BelgoSuisse
Legend
Silver Level
All the good books on that are writen in Chinese...
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/chinese-don-collusion-ring-stars-791760/
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/chinese-don-collusion-ring-stars-791760/
X
Xavier
Rock Star
Silver Level
dmorris68
Legend
Loyaler
BG, I know you have a thing against DoNs from the potential collusion angle, but I must say in my admittedly limited experience with them, they seem pretty safe. I do keep an eye out since the Chinese ring was busted, and always check the location of everyone to be sure I'm not sitting at a table overloaded with what appear to be locals. But I don't really play them at volume either, so I'm probably less likely to run into them. I like to think I'd pick up on any gross collusion, especially since I'm wary of it now, but maybe I'm just kidding myself.
DoNs are getting quite popular with the grinders. Last time I played them the other night, I was 4-tabling and had two different SuperNova's at my tables plus a number of Gold and Plats. And no, none were from China.
I think the lower limit DoNs (up to $10) are the softest/easiest STT on Stars. My sample size is tiny, but I have to be running better than 50% out of maybe 50 games. I won 20 of my first 22 IIRC and although I haven't really made an effort to track them separately from other games, I know I've won a good half of those since then. I don't play them that often, usually to fill time before/after a CC event on Stars as Stars isn't my usual room. But when I do drop in I like to hit a few of them.
What works best for me is NOT a typical STT strategy. I want to accumulate chips early and try to build a top 3 or so stack. Too many people play these like a regular STT and tighten up early, which is prime time to steal. As long as you can keep your stack over $3000 (avg stack at 5 handed) then mathematically you can't lose, so then I nit up and nut peddle, but keeping an eye on the blinds/antes and my stack to be sure I'm not getting whittled down too much. I let the short stacks knock either other out. I'll fold QQ and AK pre if I've got a healthy stack and there's a shortie or two on the bubble. It's just not worth the risk if you're comfortably in the top 5 already. Totally unlike your standard STT strategy which is the opposite (tight early, aggro later, play for the money first then the win).