Ultimate Texas Hold 'em live at Fiesta
It might not seem unusual for a Casino to install UTH, but for a 10 open table casino, it is. (Though it is up to 20 tables on Friday & Saturday nights).
Fiesta is a local's place of Blackjack(5), Craps(1), Pai Gow Poker(2), and Roulette(1), and a Three-Card table(1) in the main pit. Very Generic staples, no poker room, and so this is progress. Anything like Crazy 4 Poker, BJ Switch, etc., is left for the strip. They removed a single deck 6:5 for the game. The game's strategy may challenge a crowd like this ("Ace-7 suited? Check!"), and this is my only concern. The need for a SHORT but effective strategy card is a need here; any beefy-looking strategy like a dissertation strategy would just make heads hurt. A quiet call to CRM on this.
If you're in the Vegas/Henderson area, check it out and support it.
I know that you are probably not Grosjean's biggest fan but I'm sure that you'll agree that his game analysis is rock solid.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceGrosjean's strategy is short and simple. The wizard has a link that you can buy it from on his site. Best $6 I ever spent. I don't really need it any more (I have it memorized) but I am sure it saved me a hell of a lot more than $6 in the time it took me to remember it all. I still occasionally check it for close decisions that don't come up much (eg, betting a flush draw after the flop)
I know that you are probably not Grosjean's biggest fan but I'm sure that you'll agree that his game analysis is rock solid.
No, I'm a fan. I buy and use his Strategy cards, - love 'em. Yes, his strategies are indeed rock solid.
But for the average non-UTH player, his strat card are like instructions for a nuclear power plant. There are 17 bullet point steps for his UTH. REMEMBER, this board is composed of the One percenters.
We need something like, - as an example:
Before the Flop:
* Bet 4x any King or better hole cards, except a pocket pair of 2's, else check.
On the flop:
* Bet 2x if you connected to the board with non-lowest card, and there isn't a flush/open straight draw you don't have;
* Bet 2x with four-to-Flush or open straight with Jack or better and there's a pair on the board;
After the river:
* Bet 1x if you connected to the board, or board will play only, or you have high kicker and board has pair or better.
Something extremely simple that has 5 total bullet points, that'll bring you 90% of the way, and can go on the how to play card. We don't want people to misplay hands, get cleaned out, and leave muttering.....can this be done, - a Five Bullet Point Strategy for the game, in plain English, that can fit on one BUSINESS card side in 12-point type?
Quote: PaigowdanNo, I'm a fan. I buy and use his Strategy cards, - love 'em. Yes, his strategies are indeed rock solid.
But for the average non-UTH player, his strat card are like instructions for a nuclear power plant. There are 17 bullet point steps for his UTH. REMEMBER, this board is composed of the One percenters.
We need something like, - as an example:
Before the Flop:
* Bet 4x any King or better hole cards, except a pocket pair of 2's, else check.
On the flop:
* Bet 2x if you connected to the board with non-lowest card, and there isn't a flush/open straight draw you don't have;
* Bet 2x with four-to-Flush or open straight with Jack or better and there's a pair on the board;
After the river:
* Bet 1x if you connected to the board, or board will play only, or you have high kicker and board has pair or better.
Something extremely simple that has 5 total bullet points, that'll bring you 90% of the way, and can go on the how to play card. We don't want people to misplay hands, get cleaned out, and leave muttering.....can this be done, - a Five Bullet Point Strategy for the game, in plain English, that can fit on one BUSINESS card side in 12-point type?
I would not skimp on the preflop strat. It's fairly simple anwyay. Grosjean's strategy does fit on a business card but I guess it's not 12 pt. Still simple to follow though. The strategy on the end is the hardest part; you could probably simplify that without losing too much.
1. I think a good simple change for preflop is any Q8 or better except pocket 2's. Lose the JT, J8 suited, as those are borderline in terms of result, they're like 51%-49%. This really should be close as a very simple pre-flop rule. Knocks out a lot of bullet points.
2. The rest are decent approximations.
Disagree on "simple enough to follow." Remember, John Q. Public and the ploppies make the game. A Five-Point strategy that is "easy AND better than ploppie play" is sought. Challenge for a writer-player here?
A lot of people do ask, "What does The Book say?" knowing there IS an optimal strategy above 'gut feeling.' Having one that is both easy and better than gut instinct is a good option.
What helps is to notice how much is lost by not making the proper 4x bet.
So, I look at it like blackjack. I think that an optimal strategy should be readily available, but I'm not looking to force it down anyone's throat. If someone wants to play well, great. If not, that's great too -- someone's got to keep the lights on.
Honestly, Grosjean's full strategy is still a lot easier to follow than blackjack basic strategy.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI have to say, if people played optimally, the game would probably not last. 2.3% of the ante is not much in such a slow moving game.
So, I look at it like blackjack. I think that an optimal strategy should be readily available, but I'm not looking to force it down anyone's throat. If someone wants to play well, great. If not, that's great too -- someone's got to keep the lights on.
Honestly, Grosjean's full strategy is still a lot easier to follow than blackjack basic strategy.
I agree with that, the game banks on errors, but its high variance keeps fish happy with occasional winning sessions. A real homerun for Roger and Shufflemaster. And my hat's off to Grosjean if you think his UTH strategy is easier to memorize than BJ basic strategy! I have heard raving reviews about it, but that comparison was still unexpected to me!
