Home Poker Games - A small Rant

[slamdunkpro]

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Interesting, since I'm nearly on the cusp of such a "suggestion" to my home game host that we write down all the rules we play as recently, there have been a number of diagreements over play.

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This isn’t a whiny complaint – it’s a legitimate issue that needs to be resolved. I was referring to things like the clown that came up to me one night and wanted me to change the molds in my ice cube maker because the cubes were too big for the glasses. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Lottery Larry]

Tell HIM to bring bigger glasses then.

You actually put up with this stuff?

[2planka]

My response to such "suggestions:"

Thanks for bringing up the point about the ice cubes. Next time we play, you're the Ice Man. Feel free to bring enough ice for everyone.

Seems to work.

[The Armchair]

Last time that happened, they got lost in a cab [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

The real issue is that they'll not get returned in time. I play a lot of "pick up" games -- someone will email our list, ask who can play, and an impromptu game will form. Oftentimes, the group is entirely different from the previous one. So, I'd be unable to use my chips. That'd be... silly.

[Lottery Larry]

I'm in a similar situation, so I know what you mean (I wouldn't wait for people to bring me my chips, either)

[dcJohn]

I can understand your frustration if you didn't know about the rule, but this really is very, very common; I wouldn't put it in the list of things that need to be clarified.

Even in limit play at casinos, where cashing out entirely at any time is possible, if someone buys chips from you then the $ stays on the table (at least where I've played).

[LetsRock]

I can't agree more. I help run a home game. Four of us have bought chips, built tables yada, yada, yada. We have nearly 40 players on the invite list. We play weekly and usually fill one or two tables every week.

We're lucky to have great group of people and the core group is really supportive and great.

My biggest pet peave is those who wait until the last minute to respond to invites. It seems that a lot of people can't commit to something early on and it drives me nuts.

They just don't understand or appreciate how much preparation needs to go into a game, especially when you may need to set up the room for as many as 3 tables.

Appreciate your home game hosts. They're not getting anything out of it except for a fun game. Don't make it hard for them to have fun or may find yourself uninvited.

[AlphaMeridian]

I guess. I'll just be more selective about selling chips to people who want to rebuy then. I mean, if I can't take the money off the table, then it just becomes a liability in so far as I can't cut it up and use fractions of it for play.

Learn something new every day, i guess.

-Alpha

[LetsRock]

YOu should have very explicit written rules. If you're afraid of offending your host, write them your self and ask if these "might" work. There's just too many versions of house rules to not have something solid in place.

They were right to give you grief about taking money off the table. It's pretty standard in a table stakes game that you are not allowed to rat hole your money.

[slamdunkpro]

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My biggest pet peave is those who wait until the last minute to respond to invites. It seems that a lot of people can't commit to something early on and it drives me nuts.


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One of my favorites along these lines are the ones who call and the conversation goes something like this: Me "hello?" Them "Hey it's Joe Blow, are we on Friday?" Me "Well, yes, didn't you get the e-mail?" Them "Sure but I just wanted to check - 3/6 Hold'em this week right?" Me "yes" Them "Ya know , I've got 5 or 6 friends who just love playing tournaments and would show up in a heartbeat if we had a tournament" Me "That's great but I've already announced 3/6 for Friday" Them " Yes but how many responses have you gotton? one or two?" Me" it's only Tuesday" Them" Exactly! Let's change to a tournament format for this week and all these people will show up" [after more badgering I change the format and send out new email - response is weak]

Game day is a disaster with only 4 players showing up. A quick call to Joe results in: Me"hello Joe where are you guys?" Them " Oh, didn't I tell you? There is a 3/6 game right down the street from me that you guys would kill, so my friends and I had to support our Friend down the street.