Capped NL Games

[frob23]

What do people think about capped NL games?

I have been playing a little low stakes poker on FTP and gave their CAP NL tables a try today. I figured it would be a decent way to ensure I stayed within my bankroll management without needing to move tables because I could only put less than 3% of my bankroll into play at any one time. I am trying to build from the amount I have there until I have a real bankroll.

I don't hate the idea of a cap... in some cases I think it's a good idea. But I think 30BB is way too low for a proper cap. I felt absolutely crippled after the flop when it came to ways to play my hand.

Let's think about it. I was playing 5/10cNL with a $3 cap. I raise pre-flop to 30 cents and get two callers (this seems to be common even 6 handed at the low level). For simplicity, let's assume it was the blinds who called. So we have a pot of 90 cents. I make a decent bet on the flop (perhaps because I hit or whatever) of say 80 cents. I've now bet $1.10 and only have $1.90 left to go before the cap. If I get only 1 caller, the pot will be $2.50 on the turn and I have to go all-in, assuming I am going to bet.

And that assumes there is just a call on the flop, if there is a raise... we're probably getting it all-in right there if I have anything reasonable. This is almost like tournament stack play, without the worry about going bust.

I think the thing which bugs me most is that the majority of my real decisions in a hand are made on the turn and/or river. With a cap, there is just no room at that point to make a decision or do anything tricky. And, if you run into a monster, you're limited to the max you can win. Sure, your loses are limited if your opponent runs into a monster but I am comfortable with that risk.

I think a cap of 100-150BB would make for a good game. You're not going to worry about winning big and suddenly losing all the chips you've gained... but you have deep enough "per hand" stacks to make the game interesting.

Has anyone else played the capped games? What do you think about them? What sort of cap do you think is reasonable? Is the 30BB one good for you? Would you like something like 75BB or maybe higher than even 150BB?

[liladypokerpro]

I have played the cap NL games before, and enjoyed it for the most part. The play can sometimes be compared to a limit game in a sense, but most often times the cap is used just as any other all in bet, and most times I've noticed that people will respect it as such. It's been quite a while since I have played these, but if memory serves, I believe the cap was upwards of around $150 or near that.

[irishpkr]

I think the cap is just a terrible idea. For starters, if you feel like you are better than your opponents, it is obviously best to play uncapped as you can take them for their whole stack. And ofcourse as you said, there is little to no room to manoevre in a raised/reraised pot post flop, just becomes an allin fest. People seem very happy to call almost anything, as they can lose ONLY 30BB on one hand. I guess if you play patiently and wait for TP+ hands you can just make money that way, but I don't think I'd find it as fun, or as profitable as uncapped $25NL say.

Not sure if I'm even a fan of a 100BB cap. There are no/very few players that I'd be afraid of taking on with 200BB stacks, and even if I got a massive stack and some villian had me covered, I'd just leave if I felt uncomfortable at the thought of losing $100+ on one hand

[emoneypitt]

They do have the deep stack tables with 200 BB buy in on Tilt now too. I really enjoy these. I like to play on tables where there is a lot of money on them. I'll buy in for 100 BB with others having more money than me and if feels good having a chance to truly double up on them. I hate being on a table with say $50 and everyone only has $10 or $20 on it.

As far as CAP NL, if you're going to play that, you might as well just play PL. PL does have one big advantage of course in that at least you can see a flop without calling someone's all in shove. You can still buy in for 100 BB and ifyou have the nuts on a hand, you can just keep raising if someone's willing to go in with you and get maximum value while also having more of a chance to scare off someone who is in the pot just for a draw.

[st_ever]

I would say cap nl games at the low level would be perfect for grinding. Just playing simple ABC poker i'm sure you caould maintain a decent BB/100 rate.

As far as doing anything tricky this generally is a bad idea at 5c/10c tables. Maybe try polaying the cap like i sai just ABC style and see how you get on. But it us definitely a valid point that once you get to the flop with a couple of callers any bet you make more or less commits you to the pot.

For the low level stuff with minimal risk tho i think the 3 buck sng's are perfect. Even if you are an average sng player at these stakes you can turn a good profit.

[irishpkr]

But its not optimal for your winrate! If you have an edge on your opponents, the bigger the stacks get the bigger your profit

[st_ever]

If you can omly risk 3% of your bankroll as the OP said then i dont think the non capped games are an option.

[PaulMichaels]

I never noticed the capped NL games until i read this post and have been playing nothing else since , for me there is nothing worse than joining a normal NL game , working my stack up to like 4x what i started with only to lose the lot on one hand
Also it seems that you are more likely to get callers when you hit monster hands as its not putting there whole stack at risk.
I only play the lowest stake tables and even though its capped , my bankroll has jumped up quite a lot since playing these
I like your idea of 75BB capp but personly think 150BB would be a bit too high.

Thanks for posting this topic frob23 as i mentioned above i was unaware of this type of game until seeing your post

[Vito_Nuccio]

I have not tried a capped game, but 30XBB seems too low for the reasons you mentioned, one hand with some betting and any player will be pot committed, thus limiting playing the player. On the other end, 100 or 200 XBB is fine, but no more. The upper limit is there to keep the game from being bought by deep pockets.

Later,