Hello, completely new 2plus2. The casinos near me in Southern Cali offer a variety of LOW buy-in games where you can only buy-in max of 20 BB. For example they have:

1/1 $20 buy-in Rake $3/.5
1/2 $40 Buy-in Rake $3/.5
2/3 $100 Buy-kn
3/5 $300 Buy-in
5/10 $500-$1000 buy-in

I've only played in the $20/$40 games because they feel like a cheap buy-in and the play is horrible so I think I can beat it. But the variance at these games can be high since you're starting with such a low stack. After a bad session, I just feel like I blew $100 at the roulette table.

Are the $20/$40 games worth playing or should I just save my money for the Indian Casinos that actually offer 1/2 with something like 100BB buy-in?

If you're in Southern Cali, you've probably seen or maybe started out on these games? Any advice or suggestions?

In general, the 1/1 1/2 and 2/3 games with these structures will not be beatable. (The 2/3 is debatable, and someone may correct me but I'd still doubt it.)
The problem is that you loose so much of your stack in blinds / rake / tip as a percentage. You don't really have any room to maneuver. Also, you don't have the right stack size to implement many different types of calls / raises / bluffs / semi bluffs since you do not have enough money to push people out of the pot. Also, you don't have the stack size the force other people to make a mistake often. Sometimes you can raise pre flop with a hand, someone will flop a draw, but you can't force them to fold, or can't force them to call at the wrong price. By all means,, play if you want to have fun, but I'm not sure they can be much more than that.

Once you get to the 3/5 game, and 5/10 game you've got plenty of room to maneuver, and they can be beat but the problem might be that you run into a much better group of players, and it might be above your skill level. Just something to consider.

I can't really afford the $300 buyin game but the play at these games is much much better. As you probably know, the worse players at any casino always go to the lowest limits. So naturally the $20/$40 table will attract Alot of bad players. Which is why I usually play at those limits but it really is frustrating to wait for your 10% hand and still see the flop with 3-4 players and be forced to go all in on the flop with ace high king kicker....

I guess that leaves to my next question, is it ok to push all in at these games preflop with ak, aq, type hands?

what part of socal are you playing? lake elsinoire offers a 2/3 300 max last time i was there about 1.5 yrs ago ive heard good things about the bike havent played there though. morongo offers 100bbs at 1/3 as well.

Noticed your last post....Pechanga has a 1/2 100 max

I play at the bike because its the only 2/3 game in town with a $300 buy in.

Yes. Hope you like variance though.

Never return to this place.. It's a nits paradise.. Play underground

That's pretty horrible. I wouldn't goif there was any other option. If forced to go, play the deepest game you can afford. Look to open shove or fold until stacks get closer to normal size.

Grunch

I doubt you could beat the variance AND the rake. I'd find another game if possible.

what he said find a nice safe underground game and play real poker this is buy in structure is for nits or people looking to shove every other hand not worth it imho

if you learn push bot strategy this can be profitable, but still pretty high variance.

Yes yes yes. But this theory is really good for turbo sngs etc....
These poker rooms are full of nits. Find a new room