Game with friends

[Maverick]

One of my friends just bought a poker set and wants to have a game. He's having about 7 players (including myself), holdem NL style.

The limit's are $50 buy-in and $0.50-$1.00 blinds.

Now I know all the people playing and they all used to play in a regular friends game which I only went to once (wasn't into poker a great deal then.)

I realise I will be the lessor skilled player at the table, partly from not being used to the larger limits (I play micro) and partly due to the fact I know these guys have a lot of live game experience (ive only really played online.)



SO, I'm going to have fun win or lose here, I've been aching to play a live game for a while now (no poker rooms near me.)

I would however like some pointers to help stretch out my time at the table. Based on my opinions of their personailties and from what i've picked up playing poker for 'fun' with them, even if I get a good hand they are going to put the pressure on big time.


Theres a loose-aggressive, a tight-aggressive who thinks he is gods gift, two loose-passives and the rest im not too sure on.

Any general tips would be appreciated, I am looking forward to this!

[Gatlin Dan]

Look in the "Playing the Player" forum. There's all kinds of stuff about live game tactics.

[Maverick]

hey Gatlin Dan,

oh yea too easy! I'll go check it out now...keep forgetting theres more topics than 'beginners circle' ahahaaa...

cheers

[nick87]

the online players that play in my live games tend to lose pretty badly becuse they play to many hands or push to hard with a mediocre hand. so...don't do that.



dont' be afraid to challenge an aggressive player when you have a good hand. push back.

don't give away your cards.

[Maverick]

thanks nick87,

yea I suppose the hands per hour drops when in a live game, especially when everyone is joking around ect...

thanks for the pointer, I probably would've gotten impatient!

[Bucko]

I'm a long time player that's just trying to get a handle on online play. Here are a couple of tips that I would recommend, but I doubt they're what you're after.

One issue that tends to plague Hold'em when playing with friends is keeping the accounting straight. Who raised, how much, etc. I think that probably half the evenings that I've played is marred by somebody not understanding what has happened in the betting for a hand. It's harder in hold'em because you play so many more hands than you do in most games.

It may seem like a problem that a dealer is taking a rake, but to me it's worth it having somebody watching and keeping everything straight. Not to mention ensuring a fair deal.

A related issue that is a problem on physically small tables -- how many chips did a player put in? If a player calls and tosses a pile of chips into the center, mixing with the rest of the chips, it's often really hard to tell if they actually put in the right amount. I have seen more cheating through this move than any other. Usually nobody is willing to question whether a call or raise was correct if it's going to take 5 minutes to sort out who put in what chips. Try to let people know that they just put the chips out. The dealer will gather them into the pot when the time is right.

You probably won't have the latter problem, but keeping everything straight is still an issue. Whoever is dealing a hand is responsible for keeping things straight. I would insist that the dealer automatically repeat the action (call/raise $/fold) and try to keep chips separated until the dealer brings them together into the pot. It also helps if the dealer repeats the total each time...."$3.50 to Fred".

Well, that's my advice. It's just some nuts and bolts of keeping the game going well, not actual poker strategy. However since your friend is doing this for the first time he may want to consider it.

[ensign_lee]

I'm a long time player that's just trying to get a handle on online play. Here are a couple of tips that I would recommend, but I doubt they're what you're after.

One issue that tends to plague Hold'em when playing with friends is keeping the accounting straight. Who raised, how much, etc. I think that probably half the evenings that I've played is marred by somebody not understanding what has happened in the betting for a hand. It's harder in hold'em because you play so many more hands than you do in most games.

It may seem like a problem that a dealer is taking a rake, but to me it's worth it having somebody watching and keeping everything straight. Not to mention ensuring a fair deal.

A related issue that is a problem on physically small tables -- how many chips did a player put in? If a player calls and tosses a pile of chips into the center, mixing with the rest of the chips, it's often really hard to tell if they actually put in the right amount. I have seen more cheating through this move than any other. Usually nobody is willing to question whether a call or raise was correct if it's going to take 5 minutes to sort out who put in what chips. Try to let people know that they just put the chips out. The dealer will gather them into the pot when the time is right.

You probably won't have the latter problem, but keeping everything straight is still an issue. Whoever is dealing a hand is responsible for keeping things straight. I would insist that the dealer automatically repeat the action (call/raise $/fold) and try to keep chips separated until the dealer brings them together into the pot. It also helps if the dealer repeats the total each time...."$3.50 to Fred".

Well, that's my advice. It's just some nuts and bolts of keeping the game going well, not actual poker strategy. However since your friend is doing this for the first time he may want to consider it.

Rake? Are you crazy?
Not to mention that officially this home game is now illegal?

[Bucko]

Uh...I"m not sure what you're disagreeing with Ensign_Lee. I was just saying that the rake is the price of playing in a controlled environment, and in my opinion is usually worth it.

As for home games being illegal, you're right, of course (actually some areas have exemptions for small games). But home poker games are probably one of the crimes that local authorities tend to be least interested in, right behind the NCAA tournament pools.

Don't forget that online games with real $$ are technically illegal in the US also. There's a reason they're based in the Bahamas or other offshore location.

[ensign_lee]

I'm disagreeing with paying a rake while playing home games. What the heck?

Home games are supposed to be just that: home games. You're supposed to be having fun while hopefully garnering a little cash.

Also, home poker games are not considered illegal as long as it is not "organized" : i.e. rake.

[Fnord]

Also, home poker games are not considered illegal as long as it is not "organized" : i.e. rake.

In most US states.

The appeal of home games for me is having no rake. It allows me to play looser and/or with stronger players than I could otherwise.

[Bucko]

OK, now I understand.

I didn't mean that a rake should be done in home games. What I meant by my comment was that when a dealer takes a rake, ala casino, it's because they perform a number of functions. To me those functions are usually worth the cost.

I didn't mean a rake should be taken at home, just that somebody has to do the same functions if the game is to go well.