Cash Game Bomb Pots good or bad? (7 Viewers)

[ontheriver51]

Bomb pots have gained tons of popularity in the last couple of years and they’ve become so popular because they are fun to play. For winning players who have experience in NLHE and PLO, these bomb pots are seemingly fantastic as the weaker players are constantly punting off stacks. My question is are they worth it?

Some games will have caps on bomb pots to prevent people from going bust on one hand (necessary to keep small-ish player pool alive), but casinos never (that I have seen) have a cap. Although they can be easy money for talented players, is it actually hurting them in the long run by preventing some of the weaker players from playing cards as often as they would without bomb pots?

 

[BEANO52]

IMHO, Capped bomb pots are alright sparingly or when playing certain circus games when everyone is to the flop anyhow, i.e. Scarney.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

For our home games, no I don't like them. People incorrectly value their hands and it leads to new players losing way more money than they usually would, while better players can temper their expectations. I could have a completely different view if I hosted a more competitive, experienced game but I'd rather keep it friendlier. Occasionally if I'm up big I'll announce a bomb pot and chuck in 10 BBs of my own to see a flop for everyone, while warning people these hands are gambly.

I believe it may seem fairer or gambly but it just speeds up the money getting to the sharks. Sharks know to fold their bottom set on one board and lose the minimum, while new players get married to a top pair and lose their stack.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Bad.

 

[merkong]

Bad.

As in not good.

 

[Josh Kifer]

As in not good.

Yes.

 

[Labrat]

We tried them.

Meh.

 

[Labrat]

Yes.

So they're not not, not good?

 

[Josh Kifer]

So they're not not, not good?

They are bad. Not not not good.

 

[allforcharity]

Bomb pots are neither good nor bad. The play that happens after the flop is revealed is good or bad.

If people are using bomb pots as an excuse to play any two cards and strategy goes out the window, then they deserve to get stacked and often.

We combine bomb pots with limited dealer's choice for a hand, just to break up the monotony of standard NLHE.

 

[ekricket]

I don’t care much for them. They are ok for some circus games where there are no good preflop starting card ranges - it’s just luck.
But an entire round of a game you don’t care for can cost you $14-16 dollars to fold per round.

When they are called I use this as an opportunity to go to the bathroom or take a break, not the entire round but I don’t care if I play 1 or 8 of them no matter what the game is. Even if I’m at the table I might opt out of a hand or two to check PCF or eBay.

 

[Beakertwang]

We do one double board bomb pot per orbit, with a rotating button. Players that don't want to participate can sit out the bomb pot hands, and if it's their turn to call the bomb pot, they can skip it and pass the button to the next player.

Our group seems to enjoy them, and we warn new players to sit out a few and maybe play along with a neighbor until they get a feel for it.

So...good, I guess. Unless both boards pair when I have a straight on one, and a flush on the other. Then bomb pots suck.

 

[merkong]

Yes.

Hey, 9… I was merely restating it.

Not a fan of the BP’s…

Great. Now I know I’m going to need some milling done…

 

[TheBigTater]

I can tolerate them for some games like Scarney where play goes straight to a flop and most people aren't going to fold to a PF bet. But as a general dead money/action builder, like at the end of every orbit, I'm not a fan.

 

[merkong]

Hey, 9… I was merely restating it.

Not a fan of the BP’s…

Great. Now I know I’m going to need some milling done…

I’m having fun. Unless you’re mad you’re only 9.

I’ve seen some of your stuff. You got screwed at 9.

All the back and forth makes me that much looking forward to a meet up.

Actually though, I see what you did there… Bad is good like to the kids. I could see the confusion.

 

[doublebooyah85]

Too many bomb pots can hurt the game. Depending on the crowd I may limit them to 1 a hour if I think it will impact the game negatively. I prefer every 45 min w a rotating bomb dealer button.

Higher stakes games such as $25-$25 and up I’ve seen eliminate them completely or they prefer doing a cap can’t lose more than $4k etc. They seem to prefer the stand up game or just doing flips during dealer change or time pots.

That being said, I love them. I ran deep in the double board bomb wsop event this year and finished somewhere around 100th. Lost more than half my stack when I made a bad fold on the river. He had quads and put me all in. I had 2nd nuts on the other board. Would have chopped :-(.

 

[Random Phish]

I like bomb pots. Every 1/2 hour, last hand of a dealer’s choice orbit, or on dealer change at the local card room I play. Minimal cost to smash a flop and win a big pot.

I don’t think they’re as scary as some people make them out to be. You don’t flop strong, like nuts with a redraw, just GTFO of the hand and move on. It only takes getting felted a couple times to learn to play bomb pots cautiously.

The biggest mistake I see(Omaha BP’s) is people committing their whole stack with top set on a dynamic board with no redraw and two cards to come. They think they’re crushing it but it reality they’re lucky to have 50% equity.