Cash Game Antes in a low stakes cash game? (1 Viewer)

[Dbxela]

Would you rather play 50c/$1, or 25c/50c with a 75c BB ante?

Both start with a $1.50 pot, I've heard ante games play more fun, but never tried to run it.

Maybe it just caused more confusion, forgetting to post, etc? And the open raises are so far from theory anyway, it might make no difference?

 

[Labrat]

Not a fan of antes on flop games.

 

[upNdown]

I’ve never played cash NLHE with antes but I’m not sure why. They’re routine for NLHE tournaments and they’re routine in most other cash games, so why not NLHE cash? But they’re becoming more popular, so maybe it’s a trend that will catch on.
The ante in your example seems high, so I’ll take the third option - I’d rather play .25/.50 with a .50 bba.

 

[Dbxela]

I've seen a lot of 1bb antes described, but recent TV streams with 2bb - so I split the difference to make the starting pot the same.

 

[jamesjkim]

If the goal is to drive more action, it's also not uncommon to have three blinds, $0.25, $0.50, $1.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I introduce the idea of an ante as an actual ante. If you're playing 50/$1 its easy, everyone throws in a quarter before the cards are dealt. Helpful in teaching games like stud or draw, ante as a separate chip thrown in before a round of betting.

I would do a proper ante if my chip breakdown allowed it, but I wouldn't introduce a BBA to newer players.

 

[chippitydoodah]

STRADDLE
STRADDLE STRADDLE
STRADDLE STRADDLE STRADDLE STRADLE STRADDLE
STRADDLE

 

[Dbxela]

Straddles and 3rd blinds theoretically tighten up the game and reduce action.

There's no difference in who posts it, so I'd certainly go for bb or bu for simplicity.

This isn't just to raise the stakes, else doubling the blinds and bomb pots do a better job, it's to increase everyone's VPIP.

 

[TonZaga]

The most action that I've seen in my home games was from 25c/25c blinds

 

[Machine]

Okay stop just stop first let’s pick a game to talk about then we can talk about antes.

 

[Tonystark137]

The most action that I've seen in my home games was from 25c/25c blinds

We had a $3.75 utg raise last time and got 5 callers...

 

[TonZaga]

We had a $3.75 utg raise last time and got 5 callers...

People always have the urge to defend their $0.25c blind.....so disgusting! (priced in LOL)

 

[KHarp1]

People always have the urge to defend their $0.25c blind.....so disgusting! (priced in LOL)

I've never seen so many donks in one place!

 

[allforcharity]

I've never played Antes in NLHE cash. It doesn't sound like it'd be popular.

 

[KHarp1]

I, too, have never seen ante's in a cash game, but, if that's what you want to do, I guess go for it and see how it works. I have seen things like a $1-$2 game with a $5 bring in, or, a must straddle. I have a hard time believing that an extra .75 in the pot is going to really pump up the action.

 

[Dbxela]

I should have said I was thinking of NLHE.

I'm seeing it preferred more and more.on streams like this.

Presumably, some people think it makes better TV poker, which is mostly in line with a good game in general.

 

[TonZaga]

I should have said I was thinking of NLHE.

I'm seeing it preferred more and more.on streams like this.
View attachment 1342944

Presumably, some people think it makes better TV poker, which is mostly in line with a good game in general.

$3.1M pots playing $500/$1000 makes for good TV too

 

[Labrat]

$3.1M pots playing $500/$1000 makes for good TV too

Final episode should be showing everybody settling up.

 

[Machine]

There is a game of PLO where the button antes, the structure is 5, 10, (button) 25.

For something like stud the antes are smaller, and everyone does it, for flop games it seems more popular to have a single larger ante.

I would prefer a rock or mandatory straddle.

Having it on the BB doesn't seem better for the game, you'd think you'd want at least 3 ppl with money in the pot.

 

[Dbxela]

It makes no difference who posts it, it's dead and you pay it once a round.

The only reason 1 person posts it is to reduce admin.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

It makes no difference who posts it, it's dead and you pay it once a round.

The only reason 1 person posts it is to reduce admin.

It does make a difference psychologically. You can argue pure math, but many of us play with apes that have favorite hands. Paying 25c 8 times or paying $2 for a hand once a round feels very different to them.

 

[surfik]

just raise the f....g blinds.....

 

[TonZaga]

Personally, I wouldn't mind to go 25c / 50c / $1 blinds so 3 people are in each pot.

 

[KHarp1]

@Dbxela it does make a difference who post it, the administrative part is mainly for tournaments where everyone use to post an ante and the dealer had to go around the table and make sure everyone had posted. Having the BB post one ante for the table was found to be easier/quicker. Forcing a 3rd player bet involves more players in the hand, thereby potentially increasing the overall pot.

 

[Dbxela]

It doesn't make a difference who posts the antes, whether one position or everyone. It does make a difference if there is a third blind, it should make all the players IP, and the SB a little tighter.

However, this thread is giving a pretty strong case that players may actually think they should give more action when there is a 3rd blind or straddle, which is a good reason to do it on some groups.

 

[KHarp1]

The simple psychology of having a "3rd blind" with more money in the pot seems to stir up the degen in players.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I'm seeing it preferred more and more.on streams like this.
View attachment 1342944

Presumably, some people think it makes better TV poker, which is mostly in line with a good game in general.

Not sure its been specified to you: BB ante just drives action, its often done in tournaments too. The range of hands you can profitably play increases when there's more dead money in the pot, so yes, at a crazy game with millions on the table they're going to do whatever they can to drive action and clicks. Instead of raising into a pot of 1.5k, I'm now calling or raising into a pot of 4.5k, much easier to justify playing weird combos.

 

[Dbxela]

Yeah I know hence the thread... I'm asking if anyone tried it in SSNL home game, and if the game felt sufficiently improved to make up for the extra admin.

The absolute amounts of the chips shouldn:t really change the effect on the game.

 

[Labrat]

It doesn't make a difference who posts the antes, whether one position or everyone.

IMO, it absolutely makes a difference. Instead of posting...say...a quarter for every hand and being invested in every hand, you're only invested in every 6 (or so) hands for a dollar. Or whatever the stakes may be.

Edit: I really should start paying attention to the last post date of threads. *sigh*

 

[Taghkanic]

If the goal is to drive more action, it's also not uncommon to have three blinds, $0.25, $0.50, $1.

Much better solution