I play with a mixed group of guys that is a nice mix of my friends and my former co-worker's friends (which after a year of playing poker and bonding are my friends too).
The game I host is called the "South Side game" because of the location in the city and the other game I attend hosted by my co-worker's buddy is called the "North Side game" (for the same geographical reason). The two games have distinct differences but the one common denominator is the commradarie. Here's a look at how both games are set up:
- Tournament:
- My game - T5000 tourney with 36 denominated chips per player with the blinds starting at 25/50 and blinds go up every 20 minutes. Stakes are generally $20 bucks (now with an additional $5 or $10 for the bounty).
- Their game - Starting chips anywhere from 60 - 80 chips per player and the blinds start at 1/2 and blinds go up either every 15 minutes or 20 minutes (speed poker is what I like to call it). Stakes are generally $30 - $40, but they like to bump up the buy-in to $50 quite often.
- Cash Game (NLHE):
- My game - A $20 buy-in will get you these chips: 12 x .25, 7 x $1, and 2 x $5. The blinds will be .25/.50
- Their game - A $20 buy-in will get you 20 chips all worth a $1 each. The blinds will be $1/$1 (Only $20 big bets and it creates some interesting poker).
The North Side game recently added the cash game after noticing how useful it can be before, in-between, and after tourney games (especially since neither of our games allow tourney rebuys). There is definitely more of a gambling feel to the North Side game but the different personalities are really great to be around and the atmosphere for their game is the best. As many as 4-5 players from one game will show up at the other game so the players have goood relatiosnhips from the 2 games. I played at the North Side game last night and although I was the vicitm of some of the worst headsup suckouts in late tourney game history (I lost one hand when 4 consecutive spades hit the board and another hand when 4 consecutive diamonds hit the board), I still had a great time and it was a fun to play in the most action filled cash game I've ever witnessed (Big hands were magnets for monster hands).
Hmmm, I could go for some poker at my place tonight...I wonder what the wife will say.
