One of the stupidest things I've ever seen

[PShabi]

During the hurricane, while displaced at my mom's house, I played some live poker.

If you don't know, Florida has a bet limit of $2, yes $2, in all games.

So, they spread straight $2 hold-em. $1/$2 blinds, every bet is $2.

Well, I went to a new room during the storm recovery and found something I didn't know existed. In order to create bigger pots (I guess) and to satisfy the gambler's the dog track poker room I was at spread:

ANTE HOLD 'EM.

$2 ante preflop by every player! So you're getting immediate odds of 10-1 UTG after the flop. I didn't get to watch much of the game and I didn't play in it. I suppose I could've made the adjustments but I was getting sucked out on enough in the str8 2 game.

Anybody ever seen anything like this?

[Talking Poker]

That's crazy. No wonder I've never played at the dog track here, even though it's less than 15 minutes away...

I've heard you have 7+ people seeing every flop.

Sounds horrible.

[Reel Deal]

Yeah, I only go to the local track here for their tournaments... sat down at a limit table once while waiting for a tourney to start and it was just that, 7+ see the flop and they all chase their draws down to the river... might as well play bingo.

[PShabi]

Dude, this was at the Melbourne track. I couldn't call you because my mom didn't have internet at her place and your number was in my PM box .

I tried to go to the library and get on the computer but I couldn't access the forum .

And yes, the str8 2 game had 8-9 seeing every flop. 5 cold-callers sometimes. I was hard up for poker, and frankly, although it's just $2 hold em, I find myself winning 25-40 bets pretty regularly. And live play is fun.

I like the str8 2 game also because you just value bet your edge and dont' have to worry about squeezing out more on the turn. Just plow!!!!

The most memorable hand I played started with a value raise on the button after the table limped to me with J10h . I flopped a flush draw and actually made a value raise on both the FLOP and THE TURN because it was bet UTG and called to me on the button with 6 people in!!!!!

When (if) I move to Vegas I'm looking forward to 5/10 games that play like this!!!

[bdawg31]

This sounds like a crazy game - and my first gut-reaction is to think like everyone else in that it sounds 'stupid'. But, is it? In theory, one should be able to adjust to this game like any other poker game, right? In theory - this game should be profiable just as any other if played correctly.

I am thinking that one would have to completely re-evaluate starting hands.

[Talking Poker]

I agree. I think you'd want to see a flop with pretty much any hand you would play out of the small blind - and maybe even a few more (ALL one gap non-suited connectors, for example).

I think they key to winning here would be evaluating your hand on the flop and proceeding correctly. Jam it when you have the goods, chase NUT draws when the price is right, and dump everything else.

The pot is going to be laying you sick odds, but getting in the habit of chasing runners is a bad idea.

Or is it..............? The more I think about it, the more I think mathematically, you might be correct in chasing almost everything. And if everyone is correct in doing that, you might as well all ante $10 and just deal out 5 card stud. Yeah, that's no fun.

Actually, a "fun" way to approach this game would be to bet/raise at EVERY opportunity, EVERY single hand. Depending on how the table reacts, that might even be the optimal strategy! If you can take down 25% of the pots uncontested before showdown, I'm guessing you'd come out ahead.

Crazy.

[PShabi]

No pots were going down uncontested. None. It played like the game I described with EVERYONE seing nearly every card.

So, yeah, bingo.

[Talking Poker]

At the Melbourne track, he says....... Tsk, tsk, tsk. I thought we were friends! What, you're too cool to drink beer with me now?

That does it.... pshabi has just been banned!

[Gordogg]

The $2 ante and everyone chasing there draws reminds me of implicit collusion. Your AA isn't going to hold up very often under those game conditions. So yeah, bingo anyone?