5-150 game, I would like to try it

[gotpaid]

       HI all!  I've never played the 5-150 game (4/8 only) been wanting to give it a try. problem is not sure of the skills needed to play. with 350 max buy in, and only low limit playing skills, I'm just not sure how to have a game plan.  1st its spread limit alomst a cross between limit an NL by that I mean a couple things like say Im mid pos pocket 8-8 and a earler player bets 150 next player calls. With my buy in for 350 what would be the right move here?  What seems tobe right to me is to fold, mostly cause 150 to me if I miss leaves me with 250 or I could loose all by thinking they have K-Q, AK, with low rags on th flop well any thing is posible from there. 
       I gess what I'm asking is anybody willing to give me a couple tips like whats a good bank roll to take, anything like what should be my game plan, an do you guy's tip with 5 dollar chips or ask dealer to split chip and give one? Best stratege for the game.  well thanks for any help

[that_pope]

Lets start off with the question I can answer the best, which is tipping.  Rarely is a $5 chip tipped, only for big pots, or if someone is just overly generous.  I have experience playing up to 60/120, and even there people chop up $10 chips, and throw the dealer $1.  I have tipped $5 a few times in huge pots at 20/40, but that is a rarity.  Any pot over lets say $40 should get an automatic $1 tip in 5-150.

As for your 8-8 question, that will almost never come up.  People NEVER open raise to the max, there is no benefit to it.  You are risking 150 to win the $7 in blinds...if you have A-A, you want action, not just the $7 the blinds represent.  If you have K-K, you will only get called by A-A, unless you have been doing this often, so don't be scared of people open raising to $150.  It would require at least 3 raises preflop to get someone to a $150 bet.  Open raises are usually $15-$25, and a reraise is to $40-60, then another raise will get it in the $120 range, but again, this is rare to see more than 2 raises preflop, and you might see 2 raises preflop about twice in a 6 hour session.  The $150 bets usually happen when the pot gets big on the turn and river.

As for a bankroll for the game, if you are just taking a shot for fun to see if it is to your liking, and the money won't hurt you to lose, I would bring about $700 to the casino, which would be 2 full buy-ins.  I would start by buynig $500 in chips, $300 in red and $200 in green.  You put the 300 in red and 50 in green at the table, and then you can add $25 to your stack anytime it gets below $325, so you make sure you get paid off to the fullest and don't run out of money when you finally get that nut flush against the 2nd nut flush.  But that is only if you feel you are a better player than the table.  If you are slightly intimidated, there is nothing wrong with playing with only $200 in front of you.

This is getting long, hopefully others who play the game regularly can help you more, I have only played it about 20 or so odd times, it is just too slow for me.

Good luck!

[gotpaid]

      Thanks pope, I like your idea keeping my chip stack at 325 buy adding green chips when I'm down a little, Friday I'll try 5-150. 

[CrazyLond]

This game is not extremely handicapped by the $150 limit IMO because, like Pope mentioned, it takes a number of raises to get to this size of bet and this is generally also true for later streets.  Since many players only have a few hundred in front of them, they will often be all-in prior to having $150 bets and raises.  Having said this, it is important to remember that if you are deep stacked, the limit can significantly alter your strategy compared to no limit.  If you are betting or especially calling that full bet, that will continue to be the maximum bet on later streets so you will often be "priced in" to continue playing compared with NL where someone might bet $150 preflop, get 2 callers, and then fire $300 on the flop.

The 10-150 game is a lot more restricted by this limit as compared to a $5/$10 NL game.  $150 to call will often be reached before the flop.

I think Friday and Saturday nights have the weakest games and in fact, these are the only nights where my results conclusively say my EV is positive in 5/150.  Bringing a couple of buy-ins is definitely recommended because players on those nights tend to be quite loose, resulting in bigger pots and bigger swings up or down.

As far as strategy goes, I would play very conservatively at the beginning to get a feel for the game and make sure you fully understand the structure.  In fact, playing on a Friday night, I would play conservatively throughout.  Pretty much wait for your spots and let them give you their chips.  Bet good hands, let them go if they are telling you they have you beat.  Call with draws when you have the odds but I'd rarely recommend semi-bluffing with them on a weekend night.  Low pairs and suited aces are very profitable limping hands in that game because of their potential to make huge hands.  Good luck!

[AllYourChips]

Yeah I can pretty much vouch for everything that pope and crazylord have said.  If you're gonna play on Friday night, you're gonna see a lot of action that you might not normally see if you're sitting in a game with regulars like Gordon. 

Generally, I play a lot looser than most, but again like it's been stated, you're probably best off playing tight til you get comfortable.  The biggest problem you are going to have is getting over the fact that you have 350 in front of you that you can lose in one hand.  However, don't let this phase you.  Make sure you look at your stack as chips, and not money. 

I would probably only raise with AK or JJ-AA until you're comfortable with the stakes.  Try to get in cheapy with small pairs and suited connectors and hit that flop big.  Once you do, ram it and jam it man.  Players in this game are generally incapable of folding TPGK or any overpair. 

Finally, if there is a guy at your table wearing white Oakley's and headphones, fold if he bets - he's always got the nuts :)

[that_pope]

White Oakleys are teh ghey

[CrazyLond]

So did you give it a try?  Let's hear a trip report!

I'm probably heading over there in a few hours to go play some 5/150 with the Sat night crowd.

[gotpaid]

   I could'nt make it. The last 2 months have been like that, like togo at least 3to5X a week, but birthdays and other events that are pland without me knowing keep me from going. Family just moved out here from bullhead city.

[AllYourChips]

White Oakleys are teh ghey

White Pope's are also teh ghey.

Ship not being able to get a read on me - EVER!

[Desertcat]

Ship not being able to get a read on me - EVER!

Hmm, winning more money, but having to wear white oakley's to do it. Nope, I can't make that big a sacrifice...

[gregski]

Hmm, winning more money, but having to wear white oakley's to do it. Nope, I can't make that big a sacrifice...

Do you know where I can get a used pair of Oakley's?  I haven't been winning any money at the 5-150 this year....