Hi all,

While watching one of the Brad Owen vlog episodes, I thought the "25$ bomb pot double board" hands he played at the Texas Card House were really fun. That is a nice way to make the table more fun, encourage action, and thus attract more action players. #makepokerfunagain

What rules do you know that have the same effect? Bomb pots? special types of straddles? etc.

If I learn more, I will be able to propose them during my cash game sessions

Cheers,

Mandatory straddles and a bomb pot every hour usually gets things going

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I like 'The Rock' concept in a cash game. It's kind of a 'free' Mississippi straddle.

1) Somehow (usually the host) will strap a straddle to an object (Rock).
2) Whomever wins the pot, wins the rock
3) The Button and blinds move normally around the table but ..
4) Action always starts to the left of the rock, not the Button - even post-Flop.

5) Variation ... If the 'Rock Holder' wins three pots in a row then they add a chip to the Rock, thus increasing the straddle amount
6) Once the Rock gets to 4 or 5x it's starting value, the excess goes to the Dealer as a tip and the Rock drops back down to it's original amount.

So in a 1/2 game the rock starts at $5 or $10, then add $5 if someone wins three in a row. Once the Rock reaches $20-$25 it goes back to $5 and the Dealer gets the chips off the Rock.

Obviously position is the key here, the more active a Player is the more they will end up with the Rock and those Players who are on their left, in what is supposed to be a better position, will end up out of position during those hands.

There are plenty of different variations that you could come up with for this concept, the most obvious being that the Rock only has position PF and not post-Flop. GL

I remembered another one - easy one.
The player who wins a hand with 72 gets 25$ or 50$ from each players at the table. Usually creates some fun situation.

Playing a mixed game is also a good way to go. Three or four orbits of different games make up a rotation. Then replay the game rotation as often as time permits for your session.

I wrote a short article inspired by the answers above. I can't post the link to my blog anymore so find it copy/pasted below. Sorry for the formatting!

Also, I am not sure this thread should have been moved to "Home Game". It is a topic that touches also casino and card room games - probably more so than Home Games.
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You are a live cash-game player, going to card rooms, casinos or home games, but your NL Hold'em game hasn't been very juicy lately. Where are the fun players? Why do most players at the table seem to be total nit? Even worst, no one is speaking, all eyes on their Ipads waiting for that pair of aces. Boredom is looming. It is time to take the issue in your own hands. If you want the game to be fun, don't be like others, seating around and complaining. Do something about it!

Here are 3 simple rules you can implement at your table that will bring a smile on people faces, attract action players and repulse nits away. Let's loosen that table, shall we?

1/Bomb pots Double Board
In a "bomb pot", everyone put the same amount of money, blind, before the flop. Just like antes. For example, let's say you are playing a 2-5NL. Everyone posts a set amount, usually ranging from 5$ to 25$. Once done, the flop is put out and the "normal poker" can begin. Of course, anyone can have anything. The UTG player can have 72 or AA! The pot is already substantial, meaning most bet will be higher than normal. Most players will proceed with caution with simple top pair.
Now, let's make it even more fun by adding another component: the double board! Instead of putting one flop out, the dealer will put two. The strongest hands of both boards will split the pot at showdown. A player with the best of both worlds could even scoop. It really create fun action as a player with the nut on one board will pound each street trying to have the opponent fold a great hand on the other board. A lot of players are conscious of it and will call light, easily creating monster pots.

2/"Show us a winning Seven-Deuce, and we will make you rich!"
Dead simple. If a player wins a hand with 72, everyone must give him extra chips. At a 2-5NL, it would typically be 25-50$ each. Of course, it could be something else than 72 but always a junky type of hand to keep it fun. This will definitely loosen the table as everyone is likely to play 72, and everyone should also be widening their ranges slightly to adjust.

3/The rock
Someone will strap a straddle to an object that we will call "the rock". Whoever wins the pot, wins the rock. The button and blinds move normally around the table but the action always starts to the left of the rock, even post-flop. If the rock holder wins three pots in a row, they add a chip to the rock, thus increasing the straddle amount. Once the rock gets to 5 times its starting value, the excess goes to the Dealer as tip and the rock drops back to its original amount.
Obviously position is the key here, the more active a Player is the more they will end up with the Rock and those Players who are on their left, in what is supposed to be a better position, will end up out of position during those hands.

Conclusion
I can already hear you saying "it isn't poker anymore, it is gambling!". Don't forget that gamblers are what you want at your table. To attract them, you need to be willing to play ball a little! More variance? Maybe. More profitability and fun? Surely.