know why @GoJo_Dingo would want to be able to buy in for so much when he just goes from big stack to felt in 3 hands anyway
Aaaaaand that was first hand in aaaaaand that was not me...
Booshme
Two Pair
@GoJo_Dingo @goeckerd I’d like a match-the-stack game every once in a blue moon, but I’d feel bad for any newer guys who aren’t used to playing so deep. Once in a blue moon to get out of the comfort zone sounds good to me, maybe for a more special event, birthday or somethingI don't know why @GoJo_Dingo would want to be able to buy in for so much when he just goes from big stack to felt in 3 hands anyway
Well, the only way a guy that just got felted can get it back quickly is to match the guy that just won his chips; otherwise the big stack just locks up and no one can put him all in. (now that doesn't sound fair to me)
I think the guy who won the chip should have an advantage. He earned it. Why should the other guys mistakes allow him to buy that big stack advantage?
One persons mistake (or rather misfortune) or another persons LUCK on the river? Interesting
So if player A goes ALL IN at the turn with the best hand and player B calls and wins by shear luck he should be protected from anyone matching his stack?
For the record, I am ALL IN favor of anyone matching MY big stack at any time during the game (it is truly a disadvantage or foolish to play short-stacked)
Booshme
Two Pair
Hmmm maybe we should have a new thread with a poll? I’d like to hear what other PCF members think.
I think it should be determined by the game the host wants to play, it’s their house and the game should reflect their poker personality / philosophy a bit (while not being inconsiderate to the group as a whole, to keep the players happy and coming back, etc etc). Too little or too much action can bore or scare others away.
Personally, I like match half the stack, or buying in for the table average. I like @goeckerd ‘s point about earning the stack, even if it is through getting very lucky going all-in Preflop against two players with way better hands in PLO (
). That said, I want to be able to go to war with the guy who just stacked me, usually @GoJo_Dingo
. Match the stack does get too crazy too fast for most of the games I like to host, though. But… maybe after x amount of hours, when only the degens remain, it can be match the stack…
Booshme
Two Pair
Not necessarily, the short stack can realize his equity better and more quickly than the deep stacked player. It’s easier to go all in with 20BBs with top pair top kicker, than going all in risking 400BBs with two pair (thinking back to another time @GoJo_Dingo took my 400BB big stack when I went all in and my two pair was counterfeitOne persons mistake (or rather misfortune) or another persons LUCK on the river? Interesting
So if player A goes ALL IN at the turn with the best hand and player B calls and wins by shear luck he should be protected from anyone matching his stack?
For the record, I am ALL IN favor of anyone matching MY big stack at any time during the game (it is truly a disadvantage or foolish to play short-stacked)
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