Transitioning the "other guys" from NL to limit.

jojobinks · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 08:42 AM

Has anyone done this successfully? We play NL tournies, and i've been able to get people to play NL ring once in a while, but i play exclusively limit online, and would like to play more limit live.

any thoughts?

Lumpy · #2 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 09:02 AM

Good Luck!!

We play one a week and used to play limit exclusively. That is now down to one limit event a month and we have to scrounge to get a full table. Everyone wants to play tournaments.

I enjoy both, but people want to play what they see on TV.

B8factor · #3 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 09:36 AM

We have not done it yet, but not for lack of trying. I keep trying to convince these young college kids that 1-2 limit is cheaper than .50-1.00 NL. They say they can not afford the limit buy in but they will dish out 20 to play NL and loose it, and then dish out another 20 and so on and so on. **

I will let you know if we can do it. I came from a regular game of 5/10 with a 10/20 once a week, and a 20/40 once a month schedule. IT was beautiful! Now in my current location it is tourney tourney tourney! They are fun, but come on. I want some $$$$!

** Funny story from one if these kids. We played a limit tourney one night and he was sitting to the left of my buddy. My buddy looked at his whole cards a bit too high and the kid in question saw he had AA. When my buddy raised he said, "I saw your AA but I have A2os and the raise just isn't enouhg to fold... I want to see the flop.

Yummy.

TripKings · #4 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Good Luck!!

We play one a week and used to play limit exclusively. That is now down to one limit event a month and we have to scrounge to get a full table. Everyone wants to play tournaments.

I enjoy both, but people want to play what they see on TV.

I have experienced something else more often than the "tv effect".... rookies in my area like the idea of only risking $10 or$20(or some set amount) for the next two hours - they somehow know that they are overmatched in ring games and see tournaments as a limited risk situation - and know that they can get lucky and win a big pot - or even knock out the bigshots in one hand. Eitherway it's always +EV for the better players in the long run. I always think: whaterver it takes to get their money in play - I'll spread it.

VARoadstter · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 10:10 AM

The game of choice around here is NL (both ring and tourney). Personally, I've adapted to the $1/$2 NL game and in truth it's probably increased my EV over straight limit. The "problem" with this game is the variance - you get a few real maniacs in a game and you may find yourself going home light as much as $300 without much trouble. In a limit session of the same length with the same blinds, I would expect a reasonable player to never go home down more than $200. The good news is that I've scored a few nights where I went home up $600 whereas in limit I'm lucky to end up up $200.

Now, as to your question: how would one go about convincing others to play limit? I would have to say you should plant the seed in their heads each time they are going home down a significant amount of money (the guys who are winning won't be interested in change). After a while, there should be a growning concensus of opinion that in order to keep people in the game you'll need to restrict the downswings. If there's never a problem getting a full table even when guys bust out and stop coming then I think you're probably going to be stuck.

Don't know if that helps but that's what I'd do in your shoes.

Good luck.

pocket snowmen · #6 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 04:31 PM

ever since i started playing with my friends we always played no limit, and as i got more interested i learned about limit and have played it online some, but cant convince my friends to switch to limit poker.... they love the money... and love the action.

FreakyD · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2005, 10:26 PM

My group of friends doesn't play very often (with all the schedules and what-not, we're lucky if we can get together once a month). It's always been NL. . .but I've been thinking recently of suggesting limit hold 'em.

Some of the guys who play don't really prefer playing hold 'em, but they do anyway because they're good sports. These same guys go for the usual dealer's choice home game stuff. My thinking is that the structure of a limit game, combined with straight poker -- instead of the "threes, one-eyed Jacks, and the Queen of Spades in the hole are wild" types of games -- might be a nice compromise for everyone.

Also, I'm starting to get serious about my poker (i.e., looking to make some long-term money from playing), and I think limit games build discipline by encouraging playing only premium hands and making sure you know your pot odds.

I'd welcome opinions and thoughts from anyone who's played a good deal of limit and NL, to get a "compare and contrast" feel AND to just hear some stories from others.

smoore · #8 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 10:37 PM

Host a micro NL ring game with your gamboolor friends. Host a different night of at least 3/6 (5/10 preferable) limit and post it on those "poker game locator" websites. Don't rake. I'd sure come to your game.

Bhudio · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2005, 12:11 PM

I've never had any luck with this. I don't know if they're afraid of change or just don't know the neuances of the game. Trust me, I'd love to get them to d it but if they can't say "All in" before the flop, most of there strategy is down the tubes.