Quote:
Originally Posted by akashenk
This is similar to the Button ante idea being tried/considered. And, it is essentially the same thing as a 3-blind format, which is something I discussed in another thread. In any case, all of these ideas are likely better than the BBA.
Not having thought about it too much, I assume all of these reduced ante-ideas still have structural drawbacks which counter any structural benefits to some degree. And we know that the time savings will be minimal, regardless of where the single ante is posted.
So all we are really left with is the question... are the "convenience" benefits of essentially eliminating antes (in other words, players no longer having to think about and physically move their bodies a bit to post antes most hands) worth the hand dynamics changes the alteration brings about? For some the answer will definitely be a yes, since they like the hand dynamics changes. What aggressive player wouldn't like a more passive table? But I think if all players actually considered this tradeoff, there would be nothing like the sort of "universal approval" that pro-BBA advocates claim.
3 blinds are not at all the same as 2 blinds + antes, regardless of how the antes are posted. Antes are dead money, and blinds are live. It's funny that you complain that the BBA changes the nature of the game, but propose 3 blinds as better, despite it being a much larger change to how the game plays, ranges, etc.
It's also funny that you have probably the most posts on this topic of anyone on the board (probably except Michelle), but you always say "you haven't thought much about it."
Quote:
Originally Posted by akashenk
I know you have been on a Button ante kick as a potential "compromise" in this and other threads. I agree its better than the BBA, though I can't really say I'm for it since the little I have thought about it... it still suffers the same sorts of inequity drawbacks as any of the other reduced ante structures, and again, still provides little (or at least a muddled amount) of real benefit.
As for the poll, my aim is not to use it to show anything, other than serve it up as an example that the claims made by proponents about the popularity of BBA are not likely correct. I myself don't trust this poll because, as I have repeatedly stated, I don't think the people answering it really understand the issue. But, even if we were to treat this poll as gospel, it means that nearly half the respondents prefer the system as it is and only a small majority want to make a change. So we have an actual poll which basically shows that people are fairly split as to whether any sort of change ought to be made. This result is nothing like the claims being made by BBA proponents who seem to think that the BBA is universally liked by almost all who are polled.
BBA proponents have said that after people have played it, it is (nearly) universally liked. I don't remember seeing anyone who played it who said they definitely did not prefer it, other than Michelle, who was calling it crap and stupid before she played it, and her complaint after the fact was that anteing took too long because a couple players at her table weren't paying attention.
And I didn't mention the button ante part of the poll to specifically advocate for it (though it does seem to me the best option, at least until I play it and BBA in June). I mentioned it because saying "In this poll, only 8% chose BBA!" implies to most readers that 90% or so of the respondents want to keep traditional ante, which isn't true.