Redrawing for seats (1 Viewer)

[Taghkanic]

I was watching some of the Triton 500K invitational on YouTube, and noticed that they redraw for seats every so often (maybe after 3-4 hours).

I was thinking this might be a good idea at my cash game, where we draw for seats at the start and then stay put all evening.

It typically runs from 7 pm until at least 2 am, sometimes as late as 5 am. Game is usually 8-handed with a dealer, but sometikes 9-handed. We often have a late arrival who replaces anyone who busts; and the field tends to thin down to 5-6 players after midnight. But in short it’s mostly a stable cast of characters in each session, not a lot of players coming in and out like a casino.

PROS: It could help keep the game fresh. Drawing for a new seat roughly halfway through the evening makes for more variety. You’re not just always playing your button against the same big blind, or vice versa. If you’re in a disadvantageous spot in relation to the big stack, you get a chance for the dynamic to change.

CONS: It might be viewed as an annoyance by some players, who tend to get comfortable in their spot for the night once they settle in. I’d also probably need to schedule a break to move stacks.

NOTE: My pool of players tends to be about 50% regs who almost always play, and 50% others who play once every 2-3 games. So the seating dynamic changes from session to session, maybe an argument for not bothering. That said, I have had the same person to my immediate left four weeks in a row despite our random seat draws. That’s going to happen randomly, but at this point it’s a running joke between me and the player.

Thoughts? Anyone redraw seats periodically in their cash game?

 

[Taghkanic]

(I assume Triton does this for variety and fairness… Who wants to show up with $500,000 only to wind up with Ivey or Jungleman to your left for nine hours?)

 

[RichMahogany]

We tend to redraw at least once per game.

It’s nice to mix things up

 

[detroitdad]

If I host a two table cash game, I redraw for seats once, at the halfway mark

 

[Saoliver]

If I host a two table cash game, I redraw for seats once, at the halfway mark

How long is half of a cash game?

 

[casinochipper22]

I love the mid game redraw. We use to do it in a regular game I played.

 

[detroitdad]

How long is half of a cash game?

4 hours

 

[upNdown]

I don’t think it’s necessary and I’m not even in favor of it, but if the host wants to do it once per night, that’s fine.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Player dynamics of who is the button to your BB etc will change anyways as the game goes from 9 handed to 5/6 players already. I don’t dislike it, but I wouldn’t do it unless the vast majority of my players asked for it.

 

[GoJo_Dingo]

I was watching some of the Triton 500K invitational on YouTube, and noticed that they redraw for seats every so often (maybe after 3-4 hours).

I was thinking this might be a good idea at my cash game, where we draw for seats at the start and then stay put all evening.

It typically runs from 7 pm until at least 2 am, sometimes as late as 5 am. Game is usually 8-handed with a dealer, but sometikes 9-handed. We often have a late arrival who replaces anyone who busts; and the field tends to thin down to 5-6 players after midnight. But in short it’s mostly a stable cast of characters in each session, not a lot of players coming in and out like a casino.

PROS: It could help keep the game fresh. Drawing for a new seat roughly halfway through the evening makes for more variety. You’re not just always playing your button against the same big blind, or vice versa. If you’re in a disadvantageous spot in relation to the big stack, you get a chance for the dynamic to change.

CONS: It might be viewed as an annoyance by some players, who tend to get comfortable in their spot for the night once they settle in. I’d also probably need to schedule a break to move stacks.

NOTE: My pool of players tends to be about 50% regs who almost always play, and 50% others who play once every 2-3 games. So the seating dynamic changes from session to session, maybe an argument for not bothering. That said, I have had the same person to my immediate left four weeks in a row despite our random seat draws. That’s going to happen randomly, but at this point it’s a running joke between me and the player.

Thoughts? Anyone redraw seats periodically in their cash game?

I'd like to hear the consensus of your group.

 

[Rakrul]

I like the idea but I know in my group that those who are happy with their seat will be quite vocal against this, so I think it's important to announce this and the time og it, at the start to avoid a lengthy discussion.

 

[detroitdad]

I like the idea but I know in my group that those who are happy with their seat will be quite vocal against this, so I think it's important to announce this and the time og it, at the start to avoid a lengthy discussion.

Yep

 

[doublebooyah85]

i like the idea. My only concern is some would use it as the opportunity to cash out and leave the game.

 

[Taghkanic]

I like the idea but I know in my group that those who are happy with their seat will be quite vocal against this, so I think it's important to announce this and the time og it, at the start to avoid a lengthy discussion.

I don’t dislike it, but I wouldn’t do it unless the vast majority of my players asked for it.

I sometimes poll my members in between games and get good response rates, so I may try that.

Generally, I find that players in both my game and others I frequent regularly are pretty “conservative” about changes (in the dictionary sense, not the political sense).

If asked, they will usually say “don’t change anything.” It’s more a default position than a strong opinion—most players are creatures of habit.

This does not always mean a change is a bad idea. For example, the initial reaction to four-card decks was negative, but I felt strongly about making that change based in my background reviewing design… and players got used to it after 2-3 games. Recently someone asked me where he could get some decks. I suspect if I switched back to two-color now that people would ask for the four-colors back.