What are your buy in rules for a cash game? (8 Viewers)

[Chubbs]

For my micro .25/.25 game we do 100bb buy-in and usually 100bb rebuy (most guys don’t want to rebuy for more). As the game progresses we will occasionally allow players to rebuy for up to 200bb if they want (or are down a few buy-ins already )

 

[louBdub]

Easy way to find out what your players want…

Player: What’s the buy in?

Host: Up to you…

End.

 

[SixSeven]

I started with .25/.25, and we did aprox 200bb at $40 buy ins. Then 1/2 the largest stack if it was more than $40. I noticed that no one treated a .75 cent or $1 as anything different than a call (everyone would just call it) so now we do .25/.50. (A $2 raise is more something to think of.) To keep the game small, I only raised the max buy in to $60 or 120bb. Game basically plays the same even with less BB. Top ups are allowed 1/2 the largest stack, but as the game goes later, I am a little looser about how much.

 

[detroitdad]

200 BB's, .25/.50, $100 max

 

[matthewb]

Implementing this for future games:

"Players must buy in for a minimum of 100 big blinds, with no maximum limit. There are no minimum requirements for re-buys."

 

[detroitdad]

Implementing this for future games:

"Players must buy in for a minimum of 100 big blinds, with no maximum limit. There are no minimum requirements for re-buys."

I wouldn't play in that game. I prefer a stricter structure

 

[matthewb]

I wouldn't play in that game. I prefer a stricter structure

 

[krafticus]

I think I’m going to put a cap on my buy-ins. This last $.50/$.50 game got a little out of hand. After 2 big pots with a $500 rebuy (which was too high), it became 1600. The next largest stack was $750, and the 1/2 big stack rebuy (there were 2) covered every other stack. Then add-ons and all of a sudden the game is huge.

I’d have rather played 1/2 at that point with a capped buy-in

This month I’ll let it run like we did, but I may cap my rebuys to $300 or 1/2 big stack, whichever is smaller

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Boo

 

[ThrowBack]

It’s never come up play micro stakes, but starting a new game with new people I’m capping our game at 3-$100 buy ins

No rake and trying to turn people into friends I just don’t want $10,000 in my garage

 

[Tyler13]

We’ve always done 80-120bb buy in range, with usually a 150bb rebuy. Some nights when we are feeling a little more loose, no caps on rebuy. It’s never gotten out of control but YMMV

 

[Schmendr1ck]

I think I’m going to put a cap on my buy-ins. This last $.50/$.50 game got a little out of hand. After 2 big pots with a $500 rebuy (which was too high), it became 1600. The next largest stack was $750, and the 1/2 big stack rebuy (there were 2) covered every other stack. Then add-ons and all of a sudden the game is huge.

I’d have rather played 1/2 at that point with a capped buy-in

This month I’ll let it run like we did, but I may cap my rebuys to $300 or 1/2 big stack, whichever is smaller

I think match the stack, or even half the big stack, can get unsustainably big for a regular game. It gives the good, deep pocketed players too much of an advantage and will skin the bad players with such regularity that they will stop playing.

My .25/.50 game starts at 120bb ($60) and goes to 200bb ($100) later in the evening, and I think this is great for us. It gives players a chance to get stacks in early - and they do. When half the players have at least 200bb then we allow the bigger rebuys. This gives stuck players a little help in getting out of the hole without making it too unbalanced.

 

[SixSeven]

I think match the stack, or even half the big stack, can get unsustainably big for a regular game. It gives the good, deep pocketed players too much of an advantage and will skin the bad players with such regularity that they will stop playing.

My .25/.50 game starts at 120bb ($60) and goes to 200bb ($100) later in the evening, and I think this is great for us. It gives players a chance to get stacks in early - and they do. When half the players have at least 200bb then we allow the bigger rebuys. This gives stuck players a little help in getting out of the hole without making it too unbalanced.

I like this a lot. Makes a lot of sense balancing both sides of the concerns and make it fair.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I think match the stack, or even half the big stack, can get unsustainably big for a regular game. It gives the good, deep pocketed players too much of an advantage and will skin the bad players with such regularity that they will stop playing.

My .25/.50 game starts at 120bb ($60) and goes to 200bb ($100) later in the evening, and I think this is great for us. It gives players a chance to get stacks in early - and they do. When half the players have at least 200bb then we allow the bigger rebuys. This gives stuck players a little help in getting out of the hole without making it too unbalanced.

For a common game size like this, I think this a a very reasonable approach. My game starts out just like yours. So far, I've never had anyone want to rebuy for more than $60. If it ever comes up, I hope I remember this method. It makes a lot of sense. If you can't get out of the hole with $100 in a 25c/50c game, then you probably can't do it with $200 or more, or by matching the big stack either.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

If you can't get out of the hole with $100 in a 25c/50c game, then you probably can't do it with $200 or more, or by matching the big stack either.

The other side of that coin is that good players who are allowed to buy in deeper and deeper CAN eventually get out of the hole - often by taking a huge stack from a less skilled player.

Limiting your max buy in protects weaker players. It helps limit their losses and protect their occasional big wins, and it keeps them coming back.

Shear the sheep. Don't skin them or you kill your game.

 

[JustinInMN]

Not that long ago, "match the stack" was taken as a home game standard on PCF. I am really glad, this thread has brought out the skeptics of this practice.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

I think I’m going to put a cap on my buy-ins. This last $.50/$.50 game got a little out of hand. After 2 big pots with a $500 rebuy (which was too high), it became 1600. The next largest stack was $750, and the 1/2 big stack rebuy (there were 2) covered every other stack. Then add-ons and all of a sudden the game is huge.

I’d have rather played 1/2 at that point with a capped buy-in

This month I’ll let it run like we did, but I may cap my rebuys to $300 or 1/2 big stack, whichever is smaller

Obviously we have different opinions on this, but I would never want anyone to be playing at stakes they are uncomfortable with at our game, which is at it's heart a friendly game.

I do think the $500 rebuy was not too high, or at least close enough (I believe the big stack had about 1k, but if they stacked their chips properly we'd be able to tell be more accurately), but if you thought so you're certainly allowed to speak up.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I think I’m going to put a cap on my buy-ins. This last $.50/$.50 game got a little out of hand. After 2 big pots with a $500 rebuy (which was too high), it became 1600. The next largest stack was $750, and the 1/2 big stack rebuy (there were 2) covered every other stack. Then add-ons and all of a sudden the game is huge.

I’d have rather played 1/2 at that point with a capped buy-in

This month I’ll let it run like we did, but I may cap my rebuys to $300 or 1/2 big stack, whichever is smaller

Obviously we have different opinions on this, but I would never want anyone to be playing at stakes they are uncomfortable with at our game, which is at it's heart a friendly game.

I do think the $500 rebuy was not too high, or at least close enough (I believe the big stack had about 1k, but if they stacked their chips properly we'd be able to tell be more accurately), but if you thought so you're certainly allowed to speak up.

Sounds like you guys are talking about the same game. What was the initial buy-in? More than 200BB? Must have been for someone to have built up a $1000 stack. I think a reasonable cap (if you choose to use one) should be somewhere around 2x - 3x max of the initial buyin. If that initial buy-in is around $100-150, then I think a $300 cap is very reasonable. Having a rebuy amount high enough that it will cover every other stack on the table does seem too big. Because like Mark states, then several others will also add on, and then the game is way above the parameters that it was set up to be.

 

[matthewb]

Implementing this for future games:

"Players must buy in for a minimum of 100 big blinds, with no maximum limit. There are no minimum requirements for re-buys."

I’m removing the buy-in minimum and allowing unrestricted buy-ins and rebuys. The 100BB buy-in minimum was supposed to ensure there isn't a dry table, but that’s never been an issue.

The games in the past have never gotten out of control, even when players buy in multiple times or want to rebuy for less than min due to time constraints.

I think the biggest deterrent for new/returning players is being told what they can do with their money. People like freedom and making their own decisions. Guidelines can help in places like casinos with multiple options and stakes, but too many rules just turn people off.

EDIT: Also worth adding that people can deal for tips to get back into the game.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Sounds like you guys are talking about the same game. What was the initial buy-in? More than 200BB? Must have been for someone to have built up a $1000 stack. I think a reasonable cap (if you choose to use one) should be somewhere aro'NM m. kNound 2x - 3x max of the initial buyin. If that initial buy-in is around $100-150, then I think a $300 cap is very reasonable. Having a ⁿrebuy amount high enough that it will cover every other stack on the table does seem too big. Because like Mark states, then several others will also add on, and then the game is way above the parameters that it was set up to be. N ml

$100 (200 bbs) to start, but big stack was close to 1k and avg stack was maybe $4-500. We do have straddling and sometimes double and triple straddling depending on who's under the gun, so that probably skews things a bit. I think @Highli99 said there was $6100 on the table, so an average of almost 800 by the end of the evening.

 

[Highli99]

$100 (200 bbs) to start, but big stack was close to 1k and avg stack was maybe $4-500. We do have straddling and sometimes double and triple straddling depending on who's under the gun, so that probably skews things a bit. I think @Highli99 said there was $6100 on the table, so an average of almost 800 by the end of the evening.

Yep.

This was initial buy ins

these are the chips I cashed out at end of the night.

Biggest stack was over $1,600; however, they were in for probably $1k

Most of the cash was add on to keep pace with big stack, who went down big early and then rebounded massively.

I think @krafticus pointed out that those adding on immediately covered everyone but big stack. That’s a bit unfair so might have to consider updates in the future. Tbd. Want to balance fairness and degen desires.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

You could always do match half the big stack with a predetermined cap if there's a yuge stack

 

[Taghkanic]

Can’t remember if I replied already, but:

60BB min all night
200BB max to start

After that max can go up to half the biggest stack

Typical initial buyins are 80-160BB, approx 1000BB on table to start (8max at a time, 11 players over course of the evening)

Last game there were ~2,700BB in play overall. Highest it’s ever gone is ~3,000BB.

 

[ChipFinderSK]

@krafticus @Highli99 @Chippy McChiperson

I don’t have an issue with how the game played out, even if I was one of the folks who went from big stack to shorter stack within 20 minutes due to all the rebuys/top ups. I was only in 2x, and had a chance for a massive score if things went right.

I do think that our normal degen level probably prevents some from playing more cash, though (I’d be surprised if Highli’s neighbor plays with us again anytime soon, and there are probably at least 5 tourney players at krafticus’ game that want to play more cash but are worried about losing a lot of $).

What about something like a $400-500 cap for rebuys & top ups? That might prevent the game from getting out of hand too quickly.

As long as we can agree that the Andy Stacks chip stack wasn’t the problem, it doesn’t matter to me.

 

[Highli99]

@krafticus @Highli99 @Chippy McChiperson

I don’t have an issue with how the game played out, even if I was one of the folks who went from big stack to shorter stack within 20 minutes due to all the rebuys/top ups. I was only in 2x, and had a chance for a massive score if things went right.

I do think that our normal degen level probably prevents some from playing more cash, though (I’d be surprised if Highli’s neighbor plays with us again anytime soon, and there are probably at least 5 tourney players at krafticus’ game that want to play more cash but are worried about losing a lot of $).

What about something like a $400-500 cap for rebuys & top ups? That might prevent the game from getting out of hand too quickly.

As long as we can agree that the Andy Stacks chip stack wasn’t the problem, it doesn’t matter to me.

View attachment 1332659

I had no issue with your stack or long johns position on cops arresting golfers

 

[thetikiking]

.25/.50c, 25bb minimum, 100 bb max. Top up/ reload at any time. Optional 1-time 200bb rebuy if you get stacked. Keeps the game reasonable, which is the objective for us.

 

[krafticus]

Obviously we have different opinions on this, but I would never want anyone to be playing at stakes they are uncomfortable with at our game, which is at it's heart a friendly game.

I do think the $500 rebuy was not too high, or at least close enough (I believe the big stack had about 1k, but if they stacked their chips properly we'd be able to tell be more accurately), but if you thought so you're certainly allowed to speak up.

Yeah .. I thought I had Stu covered, but I was also so tired at that point I couldn't really tell. Honestly, I don't even remember the hand(s) he had won to get that stack. I know he was up early and lost a good bit, and then looked over to see the stack of greens and such.

I guess my point is, for a home game that should be more social than trying to clean everyone out, it was a bit excessive. I like winning, and I like money, but that's not why I play. I think when you are adding on/rebuying for 1600BB at a clip, it is officially not a friendly game.

As for my game, I know that will scare off a few of the players that like to play cash afterwards, but not everyone. I'm letting it roll as is for now, and seeing how things roll.

I could have asked for counts and stuff, but it is what it is.

 

[grandmeme]

I stopped match the stack a few months ago when my $50k bank was running perilously thin on a 2/5 game after two people rebought for $6k and most others added on at least 2k more to try and catch the player on a super heater.

 

[Tonystark137]

I stopped match the stack a few months ago when my $50k bank was running perilously thin on a 2/5 game after two people rebought for $6k and most others added on at least 2k more to try and catch the player on a super heater.

Just buy more chips

 

[doublebooyah85]

I stopped match the stack a few months ago when my $50k bank was running perilously thin on a 2/5 game after two people rebought for $6k and most others added on at least 2k more to try and catch the player on a super heater.

Sounds like you need $5k plaques!