OMG!  Stars decided to get rid of the 20-50BB tables and instead have 20BB CAP tables.  I was fairly shocked this happened because Stars basically had a monopoly on the SSers. As of now (1:20PM), at 2/4NL there were TWENTY FIVE 20-50 tables and only FIVE 40-100 tables.  So they are getting rid of what is by far their most popular tables.  And I suppose that's the problem - what poker site is going to want to be known as the "Home of Short Stack Poker"?  Can you really base your future business strategy on catering primarily to people who play with 20BBs? and drive away people who play will full stacks?

As a business person, it was actually a difficult call for Stars.  But at the end of the day, they probably thought this was the best move for the health of the game on their site.  I probably would have made the same decision if I was Stars.  Not because I'm a great guy who just thinks about welfare over dollars.  I hadn't looked at Stars in a while, but that ratio of tables is just pitiful.  The future of online poker certainly isn't an easily programmable (bottable) game.  I think you need to try and grow the full stack player base.

And at the end of the day, where are the short stackers going to go?  If they live in the US, the answer is nowhere.  They are either going to learn to play with a 40+BB stack, which means more rake for Stars.  Or they can play the CAP tables or play SNGs (where most of the play is with a shorter stack), but those are so low margin that high volume shorties will probably stay at Stars for the rewards. The worst thing that will happen is that some of them will migrate to FT to try and get the shallow tables going.  Good luck with that.  I'm not familiar with the non-US poker situation, so I can't really speak to that.  I assume there are some "SS friendly" sites out there, so maybe those sites start getting flooded like Stars did...  And a little while later, shorties will get banned from those sites as well.

Anyway, it's a welcome change.  I played 262 hands this month at Stars, just to try out the software.  But I'm planning on getting back on SuperNova pace later next month when the changes are made.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER

Over the years, Mrs. Fly's been perfecting her chili recipe.  She makes a huge vat and freezes it in smaller containers (because it reheats well).  The last time we had people over, they all loved it.  Sure - people in Texas are going to laugh at the notion of "New England chili," but I've had my share of chili, and this is pretty good.  I'm kind of shocked that she actually put beans in, because whenever the topic of chili comes up, one of the first things Mrs. Fly says is "real chili doesn't have beans."  But I think you need something starchy to break up the "heavy meat taste."  Wait who said that?!?  Did that really come from me?!?