Nine-Handed? Ten-Handed? What is your preference?
View Poll Results: All other things being equal, do you prefer playing 9-handed or 10-handed?
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,551
A card room local to me has just changed their rules from 10-handed tables to 9-handed. This change matches up with another local room and I understand that all California card rooms are 9-handed but it goes against the prevailing 10-handed tables in Atlantic City, the nearest casino mecca before surrounding states got their gamble on.
Opinions are heated but I wonder what 2+2ers think which is why I created this poll...
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,474
This thread may do better in the live low stakes forum.
Ten handed always makes me cringe. Just sit and wait for PP's and AQ+. Takes forever and there's so little edge I feel, in dollars per hand.
I prefer as shorthanded as possible. Against a lot of the loose-passive opponents who just play fit-or-fold preflop, I get so many more opportunities to open pf and steal postflop when there are about 6 people at the table. Pretty sure it boosts my hourly rate quite a bit when you can get in an extra 2-3 hands an hour that just go raise, cbet, and win.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 538
9 handed is the way to go IMO.
weirdchess1, unfortunately, most recreational players prefer full tables of 8+. They despise short handed "cuz the blinds come around to quick". Too bad for them... I do prefer short handed games myself.
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 516
I like 9 handed for a few reasons:
1. They use the same tables as a 10 person table, therefore more room.
2. They use the same tables as a 10 person table, therefore more room.
3. They use the same tables as a 10 person table, therefore more room.
o sorry i guess i only had one pt... perma ban me i guess (ok dont do that)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,788
Completely agree, 9 handed and more space is wonderful
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,919
Add another vote for 9 handed. More space, a bit more action, whats not to like?
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,226
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 157
Actually in AC, I would prefer 10 handed, because there usually isn't more than 7-8 @ the table at any given time... as soon as the game breaks down to 5 or 6, most of the players SHUT DOWN, giving NO ACTION, complain for 1/2 rake, ask the floor to get players, ask to bag up players taking too long to come back, etc... If you wanna play shorthanded, play 6max online... most live players, especially the bad ones who play live, WANT a full table, and those are the people you want to be comfortable, so why not cater to them, and keep them happy while beating them... The other sect are the old guys who complain, and wanna sit out 6 handed, and you have to crowbar the money from most of them @ 1/2 anyway...
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
For live low stakes poker the more shorthanded the better IMO. I think 9 vs 10 handed doesn't make a huge difference though.
But, if say it is getting late and the table is playing 6 handed its amazing. Many live players feel completely lost and make way more mistakes. They realize that the blinds come around faster, but they just can't adjust. So it becomes so much easier to just pound on them and rob them blind.
