Reposted from Small Stakes NL:

I play 1/2 NLHM in Los Angeles. I believe that this game has two characteristics which distinguish it from the NLHM games on which most written advice is based: there are usually several short stacks at the table (less than 15 BB) and the drop is very high ($6/hand.) If four players just call and then everyone checks the flop, there is $2 in the pot after the turn!

I wonder if anyone has any advice regarding starting hand selection for such a game? I suspect that small pairs and small suited connectors may not have the necessary payoff to make them playable. Note that I'm not asking how to beat this game; I don't believe that the greatest poker player on earth could do better than break even.

LOL... don't play this. What's the highest BI 1/2 gives, like $60? The best low game in LA is 2/3 at the bike because you can actually start with 100bb.

You're basically playing for stacks once you enter the pot, so your range would be extremely tight. Suited connectors are absolute trash. From late position, I'd open 22+/ATs. Any position other than CO or BTN, stick to AJs/88+... EP could be even tighter, AQs/TT+.

Thanx for the quick response!

Your advice is in the direction my experience has been leading me: playing extremely tight because speculative hands don't get paid off.

Why am I playing a game I know can't be beaten? Because I am a long-time limit player who is trying to master NL. My plan is to move up to the 3/5 game soon. Note though that the 3/5 game at HP has a buy-in of $100-$300, so there will always be short stacks in that game as well.

Why not drive to the Bike? Because I am a retiree who plays several hours/day to get out of the house and going to the Bike would add 40 miles/day on the LA freeways.

To answer your question regarding the B: it's $40-$100, so 50 BB is the max. The 3/5 game BI is $100-$300, so 60 BB is the max.

Of course, once a game has been going for a while, there are usually several big stacks at the table: 100 BB or more. However, there is no way to get against them with your own big stack except by sheer luck.

3/5 in LA also sucks because you'll be short. If you're close to HP and have the roll for 3/5 just move up to the 5/5 where you can buy in $500 & be in that draped off top-section, or go play 5/5 at Hustler which is only 10 min from HP as you can buy in for more there. (They also have a $100-300 3/5) I do think that you can profit at the 3/5 60bb game, but it'll likely be very boring as you're still playing an extremely snug range, but the competition will be terrible... I mean, some can hand read decent, but most players there are unaware that they're short stacked and don't adjust to it (in addition to a myriad of other leaks). You'll have an edge for sure, but it'll be slow and swingy.

Why not just play 5/5 at HP? 500 cap. I was just there and even on a Tuesday afternoon there weren't any short stackers.

Trust me, these guys have leaks. Good players don't enter low stake, low-stack games in a town with ridiculous game selection. If you're serious about profiting in NL I'd recommend starting at these short games with a NAG approach (Nitty-Aggressive). You might want to read Professional No Limit Holdem as a starter. These videos will give you some good info as well, though they are aimed at 100bb play. Your goal for now should be to find all ways possible to exploit these bigger stacks. Obviously, each player is different, but I can say that a large majority of them are there to gamble, so they don't mind chasing draws. In limit, it's hard for draws to fold because they'll often have the direct odds to draw. In no-limit, you can deny them these odds by betting big with your TPTK+ hands. They'll often call 3bets light as well, so bet your monsters strong pre-flop. Anyways, for now stick to strong hands and play them fast when you're at the tables, and read, read, read and study when off until you can find ways to exploit everyone at 3/5. These players are soft and no one should be better than you. Your goal should be to graduate from short stack play. It might be worth your while to try online poker. You can play risk free on America's Card Room or Ignition. Deposit $50 (write this off as paying to learn, don't think about casing out) and play .01/.02 games to get more familiar with the math of no limit.