Playing against friends

[Bulldog]

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1126221
pokenum -h ah 7h - 5c 4d
Holdem Hi: 1712304 enumerated boards
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
Ah 7h 1102353 64.38 601622 35.14 8329 0.49 0.646
5c 4d 601622 35.14 1102353 64.38 8329 0.49 0.354


http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1126223
pokenum -h kh jd - qs jc - ts td
Holdem Hi: 1370754 enumerated boards
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
Jd Kh 460944 33.63 886688 64.69 23122 1.69 0.344
Qs Jc 300828 21.95 1046804 76.37 23122 1.69 0.227
Ts Td 585860 42.74 780477 56.94 4417 0.32 0.428

[Lottery Larry]

" It got bad enough that I eventually got up and left my chips on the table, and left. Away from the table these guys are my best friends. But at the table, I can't stand them. Its to the point where I think I might not play with them anymore. I don't want poker to ruin our friendship"

Razzing each other while playing any game is half the fun of playing with friends. Now, if you can't handle it, maybe YOU are the one who has an issue to address?

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I disagree. If I want to play serious cards, I go to a casino or fire up an internet room.

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I'm curious... for those who say they dial it back in a home game with friends, how exactly do you change your game?

Looser opening hands seems about the only change you can make without actually playing "wrong". Do you actually go as far as making bad calls? Intentionally giving your money away can't be fun no matter how nice you are trying to be to your friends.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I really am curious.

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Arch, I know what you mean about turning your game on and off. To me it's impossible. My 'A' game exists because of my winning attitude towards poker. I feel like it would be really hard for professional sports players to turn off their instincts when playing for fun. There are just certain things that I have trained myself to do when playing poker that it feels really unnatural to do anything else. Switching to those ridiculous wild card games definately increases the luck factor to a degree that you just can't play well no matter how hard you try, so it's more likely that you'll have fun seeing how many times you can hit a royal flush and still lose to five deuces.

I'm fortunate enough to have a variety of games in which to play; however, I just don't play with my friends anymore. I've convinced them that there are better things to than play poker when we chill.

If you can't turn off your instincts, this is a good sign for your poker game, and also a sign that you should stop playing recreationally if it's not fun for you or your friends when you play. Just remember that a lot of rich flounders would love to say they sat with the best in the world and are more than willing to pay the price.

[4_2_it]

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I feel like it would be really hard for professional sports players to turn off their instincts when playing for fun.

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You can't be serious [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Do you honestly believe that Shaq would dunk over a bunch of handicapped kids in a charity game because he "can't turn it off"? It is probably a relief (and joy) for him to play for fun with no pressure.

That is what home games are for most people. Sorry, I don't see how a couple of hours a week playing a home game with your buddies is going to mess up your 'A' game.

[FouTight]

this is exactly how I view it...

well, save the fact that I don't consider my game like shaqs...

and also my friends aren't handicapped, but, yeah.

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I feel like it would be really hard for professional sports players to turn off their instincts when playing for fun.

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You can't be serious [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Do you honestly believe that Shaq would dunk over a bunch of handicapped kids in a charity game because he "can't turn it off"? It is probably a relief (and joy) for him to play for fun with no pressure.

That is what home games are for most people. Sorry, I don't see how a couple of hours a week playing a home game with your buddies is going to mess up your 'A' game.

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I think there's a difference between instinctive play and "showboating". The dunking example would be showboating and isn't necessary for him to play. But it would be really hard for a pro basketball player to screw up the basics like sinking baskets and dribbling the ball. These are the kind of skills you can't turn off.

[4_2_it]

Shaq probably takes 3-pointers in charity games, but I don't recall seeing him take in an NBA game during crunch time, so he is ignoring some of the fundamentals. I'm not picking a fight or trying to hijack the thread (sorry OP), but you still haven't given any evidence that playing in a wild home game will have a detriment to your overall A game. Of course you don't need to turn off your natural instincts when you play, the only difference in a friendly home game is do you need check raise the weakest player at the table who has rebought 2 times just to show your superior skill? In a casino or non-friendly game go for it, but a home game with friends is supposed to be fun and friendly. JMHO. Good luck to you.

I agree with you, 4 2, about playing for fun means playing for fun. To me, making correct decisions is more of a thrill than the way I used to play poker, hoping to get lucky with no regard for proper odds. I suppose I've taken the whole "kitchen table game" spirit out of poker. If I'm not playing well, I'm not really having fun. I don't play poker with my friends anymore; we now go out and do other things when we chill with each other.

I generally treat all gambling the same regardless of the stakes. I've always been smart (or so I think) about my investments, whether it be to earn $10 or $1000.

When it comes to poker, all I want to do is play my top game. That's where the thrill comes in. I suppose it's a lot like golf. If you're playing with your friends, you would still try to play your best game. If you're playing best ball for money, you would still try to play your best game. If you continuously outshoot your 3 Amigos and they keep wanting to play for money, I don't see any harm in doing so. If you keep beating them and trying to get them to bet you money, then that's probably crossing the line.

PS. I hadn't played with my friends for about 3 years. Eventually they started to get better after hitting the online scene. We now play once in a while... for "honour" (read: cash).

[tonypaladino]

Here, I got you a gift:




































You can use this to turn your posts into paragraphs so that they are readable.

[jdoe]

Gosh!

Rip this guy apart on his first post? gimmie a break.

What you describe is something that happens in almost every poker game. People play for different reasons. Some play for the gamble. Some play for the glory of going all-in with 27 and sucking out on AA, Some play for the social aspect. And some play the game like a chess match.

The problem happens when the drunken majoo meets the chess player at the table. The magoo wants to play for the fun of it and the chess player is too serious about the game, the pot odds, the outs, etc that it is no longer fun for the magoo to play.

If you are the best player at the table you should show the fish a good time. Advertize your bluffs, laugh, goof around, pertent to drink like a rock star, fold QJ to a big all-in raise and for gods sake don't show that laydown.

Jdoe