My home game tonight

I host a home game every Wednesday night. It's a small $10 buy in and we all put in $1 for the 4 of a kind pot. Normally we get 7-14 people, depending on the week. It's winner take all and about 85% of the guys who play are novice players. Basically there to have a good time, shoot the S and drink beer. Which is fine, BUT...I want to win. lol Thats the competive side of me.

Here's my issue. I play normally "by the book", make my raises 3-4 times the blind...I get called by 3-4 people. I bet pot size on the flop If there's a draw to push someone off...I still get called. Those are some of the things. Basically I'm playing with 85% Fish. It's a yum yum game (they never want to play a cash game, wonder why. lol) but it seems luck is on their side more then mine.

The blinds go up every half hour and the game usually lasts about 2 1/2 hours.

It sucks because I want to be more aggressive and bluff with position and I still get called because someone has SOOTED 2/3 and I'm bluffing knowing they have nothing. I've played with these guys for about a year and have a good read on most. So should I just play my game that I play online and at casinos or just play tighter and hope luck is on my side.

Last year I won 8 times (the most out of anyone) so that's good, but there's a lot of times where I felt I could've won If I played my game.

Any advice would be great.

Is sounds like these are structured like SNGs, so you really should be playing a TAG game, and not worry about bluffing. FPS (Fancy Play Syndrome) should be avoided against people who have no clue.

or better yet find someone to play for more $$$

TAG dude and instead of 3-4 times the BB try higher preflop bets. Go with % of stack rather than blinds make it hurt to pay for those rags. Sounds like it's structured like a SnG and you're playing it like a cash game as aforementioned. So play it like you would ANY SnG. Most SnG's I play in the beginning stakes of 10/20. 5x BB is nothing for the calling stations with a Q2 suited they'll see it and then luck out because the stakes aren't high enough. Find the pain threshold and USE it.

I frequented a similar home game a while ago. The best advice I could give is do not bluff. Most times in there mind they are going to think you are bluffing anyway. Or they are gonna be like, "ok, I'll keep him honest." That's where you value bet more. Everything is more straightforward. If you have a big hand you bet, if you do't you fold. No tricks or smoke and mirrors. If they suckout they suckout. Stay strong cause it will balance out. At first I had a hell of a time beating these people. After a while it got easier and easier. It got to the point where I wasn't invited back. They got tired of me taking there money. When that happens its time to find a bigger game. GL.

doesnt matter how tight u play. these ppl arent watching that. if u want to bluff and make big movs against ppl like this u might as well just hand them your money. these ppl are not playing the same game as u might b. they are playing cards, he is trying to play poker.

Bet big preflop since they will be playing rags and stuff. Also if you know they're drawing, bet almost the pot so it costs them and then they will think twice about it.

Well the problem with the structure is in the 2 and a half hours you probably play like 50 hands or so depending on how quick you guys are. So basically with rising blinds loose play is rewarded and the "fish"/friends aren't making huge mistakes. So you should be playing pretty solid TAG but luck's going to happen and it's gonna take a long time for the long run to come. The reason they like tourneys is luck is a much bigger aspect. But if you play solid TAG game over the long run you'll win. That's all you can ask.

But on the other hand, it's a $5 tourney with friends. Just have fun lol.