On Friday, a new Exclusive tab appeared in the client with closed games at stakes of $50/$100 and higher. The $25/$50 tables were removed altogether, and $10/$20 tables were added to the PLO and NLH tabs and are now available to everyone. One of the 2+2 users wrote that the rake for them remained the same as for NL1k (the cap is 1bb, which is approximately equal to 8bb/100). At the new $50/$100 tables, the rake cap is 0.6bb for NLHE and 1.2bb for PLO.
You can only get into the game through hosts. For Russian-speaking players, this role is performed by Mikhail Semin. On Friday, he updated his telegram for the first time in a long time:
– I won’t write lyrics about bumhunt, a crowd attacking a poor amateur sitting down at a table, etc. But the understanding that something needs to be done has been formed long ago by both businessmen who love the best game with cards and chips on planet Earth, and by the organizers. So over time (namely today, Friday, November 8), exclusive games appeared, where players can only get in by invitation (or by their own request and approval) from the Host. There are several Hosts. For example, in Europe it’s Elki, and in the CIS it’s me.
Of course, the road is open to all amateur players and those professionals who have done and are doing a lot for the development of poker: streaming, filming blogs, always maintaining a friendly atmosphere (and not taking away 3 stacks in HU from an amateur, writing him "rebuy to 200bb or I leave". It is three times more interesting to watch at new tables: both from the point of view of mood and due to various features, such as squid-game or minimal VPIP...
For professionals, a limit of 10-20 was added in almost all disciplines (instead of the previous VIP tables). Amateurs can also play there, of course – there are no restrictions for them. In general, if you are ready to play 50-100+ and want to get to the tables – the official channel for submitting an application is email: vip@exclusive-poker.com
All high-stakes tables now have a VPIP cap. For Texas Hold'em, the lower limit is 30%, for PLO and PLO5 – 35%, for Short Deck – 45%. These figures must be maintained for 50 hands, otherwise an hour-long ban at that particular table will follow.
Also, at all stakes, a squid game was introduced – a copy of the popular live stand-up poker. A player who does not win a single pot during a round pays a fine to everyone else.
While a squid game round is in progress, you cannot join the game.
Elky took on the heavy burden of house player. He spent almost the entire day in the lobby, becoming one of the main engines of action. Also the first to try the game in the new conditions were Daniel Cates , John Juanda, Niklas Ostedt and several unknown players.
The appearance of Niklas at the tables was indignant at the process.
– Haha, very funny, but basically I thought it would be like this, – he was indignant in his Telegram channel. – Look how TOP reg Lena900 (Niklas Astedt), who should not be on the new VIPs, destroys amateurs. The bank is 40k. How quickly do you think this will turn into a party for their regs for a kickback-)) And all this with a rake higher than it was and without RB at all!
Update: he played 400bb and left, spent 30 minutes at the table....
PokerOK ambassadors Inner and Minthon also received access to the games.
Ivan Bryksin wrote in the comments on Lorem's Telegram channel that this is quite natural:
– And the fact that Inner did everything to attract players and certainly deserved a place at the table, doesn't count? These are invitational games and it's obvious that Inner did everything to popularize the game. And again, those who did the same also have access. The same Cates, for example.
And the regulars did nothing and do not do anything. They only earn money and it is quite normal that they are not wanted in games by invitation. Base.
Let's see what happens next, but the chances of a hypothetical Avrora getting into these games are 100 times greater than those of a regular reg VIP.
Everything has been like this in live games for a very long time, and no one argues.
Inner managed to play both Hold'em and Omaha.
– I’m spending the next week in a no-life mode of PLO training and skating/streaming. If there are good PLO 4-5-6 card trainers, write to me, we’ll come up with something, I’m trainable and capable.
He ended a very volatile day with a result of +$30k.
For Minthon, his first foray into such expensive tables went much more successfully.
– Fuuuuuuuuuh
It was weird.
It was powerful!
It was beautiful!
We spent almost 6 hours playing this fun, we started with shaking hands at 50-100, then with the same shaking hands we moved on to 200-400 and 100-200. I farmed my own for the best day.
Bootie was asked on Discord what actions the regulars who are denied access to the new tables plan to take:
– While they are discussing a boycott of 1-2k stakes.
And it’s hard to come up with something for VIPs, considering that the site doesn’t need registrations.
Liquidity will be due to the small number of pros that were allowed in.
Well, in general, HS games are unprofitable for the site and are a showcase, but for these purposes this format will do.
"This is seen as bad for poker," top reg Matt Marinelli assessed the innovations, " because it's a step towards killing the dream of rising through the stakes to get to high stakes. It takes the focus off poker being a game of skill, and makes it into more of a casino game / pure hustle."