Hey, poker playas!

This is actually a continuation of the story. but it deals more on how the shift to big blind ante affected the game.

Although live tournaments might take a lot longer than we wanted to. but when it does, knowing some changes on big blind ante can help you win. 

As this was the story of one of our group. we are just continuing the story. 

Our teammate was able to get in the final table but short stack. but since he just arrived.

He did not have the basic knowledge of the table and only the understanding of the dynamics was in his favor. 

To read more. click here. 

A little background

The tournament in Manila shifted to a big blind ante. In a normal tournament, all players pay ante every hand so that all players have something in the pot.

Instead of every player. the total ante is now paid by the big blind. For example on a full table, if the ante is 100, instead of all the players paying 100. the big blind now puts the big blind plus the whole ante.

As our player came in where he had 140k in chips. but the big blind now is 20k-40k with ante at 30k

The story. 

As two hands passed by, our player is now the big blind.

Note: as this happens pre pandemic. What we did was a close approximation of the chips.

As most players folded. the player before the button raises 300k.

So big blind is 40k, ante is 30k. what is left was more or less 60k

Our player was placed on an all-in-to-call scenario. Checking his card. he swiftly called with 10 Jack off. the player reveals his hand with A 5 Suited.

A5 commented that he was stupid to call. because allegedly the player is not pot committed and he only put in the big blind. 

From our players’ perspective.

I am actually pot commited. with the big blind ante. I have put in 70k. which left me with less than that. if this was a normal tournament. Yes. only putting in a small ante. there was room to fold. but since the game is the big blind ante. the big blind is actually bigger. It only sounds sweeter that there is the big blind and the other one is an ante. but in reality. it is one big blind. The guy did not take into consideration where the ante came from. It is from the big blind hence the big blind is more invested than he normally would. 

Big blind ante is just a bigger big blind.

It was a small change. although in essence, you have not paid ante for an orbit. it does weigh heavy on the big blind when he has to pay the whole ante of the table.

Comparatively, it can be seen as a game with no ante but blinds are bigger than normal. 

Initially, when the tournament begins. the big blind ante is not that big and minimal. However, as the game goes deeper. The ante does grow bigger and it becomes a different ball game. 

With players having a different number of players on the table during the mid-tournament. a table that has fewer players than the other tables must follow the ante.

Example:  

A table with 7 players assuming ante is 100. the total bonus he gets from the ante is 700.

A table with 8 players will get 100 more than the players that are fewer.

However, with a big blind ante format. the ante is set. so whether you are playing on a table of 6 players or 7 players or even a full table. the ante that is put in will be the same as it is already in the board. 

sadly it would take a while before we can play in tournaments. but when it does. you can test it out. 

stay safe poker playas!