Cash Game What are your Rebuy Rules (for cash games)? (3 Viewers)

[10centguitar]

It seems from the previous replies that everyone understands the pros of limiting buy-in/re-buy amounts, but as for the pros for unlimited/big stack size BI amount I feel something needs to be said.


Most casinos have a max buy-in at their tables, but I go to Harrah's in New Orleans from time to time and they have the buy-in rule of up to the table's big stack. As one would expect, the games play out very different there than limited BI games.


An unlimited or size of the big stack buy-in amount allows the big stack to not be a a reckless bully and scare off players, no matter if they earned it through good play or sucking out. Something that happens regularly at most casino poker rooms.

If you want your game to be nitty, have one player with a huge stack.


Another positive aspect to the unlimited structure is that the late crowd of players will not be forced to play a compromised short-stack game against big stacks.
Many people host games that have several waves of players throughout the course of the night. (people getting off work.)



For a few years a i played at a game where they had 5 tables that could run from 7pm to 1pm the next day, sometimes later.
It was a 1/2 game that had an no-limit BI, re-buy, and straddle. I am in Texas if you couldn't tell! lol.

Around 4 or 5 in the morning, the main table would be stacked unbelievably deep for a 1/2. These guys should have been playing 5/10.
The average stack would be $1500-$2000. Talk about action! I saw several 5k pots there. The dealers were crushing.

There is no way someone could come in late and sit down unless it was unlimited.

Very few recreational low-limit players would want to venture into that game, but it's mention serves a point.

Although that's probably too much action for most, as long as you are selective with your players (dont invite maniac agro-donks back), an unlimited buy-in can be a great way to liven up the game.

Have a few friends who will buy in for a little more than the most timid players normally do. Try a high-hand rake, where 100% goes back to the players the following game, or do an hourly face up hand that everyone juices a couple BB's for.


If you are smart and cut off crazies, you can get your crew playing a little looser and having more fun, and your groups poker economy will be booming.

 

[10centguitar]

I run a .25/.50 dealer's choice game with uncapped buy-ins. My game is an action game!

I have a few players who buy in for $100-$200 to start but they are generally big donors to the game so nobody cares. There have a been a couple of players lost over the years but losing a couple of nitty players hasn't had a large impact.

Amen brother

 

[courage]

Crazy enough, one of them, a 1/3 NLHE game, has a no-limit straddle. From any position.
Need i say more?

Mississippi straddle. Standard at my local casino. 1/2 is $100-300 or half big stack and unlimited straddle from anywhere except blinds. Biggest straddle I've seen is $340. Biggest I know of reliably is $1k.

 

[10centguitar]

Mississippi straddle. Standard at my local casino. 1/2 is $100-300 or half big stack and unlimited straddle from anywhere except blinds. Biggest straddle I've seen is $340. Biggest I know of reliably is $1k.

Yeah we Mississippi and sleeper. I saw a $200 something mississippi 2 days ago at a 1/2 lol

1k? thats insanity

 

[Sal Bandini]

It seems from the previous replies that everyone understands the pros of limiting buy-in/re-buy amounts, but as for the pros for unlimited/big stack size BI amount I feel something needs to be said.


Most casinos have a max buy-in at their tables, but I go to Harrah's in New Orleans from time to time and they have the buy-in rule of up to the table's big stack. As one would expect, the games play out very different there than limited BI games.


An unlimited or size of the big stack buy-in amount allows the big stack to not be a a reckless bully and scare off players, no matter if they earned it through good play or sucking out. Something that happens regularly at most casino poker rooms.

If you want your game to be nitty, have one player with a huge stack.


Another positive aspect to the unlimited structure is that the late crowd of players will not be forced to play a compromised short-stack game against big stacks.
Many people host games that have several waves of players throughout the course of the night. (people getting off work.)



For a few years a i played at a game where they had 5 tables that could run from 7pm to 1pm the next day, sometimes later.
It was a 1/2 game that had an no-limit BI, re-buy, and straddle. I am in Texas if you couldn't tell! lol.

Around 4 or 5 in the morning, the main table would be stacked unbelievably deep for a 1/2. These guys should have been playing 5/10.
The average stack would be $1500-$2000. Talk about action! I saw several 5k pots there. The dealers were crushing.

There is no way someone could come in late and sit down unless it was unlimited.

Very few recreational low-limit players would want to venture into that game, but it's mention serves a point.

Although that's probably too much action for most, as long as you are selective with your players (dont invite maniac agro-donks back), an unlimited buy-in can be a great way to liven up the game.

Have a few friends who will buy in for a little more than the most timid players normally do. Try a high-hand rake, where 100% goes back to the players the following game, or do an hourly face up hand that everyone juices a couple BB's for.


If you are smart and cut off crazies, you can get your crew playing a little looser and having more fun, and your groups poker economy will be booming.

There is no big stack bully advantage in a cash game. That really only applies to a tournament. You have a tournament life. In cash you can always reload.

I actually like playing against big stacks. They make the mistake of thinking bullying works. In my $0.25/$0.50 game I always buy in for $20, or 40BB. Most people buy in for $40. Later in the night I could be down to $8 and a big stack could be $200. There is no way I get bullied by him. I play TAG so am selective in my hands. I raise pre-flop, get called by big stack. If I hit the flop I may shove and the big stack will many times fold. Their thinking is they have all those chips so why not see a flop.

I would have no problem sitting down short-stacked in that 1/2 game you described. The worst you can lose is your small buy-in. Then you re-load and go at it again. In many ways short stack is an advantage because you have fewer decisions to make post-flop.

 

[10centguitar]

There is no big stack bully advantage in a cash game. That really only applies to a tournament. You have a tournament life. In cash you can always reload.

I actually like playing against big stacks. They make the mistake of thinking bullying works. In my $0.25/$0.50 game I always buy in for $20, or 40BB. Most people buy in for $40. Later in the night I could be down to $8 and a big stack could be $200. There is no way I get bullied by him. I play TAG so am selective in my hands. I raise pre-flop, get called by big stack. If I hit the flop I may shove and the big stack will many times fold. Their thinking is they have all those chips so why not see a flop.

I would have no problem sitting down short-stacked in that 1/2 game you described. The worst you can lose is your small buy-in. Then you re-load and go at it again. In many ways short stack is an advantage because you have fewer decisions to make post-flop.

I understand your thinking in regards to playing short stack, and maybe thats your preference. Personally i prefer to play deep stacked, but i can play both.

I played short stack in that game for the first year. Profitable, but very dull. Lots and lots of getting sucked out on for your whole stack.
I would either double or triple up, or i would grt sucked out on. Which happens a lot in high action games.

Depending on your game, and the strength of players, i feel not only that the big stacks in cash games can bully, but if they are good players they can do it really well.

I will let a short stack nit around all night at a 1/2 and wait for them to finally raise all confindent for some weak $15-$20 raise and if anyone calls i will call with damn near anything to get action going and then everyone is in the pot. If not i will call and try to start it up if i feel anyone else likes their hands.
Aces and Kings dont play well against 6 or 7 players with the cash to call.

If everyone folds and im heads up to the flop with the short stack nit, i will just hope i hit hard. 46 suited or 810 suited will flop a mean draw or a made hand more often than you think, and i will get excellent implied odds to chase because the nit has waited all night to play his QQ, and will rarely let it go feeling all committed.

If i dont hit, i fold and lose $20. If i chase and lose, the nit now has more chips, and more often than not they continue to play the same tight, easily exploitable game. So no problem trying again.

 

[Bloody Marvelous]

NL/PL games buy-ins from 40 to 200 Big Blinds are allowed.

So for 5¢/10¢ NL games, buy-ins range from € 4 to € 20, and for 25¢/50¢ from € 20 to € 100.

For FL buy-ins of 10 Big Bets and up are allowed (no buy-in ceiling because that doesn't make any sense with FL games).

So 20¢/40¢ limits has a minimum buy-in of € 4 (which is the equivalent to a 5¢/10¢ NL).

 

[bergs]

I think the most challenging poker is deep stack poker, not small stack.

We play 25/50c big bet games (NL and PL). Max initial buyin is $125 (225 big blinds) and the $125 amount allows host to sell chips easily (1 stack quarters, 1 stack dollars, 1 stack redbirds).

Rebuys are up to half the biggest stack. Rationale is that by the time people start doing this, most of the stacks on the table are pretty deep and people don't want to rebuy and be short at 2am.

The other game is uncapped 1/1. This generally only goes in March at Bounty Battle. Uncapped, so most buyins/rebuys are $100-300. Some $500 buyins occur later in the night, and we've had a couple of 1K buyins. I rebought in for 2k twice (once each of the last 2 years) in an effort (in vain) to get unstuck. The game was very, very deep at that point.

 

[Leonard]

I think the most challenging poker is deep stack poker, not small stack.

^^^ For sure.

My usual game is a little like the Wild Wild West with few if any rules, much to my dismay. I have tried unsuccessfully to bring a more controlled atmosphere to the game. In theory, rebuys are up to 75% or 100% of the biggest stack, but, in practice, are unlimited. If any of the guys who drive the game (ie our versions of Crazy and Alpha Male a la Dr Strange) want to re-buy for 1k or more when the biggest stack is $500, it would be massively -EV to stop them. So we don't. After all, poker is a predatory game. Once in a while, one of the better players will be running bad and rebuy big to try to get unstuck and they usually get away with it as well. If it's early and the stacks are somewhat smaller there may be a complainer or two, but basically the game is uncapped.

 

[10centguitar]

Let em gamble as high as they want. If they dont find action, they will find a new game. Solving both party's issues.

 

[10centguitar]

I think the most challenging poker is deep stack poker, not small stack.

We play 25/50c big bet games (NL and PL). Max initial buyin is $125 (225 big blinds) and the $125 amount allows host to sell chips easily (1 stack quarters, 1 stack dollars, 1 stack redbirds).

Rebuys are up to half the biggest stack. Rationale is that by the time people start doing this, most of the stacks on the table are pretty deep and people don't want to rebuy and be short at 2am.

The other game is uncapped 1/1. This generally only goes in March at Bounty Battle. Uncapped, so most buyins/rebuys are $100-300. Some $500 buyins occur later in the night, and we've had a couple of 1K buyins. I rebought in for 2k twice (once each of the last 2 years) in an effort (in vain) to get unstuck. The game was very, very deep at that point.

No doubt. Small stack poker is a mindless sort of game imo.
Cant really mess it up unless youre sitting with sharks. Lol

 

[Payback]

I personally hate staring less than 200bb deep. My buy in is at $120, with 0.25/0.50 Blinds so 240bb. This rule stays in effect for the remainder of the game. I would love to do a half the big stack type of game but I think it would discourage some of my regulars.

 

[NiceShot]

I cannot stand the term friendly game. It implies playing soft and/or short stacked (both against my religious beliefs).

^This! As a friend you shouldn't coddle or play soft against friends. You are being a better friend by playing your A game which should help them learn something . Plus my friends wouldn't want to win that way anyways.

 

[Trihonda]

^This! As a friend you shouldn't coddle or play soft against friends. You are being a better friend by playing your A game which should help them learn something . Plus my friends wouldn't want to win that way anyways.

I use the term "friendly game" quite often, and I like it. It in no way implies you should play soft against anyone. However, everyone invited into my home is a guest, and I don't like people who treat my guests badly. In other words, play to win, yes! But don't be a douchebag about it... Many good players use douchebaggery as a tool to angleshoot or get under other players' skin. My goal as a host is to have everyone enjoy themselves win or lose. Losing to a douchebag isn't fun. And you likely won't come back...

 

[10centguitar]

I use the term "friendly game" quite often, and I like it. It in no way implies you should play soft against anyone. However, everyone invited into my home is a guest, and I don't like people who treat my guests badly. In other words, play to win, yes! But don't be a douchebag about it... Many good players use douchebaggery as a tool to angleshoot or get under other players' skin. My goal as a host is to have everyone enjoy themselves win or lose. Losing to a douchebag isn't fun. And you likely won't come back...

exactly...poker should be fun. I feel many of the chronic needlers just weren't hit enough in grade school lol.

The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner...

 

[bergs]

. Losing to a douchebag isn't fun. And you likely won't come back...

Oh, we know (LOL, just kidding)

 

[NiceShot]

I use the term "friendly game" quite often, and I like it. It in no way implies you should play soft against anyone. However, everyone invited into my home is a guest, and I don't like people who treat my guests badly. In other words, play to win, yes! But don't be a douchebag about it... Many good players use douchebaggery as a tool to angleshoot or get under other players' skin. My goal as a host is to have everyone enjoy themselves win or lose. Losing to a douchebag isn't fun. And you likely won't come back...

Haha agreed. Douchebagbaggery is very much frowned upon. Those people get kicked out of my games too. Luckily it has only happened once. I should have known when it was a friend of a friend of a brother of a sister cousin, etc. I take the vouch of a new player very seriously especially when it is my home people are coming to.

There are plenty of dbags at the casinos. They can go play there if they lack respect for a fellow player.

 

[KingZilla]

Lots of structures here. It depends on the person running the game and the players. My cash game is kept small intentionally.
25/50¢ NL holdem. Starting buys fixed at $30. Optional rebuys allowed if one gets down to $10 or less. Rebuys of $30 min. to $50 max. I have never used up my rack of $5's in this game (no surprise there). Even though the core group is the same for about 6 years, it's still a favorite game here locally. I believe the biggest pot ever was won by me ~ $300. KK vs AA vs AA. I spiked a K

 

[spikeithard]

I usually just state you can rebuy for what your stuck for. Seems to work ok so far

 

[bergs]

I usually just state you can rebuy for what your stuck for. Seems to work ok so far

A lot of people don't like the idea of someone basically doubling each buyin until they eventually get back to even. That's essentially an uncapped game (and I love uncapped games, but we're talking about capped games here).

 

[10centguitar]

Speaking of douchbag tactics, over-buying in into an un-capped game is obviously douchy in most every circumstance, meaning like triple the big stack or something ridiculous.

I think if there is no cap at a game, tsmart players should still be trying to make the other players comfortable.

If i came into a game and they had no rules for buyins i would just buy in for around the big stack unless he had tons of money. Then i would split the difference between the big stack and the 2nd in chips, until i have more info on how people feel about the big stack.

I always want to be invited back. : )

 

[bergs]

Speaking of douchbag tactics, over-buying in into an un-capped game is obviously douchy in most every circumstance, meaning like triple the big stack or something ridiculous.

If I'm stuck $4K in the last hours of a meetup and it's $1/1 uncapped, just putting people on notice that in rebuying for $2400. Douchey or not.

 

[10centguitar]

If I'm stuck $4K in the last hours of a meetup and it's $1/1 uncapped, just putting people on notice that in rebuying for $2400. Douchey or not.

I dont blame you, honest. but if im unfortunate enough to find myself stuck 4 dimes at a 1/1, i think i will go shoot myself.

 

[Payback]

I dont blame you, honest. but if im unfortunate enough to find myself stuck 4 dimes at a 1/1, i think i will go shoot myself.

These are more like 1/1/50....