Home game dilemma - sort of
 

I've been playing in the same game on the weekends for over a year now. It's a casual NL cash game with a $20 buy-in. Everyone there is friends with an occasional "new guy" here and there. The issue I'm having is that I win pretty much all the time. On a normal night I'll be in for $20 and cash out anywhere from $125-$250. This past weekend I actually won all the money at the table. I don't know about your games but in my game this had never been done before. Usually a few people cash out ahead with some having more than others. Anyway that was sort of the last straw. People were genuinely upset that I have been winning consistently for a while now. There were comments about me not being invited anymore. Although they were all said in a joking manner I'm sure there was a little truth behind it. The problem is that these are all my friends and I enjoy the company. Obviously the money is great but even if I were losing I'd still play. Anyone ever been in this situation? How can I handle this? I don't want to take a dive and I don't want to find a new game as these are my friends. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

Some suggestions:

Play different games you're not good at.

Introduce a higher luck factor (wild cards or something).

Handicap yourself; you get half as many chips for your buy-in or something.

None of those probably sound that appealing from a 'pure poker' competitive standpoint, but you're kicking their asses and something's gotta give to change that.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

[ QUOTE ]
Some suggestions:

Play different games you're not good at.

Introduce a higher luck factor (wild cards or something).

Handicap yourself; you get half as many chips for your buy-in or something.

None of those probably sound that appealing from a 'pure poker' competitive standpoint, but you're kicking their asses and something's gotta give to change that.

[/ QUOTE ]keep owning them

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

My initial thoughts were just that..."keep owning them". I thought by continually kicking their asses that atleast a few would try to get better. Not the case.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

The best thing that I can tell you is to win graciously. Sometimes thats all you can do...

-Yarney

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

have u tried tourneys? they must be really bad or your extreemely nasty [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

I don't generally play a TAG style in a home game..it makes you look like a tool. I play a LAG style more...you don't win as much, but if you are good post flop you still win. People don't want you in their friendly home games if you only play super strong hands, and consistently win all the money...you've gotta mix it up as long as you are just playing recreationally.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

If these guys are going to play until all their chips are gone anyways, play it tourny style. Try to pay out as many places as is reasonable with the lowest paying place doubling their money. If you like the ring game because people can come when they please just add a re-buy period. The other thing you will notice is that the other players will have some incentive to get better (by reading and whatnot), since there is no cash out option they must get better if they want to win any money. Better players I think makes for a much more fun game if it's just a bunch of friends for a couple bucks. But if this is your income, don't worry about it and just keep shooting the fish in the barrel. As long as your are a nice guy you really don't need to worry about being invited back, these guys are clearly there for the fellowship, not the money.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

Here's the what usually comes to my mind when I read these threads like this: variance will set you free.

I'm by no means the probability guru of the level you will find on this forum, but for them to play bad enough that you can beat them that bad, it just seems that there will have to be nights where at least someone hits enough [censored] that they win more or almost as much as you. While hold'em cash games immensely favor the superior player over the long run, there just aren't enough hand played in the typical poker night to hit the statistical long run. Good reads and instinct would help beyond this, but I would think their blindsiding five-outers would have to start coming in sooner or later.

Re: Home game dilemma - sort of
 

I agree, try a tourney format. For one, your friends can have fun with that all in thing that is so popular with new players, and two, seeing as you are trying to find a way to not win every time without taking a dive (sort of), we all know how easy it is to get your strong hands cracked by a weak player with a weak hand, and think of how exciting it will be for them (I busted the guy who wins all the time!)

Plus like earlier suggested, if you have a prize for someone that is getting their money back, you can find ways for yourself to not actually lose any money either.

I could have totally misunderstood what you were looking for, but......