Trying out a bigger game, any tips?
My usual game is $2/$3/$5 NL (max buy-in $800, $2 is on the button), and I am a known regular in the room. Typically there are 8-9 tables going at once.
The next biggest game is $2/$3/$5 with a mandatory $20 straddle (max buy-in $3000). Typically there is one table of this game going. I don't know the usual players in this game, and they don't know me. I'm thinking about taking a shot, mostly out of curiousity, maybe a little bit out of boredom. I have a friend that is happy to take half of my action. My own bankroll is ok for taking a hit in this bigger game, but I am not accustomed to losses above $2.5k per session, so I am wary that a big loss could be tilting.
My initial reaction to playing up in a bigger game is to play tight and conservative. However, I think that approach will be exploited because players will recognize me as a new player, potentially seeing me as scared money and I think they will play more aggressively toward me. I think the right approach for me is to play my usual style of poker, but consider that the regs in that game may attempt to overbluff me.
Any suggestions for me for playing this bigger game? Thanks!
8 Replies
Play tight and conservative -- just don't play scared. Seriously. I don't know what your regular game is, but save it for when you know these players better.
If you are worried about being overbluffed, outplayed, etc., I'd wait to join the game until that wasn't an issue.
Some levels are very different. Moving from 1-2 to 2-5 near me often plays very differently preflop. I think that's often difficult because you are forced to play in less familiar spots postflop from your "normal game".
My guess is that's less likely for your move, and you can/should just play normally (although play much tighter in the non-straddle blinds due to 4x straddle). Buyin for 2k and play it like having 100bb, and don't be afraid of leaving if you end up even 3k deep vs. anyone.
Weird format (2/3/5/20) is it because the 5/10/20 has a bigger buyin and never runs?
Honestly if your taking a shot, I would scout the table first, if it looks like a decent game, sure take a shot ;maybe 5k (2 buyins of 2.5k), but I definitely wouldn't play a bigger game if the lineup doesn't look good.
Right, there is never a 5/10/20.
My guess is that the city only permits them to run 2/3/5, and they somehow circumvent that or the city allows them to tack on the $20 mandatory straddle.
Occasionally, players in this deep stack $20 straddle game play in my 2/3/5 game while wating for a seat, and they are generally pretty solid players. I've been keeping my eye on this bigger game, and most of the time I don't recognize the players it in (it runs in a separate room). So it's hard for me to tell if the game is good or not. I could probably only say for sure if it was a Friday or Saturday night when there are lots of recs and there would be some obvious fish. But my poker hours are usually weekday daytime, so I'm not going to see the juiciest games.
Weird format (2/3/5/20) is it because the 5/10/20 has a bigger buyin and never runs?
Honestly if your taking a shot, I would scout the table first, if it looks like a decent game, sure take a shot ;maybe 5k (2 buyins of 2.5k), but I definitely wouldn't play a bigger game if the lineup doesn't look good.
What you will find is that if you play tight and conservative, you will naturally not end up in very many spots where you are having to fold to big bluffs.
Don’t deviate too much from your normal game at first. That’s how they get you.
Also, some advice you’ll apparently only get from me is that you might consider limiting your buy-in when you move up. There are many possible reasons this could be good but one is purely psychological. Managing the amount of your possible loss could help your mental game.
That $20 straddle makes it basically 5/10, so swings gonna feel way bigger. Just play your game, don’t let the regs sniff scared money.
Also, some advice you’ll apparently only get from me is that you might consider limiting your buy-in when you move up. There are many possible reasons this could be good but one is purely psychological. Managing the amount of your possible loss could help your mental game.
I'm +1 on this ... as long as it doesn't affect your game. Like if you never play 50bb then I'd not recommend buying in for 1k. But if you play 100-200bb often then I wouldn't even think about buying in for more than 2k. And again, feel free to leave if you are up enough and don't want to lose a giant pot.
In my usual 2/3/5 game I always stay at least topped off at the max buy-in of $800, and so I am often playing deeper.
This $20 straddle game basically plays like a $10$/20 with max buy-in of 150 straddles. I think I’ll take the advice and buy in for just $2k.
Shooting for next Friday night (wife will be overseas so I will be free to play).
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