Venetian just changed their PLO to a 1/2 blind 5 bring in...they added an optional button straddle for 10 and changed buyin to 200-1000. This game has been playing like a 2/5 since they changed buyin and added button straddle. Action has been great.

This is a $4 max rake game. They also changed the comps in this game to $2/hr which is the max comps, the same as 5/10 nlh.

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This makes me so sad. Any potential converts from NLHE are going to be terrified by the size of that game. Somebody with $300-$500 in his pocket can go splash around at $1-2 NLHE and have a fine time. He'll be all-in and busted in the first 30 minutes in that PLO game.

Why do PLO players have to make the game so newbie-hostile?

[/rant]

Regards, Lee

What about the guys that don't want to play low stakes? I would rather have one or two egotistical whales than 4 or 5 fish with limited funds. Just my $0.02.

why can't they just make it 1/3 plo with 500 max and 2/5 plo with 1k max separately. That way the game would be much much more appealing to recreational players.

It was 1/2-5 this summer when i played. Made no sense since they also ran a 5-5.

The game actually runs really well to a mass market. The nits get to sit there and play tight with the 1/2 blinds, but there is still enough action for those who want to play a bigger game because of the 1k max and straddle options.

I don't get it, hasn't the game been 1/2/5 for a long time now? I do like the buy in changes. With a 5 bring in, 40-200 'bbs' sure makes a lot of sense. Hoping the casinos in the philly/ac area make similar adjustments.

I don't like the straddle though. That makes the game huge.

That is what Aria does. It's a good structure for sure. Straddles only allowed at 2/5, keeping 1/3 an affordable game for NL fish.

How often does this game run at the Venetian?

IMO it would be simpler to run this game with a single 5 blind instead of 1-2 and 5 to come in. The first raise size of 15 is the same and this puts a little extra dead money in and is easier to calculate and keep up with.

Are you from the philly area? This is what has been going on Parx. It's worked well so far. Hopefully other places adapt this.

No, but that is good to know next time I visit Philly for work. I have actually never played this. It just sounds like it would simpler.

1/2 with a 5 bring in is not so bad, though think 1/3 is better. A player with 300-500 is way more likely to play 2/5 or 5/10 holdem than 1/2.

I think this is a great set up. A short stack strategist can do well and a deep reg as well.

doesn't this all but kill any chance of a 2/5 or 5/5 game running though? those games allow run it twice, and straddles and are time charge as well.

this 1-2 game allows run it twice. As far as hurting chances of a 2-5 game starting, that's really not an issue; as Venetian almost never has a 2/5 PLO game. It will run during the World Series, and thats about it.
Personally, I preferred it when it was 500$ max, for the same reasons ppl are giving above.

I believe RIT has been allowed for a while, as I ran in twice when I was there during the summer. I don't like the other changes to be honest.

The main reason the buy changed is because of the implementation of the straddle, which I think is bad for keeping the game a good size and attractive to lower stake players. Perhaps, Venetian has given up on attracting the 1/2 players and is focusing on taking away 1/3 and 2/5 PLO players from Aria. I guess this move has potential benefits than detriments in that case. I doubt too many players are going to quit the game, while attracting higher stakes players. Personally, I'll probably stick to 1/3 PLO and 2/5 or 1/3 NL.