Playing against friends

[AAquadsAA]

hey, poker is poker.Money is money. doesnt matter where it comes from. i play at a casino, and a weekly home game($1/2NL)single pots average $150-$300 as large as $1k. i consider some the guys i play with friends but i dont mind for a second when i bust some of them.if you dont want to lose no matter how much you shouldnt play. i would bust my grandmother if she were sitting there. it is unethical to play correctly against someone at the table then softplay friends or a relative. i know this sounds harsh, i expect some flamming, but if you play serious poker thats the way it is.

This is my stance as well.

[4_2_it]

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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).

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I see where you are coming from and agree with you.

[cunningham22]

I think my story might be relevant. If not, thanks for letting me ramble.

Last summer I watched the reruns of the 2003 WSOP before the 2004 episodes started. I had seen them before, but didn't pay close attention, like the way one watches World Strongest Man competitions. (No offense, strongmen) I loved the way Sammy Farha carried himself, and the subtle moves of Dan Harrington. And I hated Moneymaker's lucky draws.

I played a few home games - 5-7 person SNGs, and donned my sunglasses and Hold'Em T shirt. It was mainly about the glamour, and I enjoyed myself. Also, I didnt know the difference between AQ and A7. I marveled at a story my friend told me about a hand in which he "knew" the guy was bluffing and called him down with bottom pair. At this point, I was hooked, but not for the money.

I went to college as a freshman in September, and sat down with some fish the first night. Lost with QQ to KK, and felt good about myself. Then, I sat down with a bunch of experience players for a $10, 14 person 2 table tournament. I knocked out the first 3 players at my table and acted very cool. I had a large stack, and one guy, who looked like he was playing to be with the guys, gunned for me. He took me for 75% of my stack, and I went to the final table as a short stack. I was dubbed "Broken Spirits" for the way I was crushed at losing the big stack. This guy turned out to be the most experienced player at the table. He took me for about $200 first semester, if you count tournament buy ins that he knocked me out of. I hated getting in hands with him, but loved it at the same time because I was dying to learn something from it.

Learn I did. With the help of another friend that taught me the 2+2 reality of poker, I have become a good player. I need help in some areas before I can become an excellent player, but I do well. My group of friends learned to play very well, because getting games together in a dorm is so easy.

Now that I am home, I've been playing with the same group as last summer. Only I am the only one who is educated at all in poker strategy. I play, and win, at cash games, but others don't hate me. I let them have their wild hands and stay out of it. I regularly cash out 2-3 times the original buy in in profit, and they seem to think I am a quiet killer, always magically building a large stack while staying out of the spotlight. In addition, my friends turn to me for rules and advice. What I enjoy most out of the games is not the money, but trying to help my friends grow as players. Two guys think I am stupid for trying to incorporate math, but I don't argue. I am trying to make the games better, and the only way to do that is to show them how their styles will consistently lose them money. My goal is to make it a challenge.

It's late and I just gave a very long winded explaination of why I enjoy my games. I love the financial aspect of poker, but I love the friendly atmosphere and glamour more. I didn't learn from playing fish, I learned from experienced players who regularly handed my ass to me. I don't think avoiding poker is the best method. In your case, I would say lighten up a bit, educate yourself more (your betting strategy seems a bit off), and become the dominant figure at the table. By holding to my game and avoiding the shitty or marginal hands, I have avoided bad beats for the most part. This is important, because bad beats can ruin your impression of your friends and ruin your desire to play. If you find a way to become a leader at your table, you can enjoy the games. Don't let them get to you, and with my friends, I find that even though some don't like my use of odds, I do get respect. It's ok for players to play their own game, but when you are in the hand, you should control the game.

Just enjoy yourself and remember why you decided to learn poker in the first place. Try to bring some of that back to the table.

Good luck.

[iluzion]

I play with a bunch of friends who are "below average" players, and myself and another who are good players.

I play very loose and just kinda crazy while playing in my game when against most players, but against the other who really knows what hes doing like I do, we get very competetive.

I think if your playing in a little fun game with your friends, the actual way you play your cards shouldn't be some huge priority. Having fun, and ensuring the game remains fun, should be at top. Since its your only live play, watch for some tells, correct your own tells rather than worrying about winning money.

[kona]

I have played tourneys like that even some of my family games are like that. I normally win or place in the money and it never seems to be a problem with them. When I win a hand, I say something like “that was luck” or “ I thought you had me”. I never gloat or make a bid deal out of winning hands or money. I always take the time to complement other good play or draw even if they sucked out on me. In fact, if I am a better player then they are then I should get sucked out on more often because I will be in with the better hand. When playing this type of game they see more flops, call, and raise in ridiculous situations. They really like going to the river so they just draw into hands. Let them have fun and just enjoy. Its also good to play a few more hands with junk cards if it is cheap even I you lose. Although I must admit, I am not fond of losing. Bottom-line, be nice, complement, be humble, join in and have fun, then take home the money. Always leave them smiling

This post has some sage advice. Don't take it so seriously that you come off as a pompous ass, and smile and relax when they rib you. I was known for quoting the odds on everything at my home game, and pretty soon the table was calling for odds on weird stuff, like the path of an insect or something like that. Haha, I got the point, laughed and took the joke. It was funny. Don't get uptight. Some of these players probably realize that's the only chance they'll have to be on top playing you, so let them enjoy it and don't get too uptight.

A bad beat is a bad beat. Hell, I lost a hand to about the worst Hold Em player in the world when his 88 caught the last remaining 8 on the river against my AA in the hole. I got upset for a few minutes, sure, but then I congratulated HIM on his good fortune. That way, he'll make the same damn play against me every time, and he has a good time.

[The Nutz85]

I play a game every week and I win 90% of the time when i lose its a bad beat my friends know im good and they respect me. I look at home games not as a source of income but practice, and im willing to bust anyone friend or foe. I always want to play my best. i forget who said it but "but id bust my own grandma at the table" thats what i do everytime i sit down at the poker table wether it be at home b&m or online i want to destroy anyone who plays me. If i lose against friends i congradulate them on how they played that gutshot or how they check raised me all in with bottom pair on a semi bluff and caught trips on the river, whatever it may be because i know next week im more than likely to win it all.

Now dont get me wrong i always give the impression at the poker table that im there to have fun its the best way not to have people gunning for me or scare away potential fish. I treat my friends the same way i have fun laugh have a few beers but in my head its pot odds implied odds and equity. They always wonder why i count the pot lol i just say i like to see what i am gonna win in a joking manner.

So dont be pissed when they are gunning for you, because the way that you show yourself to them is a determined poker player not a social player like them. My advice is to have fun but still play for real.

[ThinkQuick]

Get invited back.
Don't leave in a huff with chips on the table.
Play as seriously as you like but have fun with them too. Convince yourself that you don't care whether they think they're outplaying you, and in fact you'd like them to think that sometimes.

[derick]

Trick one: Just pretend to look at your cards but don't look at them. It will help you work on your reads and use of position.

Trick two: Play every hand for a round.

Use your time with your friends to blow off steam and have fun.