[holdemfan]

I was talking about starting to play poker online, (I've been playing B&M for years) and a guy I work with invited me to a home game. I was appalled by how readable they all were. I think they read MIke Caro's book of tells and decided to be the ones to act out the tells not read them. We bought in for $20 and played NL tournement style with increasing blinds, winner take all. After winning the first 4 games I started to get the feel this will never happen again based on me killing them. They saw lucky draws and I saw the pot odds, tells and proper outs etc.. The fifth game I gave it to the father of the guy who held the game. If he went all in on a bluff and stared me down I fold anything. When he acted like "I guess I'll play this to see what happens" Which meant he had a monster I raised him and got caught bluffing with K high at the wrong time. Suddenly I was just having beginners luck and some good play. Sixth game I noticed a huge increase of fun attitude again and the truth is I don't think there was going to be a 6th game. I took second in the last game due to a guy with J7 suited out drew me on my all in preflop KK. Then caught a straight next hand. I also kept down playing my wins as lucky draws and even adopted a LUCKY Potatoe chip to highlight that I was just lucky. I would high five those who won hands and console those who got beat when they should of won. Result...I created an enviornment of fun while I won. I get invited back frequently. I rarely go because there is more money in real stakes but I will go on occassion to have fun. I like to play all levels because the style at $15-$30 and $1-$2 is quite different and it is exciting to beat what ever game I play and I play to win. Even so at this home game if I don't lose a game by the 5th one you can put $ on me losing that one.
I usually win 5 games of 6. I put in $120 and win $800 to $1,000. If you are willing to put in a bet on a bad hand to throw your opponent off why not be flexible and get invited back? By going back I am beating the game. By not being invited back it beat me.