Found a Juicy Home Game, But...

Found a juicy home game last night, but the yelling, arguing, crappy etiquette, and rule changes mid-game ruined it. It all threw me off my game so much that I dunno if I'll return.

Oh thats too bad. I think you should give it another shot maybe they are rookies. Maybe if you are friends enough with whoever is hosting, explain there needs to be a little more order and rules set before game starts.
If not just get drunk and play.

If the rules are conducive, play. Everyone else seems to be on Tilt.

Or just have fun. Sometimes it's nice to play in a game that is closer to the way that the world works.

Run for the hills, it's not worth it.

I live abroad and found a soft game with a bunch of Americans in the service, ex-pats, and a sprinkling of other nationalities. My first game I was dominating these rookies. I was winning, but suddenly re-buys were allowed even though nobody had even mentioned the possibility before. Oh well, I kept my mouth shut (the servicemen were getting drunk and aggressive at this point).

Later, one of the bigger and more aggressive soldiers who was sitting to my right made an all-in play which I snap called with the nuts. He then stated he was folding, and his all-in did not count because he had just said "all-in" and had not "pushed his chips across the line." (we were sitting at a dining room table, not a card table, so there was no line to speak of). I got up and left the game a few hands later and never returned.

It's not worth it to play poker with people like that.

JMO from experience

Home games are just that, games. People play them to have fun and relax. What I have found though is that it is good to play them because there is ALWAYS SOMEONE THERE THAT IS SEMI-SERIOUS just like (you in this case) me and they usually are warm towards the idea of joining a more serious game.

Play, have fun and shoot the shit. GAMBLE, remember this is money you are fine losing. Then fish for the serious fellas and propose a modest sit and go or something (like a 3 dollar buy in or so) and give it a go. If they bite, play best you can (because you should be seriously buzzed by this point) and then propose doing it again in the future. They most likely will be keen and then you've got them moving in the right direction. Consider this an investment in the poker economy.

Network a little and you'll probably be able to find a couple "ridiculous" home games and can probably get enough "serious" players together to start your own, more serious minded home game. Most people just like to play and talk shit, but there is always someone there that is competitive and would love to play more serious poker but have never been to a card room or casino. Show them what "card playing" can be and you never know, you may make a card buddy for life. Always remember and keep in the back of your mind, "You can sheer a sheep over and over again, but you can only skin him once."

Hopefully he/they go on to become a rich ****ing CEO of a fortune 500 company or invent the best new widget since sliced bread and you can keep your hand in his back pocket as long as the wife stays warm towards you...I digress....

Just some things to consider

Excellent! I like this. ^^^

Yes, I was the semi-serious one. I like to shoot the shit, but I like to play some solid poker, too. And some solid rules would be nice.

It was a $10 BI SNG-style NLHE game w/7 players and, in the middle of the game, they changed the payouts and added some "high hand" prize taken out of the prize pool. I didn't verbally agree or disagree to any of it at that time, but 3 or 4 guys made it law. So at the end, everybody was yelling and arguing and I kept mostly quiet except to state some facts. Not a fun time imo.

The etiquette issues were some of the observing players talking about the hands they aren't in, crappy shuffles, string bets, etc. I outwardly ignored it all, but I'm pretty sure a lot of it influenced the outcome and that bugged me.

I guess things would have been better if everything was ironed out prior. I'll see if I can help do that next time. I'll see if I can switch my play to "buddy mode" next time, too. Thanks for the feedback, all.

Yeah home games are awesome - i miss playing them. They have to be run right to really enjoy them. Hope you find another one. GL

Eeh, that's the part that would bother me the most. Any change to the money aspect of the game is really serious. Otherwise, personalities may clash, but you can get over stuff like that. Maybe give it another night or two and see how you get on.