Cash Game How to run Dealer’s Choice/Mixed Games? (3 Viewers)

[dmoney]

Thinking of running a limit dealer’s choice game next time I host. Assuming that each game called will be played for one orbit before a change, what’s the best way when hosting this type of game?

• Dealer can call any game they want and must explain the rules
• Dealer can pick from a large number of pre-selected games (e.g. the mixed game deck with ~40 games)
• Dealer can pick from a small number of pre-selected games (e.g. HORSE)
• Dealer can pick a game with parameters (e.g. no wild cards allowed, or must be a game with discards)
• Something else?

Thanks for your help!

 

[CraigT78]

You have your answer in the second photo. Let them pick a game on the card and play it for an orbit.

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

Since all we knew was NL HE before I got the game cards, we're just learning the games as we go along. So I put them in a random rotation and we just draw the next card after an orbit.
I'm gonna create a best of and offer these 10-20 game cards for a dealers choice next time we play. At least that is the plan.

 

[Coyote]

No game can produce its "fragrance" unless played for one full orbit.
Ideally, have 3 pre-defined games and play one orbit of each.
Highly volatile chance games can only produce tears and drop-outs from that game.
Unless played for a small fraction of what the crew would play in NLHE.
Good Luck.

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

No game can produce its "fragrance" unless played for one full orbit.
Ideally, have 3 pre-defined games and play one orbit of each.
Highly volatile chance games can only produce tears and drop-outs from that game.
Unless played for a small fraction of what the crew would play in NLHE.
Good Luck.

Oh yeah, we play all games in rotation in a limit format for that exact reason.

 

[buzzmonkey]

When we had DC games, we also used to play for an orbit plus one rather than skipping the chooser's turn or changing games every hand.

Ex) 8 players. Player 1 calls PLO and deals the first game. Players 2-8 each deal that game. Then player 1 deals that game again. Player 2 then calls a different game and deals the first game.

 

[dmoney]

When we had DC games, we also used to play for an orbit plus one rather than skipping the chooser's turn or changing games every hand.

Ex) 8 players. Player 1 calls PLO and deals the first game. Players 2-8 each deal that game. Then player 1 deals that game again. Player 2 then calls a different game and deals the first game.

I definitely plan to do this, thanks!

 

[dmoney]

Ideally, have 3 pre-defined games and play one orbit of each.

My initial thought was to limit to HORSE+Tahoe Pitch and Roll

 

[markleteenie]

I'm planning on running a dealer's choice limit game soon, and my intent is to introduce a few approved variants in which the players can choose from. It's more familiar for the players that aren't used to playing that many games.

My thoughts: Introducing a lot of variants usually favors the "better" players, who already have an edge in the game. AKA not n00b friendly.

 

[Legend5555]

My initial thought was to limit to HORSE+Tahoe Pitch and Roll

You should really include A-5 or 2-7 triple draw. Learning all the basic formats (flop, stud, draw) is important IMO.

 

[Coyote]

You should really include A-5 or 2-7 triple draw. Learning all the basic formats (flop, stud, draw) is important IMO.

What if old ladies do NOT want to cross the street, whatever the good intentions of boy scouts?

 

[Legend5555]

What if old ladies do NOT want to cross the street, whatever the good intentions of boy scouts?

Then you force them to! Obviously! Duh!

 

[dmoney]

You should really include A-5 or 2-7 triple draw. Learning all the basic formats (flop, stud, draw) is important IMO.

Good idea, playing each type of game hopefully lays a good foundation for other games down the road. I think A-5 would be easier to explain to new players.

Maybe I’ll go HORSE with A5 and TPNR. Seven games should be plenty of variety, with flop, draw, stud, and hi/lo games all represented.

 

[buzzmonkey]

Good idea, playing each type of game hopefully lays a good foundation for other games down the road. I think A-5 would be easier to explain to new players.

Maybe I’ll go HORSE with A5 and TPNR. Seven games should be plenty of variety, with flop, draw, stud, and hi/lo games all represented.

If this is going to be a regular affair, you could start with NLH, PLO and O/8 for the first session. Then add a game each week until you have all the games you want.

 

[FDLmold]

I pick approximately equal amounts of big bet games and limit games for the evening. About 5 or 6 of each, otherwise analysis paralysis sets in when somebody is choosing. I use the cards that you have a photo of to do this.

Dealer picks a game and we play it for a round plus 1. After dealer deals the game for a SECOND time, the next player chooses a game that must be different than the last one. Players can join or leave between "games" or "orbits" or whatever you want to call them. I cap my big bet games so players just buy in with a crapton of big blinds/big bets once and I don't have to fiddle with the bank again except to cash people out.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I am not a fan of true Dealer’s Choice where any game can be played, even when it is for a full orbit. Most likely any game will only be played for 1 orbit the whole night, or even worse 3 people call the same game and 1/2 the night is playing the same game.

I much prefer a set rotation of 4 games. That gives each game several rounds of play throughout the night. Choose a variety of games that each have some different element to it.

you could also add a 5th round of true Dealer’s Choice but it just that hand and each dealer chooses a new game. This gives the added variety and let’s the group try several extra games that you may want in the rotation for the following game. Orbit could work to find a game most players didn’t like and you don’t need to worry about adding to the mix later on.

 

[Moxie Mike]

There's a mixed game that comes together at the Sahara in Vegas - I think the way they do it is everyone gets to pick a game when they're seated - so the rotation is predetermined.

In the mixed games I host, we use the $3 chips and the game is like a $3-6 game with a full kill in flop games. Sometimes we dilute the stakes to .20 on the dollar to introduce new players to the game. So $60 cash would get you a full rack of $3 chips.

Pretty much any reasonable WSOP mixed game variant is allowed, along with a few others as long as it's not too ridiculous. If players object or say they'll sit out an orbit, we encourage the dealer to choose a different game.

In order to speed up the selection process, one of these is helpful to:

 

[Rbonus012]

I like She-She, So-He, Big-O, God’s game, Scarny, draw2maha to name a few.

 

[Talrem]

Greetings, Programs!

A lot of members have some great advice, but you won’t really know the “best” method until you’ve tried a few with your crew. Try to start with each dealer choosing a new game to see which games you all like and which you don’t. As you learn the games and their rules, then try to do one per orbit to see if you’d want to play the same game for 5-10 rounds per orbit. You’ll eventually want to set up a formal rotation of select games when you become adjusted/experienced with them.
I found this website for some awesome (and fun!) dealer’s choice games: https://www.thedealerschoice.net/categories/alphabetical-list

Hope this helps!

 

[AWenger]

Dealer can pick from a small number of pre-selected games (e.g. HORSE)

^ This would be my vote. Unless your players have a lot of experience with all of the mixed games, I'd prefer to keep the selection to 5 to 10 different games or so.

I've played some of the circus games/dealers choice games with the ~40 mixed game cards at three or four different sessions at PCF games/meetups, and I needed reminders of the rules each time the game changes. For me, having too many games in the rotation is somewhat overwhelming for me to remember and keep track of all the rules. I kept having to ask to see the rules card each round. (actually, probably more like every other hand.)

Also, if you have a standard rotation of a handful of games, those cards could be copied to fit on a letter sized paper and passed around for reference.

HORSE has Razz (low hand wins), but I've found that most people don't like Razz, so I'd probably change it to something else, unless you and your crew are gearing up to play the mixed HORSE tournament at the World Series.

 

[upNdown]

Good idea, playing each type of game hopefully lays a good foundation for other games down the road. I think A-5 would be easier to explain to new players.

You should really include A-5 or 2-7 triple draw. Learning all the basic formats (flop, stud, draw) is important IMO.

I guess it depends on the players, to a certain extent. I’m sure a lot of people are more interested in playing games they feel like they’ll have a chance to win, than attending a learn all the games clinic.

Personally, I’d pick a handful of games like 5-8 and let people choose from them. I’ve been in games where people are allowed to choose absolutely any game for an orbit. The problem with that is, if you’ve never played it before, you need an orbit just to get the vaguest sense of how a game plays. But maybe that’s fine if you have a bunch of gambly guys who are happy to throw their chips in and hope for the best. So I think it depends on your crowd.

 

[dmoney]

God’s game

What game is this?

 

[Legend5555]

What game is this?

5 card double board Omaha high

 

[upNdown]

5 card double board Omaha high

So, split pot? High hand for each board wins?

 

[Legend5555]

So, split pot? High hand for each board wins?

Correct.

 

[dmoney]

Ideally, have 3 pre-defined games and play one orbit of each.

introduce a few approved variants in which the players can choose from

I pick approximately equal amounts of big bet games and limit games for the evening. About 5 or 6 of each, otherwise analysis paralysis sets in when somebody is choosing.

I much prefer a set rotation of 4 games.

The consensus seems to be that a smaller number of pre-selected games to choose from is generally preferred.

When we've played poker, it's always been NLHE, but I do know that a few players in the group are open to/have played/want to try other games. I would love to get everyone some more reps with hi/lo, split pot, stud, and draw variants to build towards a group of players who can play more than holdem (single- and double-board bomb pots were also a step in this direction).


So I'm thinking:

Holdem (maybe double board?)
Omaha 8 (multicard hi/lo game)
A-5 Triple Draw (draw/discard elements, and introduces the "Razz-style" low-hand i.e. 9 low as an actual hand)
Seven-card Stud
Tahoe Pitch & Roll (stud, discard & hi/lo elements)

-Two flop games, two stud games, one draw game
-Three hi/lo games, two have a qualifier
-Two discard games

I might be HOAST-ing my next game! @Rbonus012 @SJFCPK18

 

[upNdown]

When we've played poker, it's always been NLHE, but I do know that a few players in the group are open to/have played/want to try other games

Sounds like you're getting ambitious. Let us know how it goes.
My crew has always just played NLHE. I took one of them to a dealer's choice game once and he lost 4 buyins in under two hours.

 

[warma]

I'm starting up a new group with several folks new to circus games. We're starting with traditional HORSE to introduce the foundational elements. From there, everything I plan on offering is simply a variation (I don't see draw in my future, but could be wrong).

All new games will be announced in advance so folks can study up on them. Once we've play a game, it will be available for future nights.

 

[dmoney]

Sounds like you're getting ambitious. Let us know how it goes.
My crew has always just played NLHE. I took one of them to a dealer's choice game once and he lost 4 buyins in under two hours.

Would my plan to play all games as fixed limit hopefully help address this scenario?

 

[Irish]

Dealer can pick from a large number of pre-selected games (e.g. the mixed game deck with ~40 games)View attachment 740639

I'd go with ^this^ option, but trim back the number of cards to say 20ish so players aren't intimidated sifting through a big stack of cards. Stick with games closer to hold'em, like all the pineapple and omaha variants, and a couple of crazier ones like scrotum. Unless you have guys who previously played stud games or the badugy style games, I'd leave those off for the first time.

And if possible, email them the list of games beforehand, so they know what they're in for lol.