Where's the fun?

hi all. I would suckle at the teat of your collective wisdom.

I've been playing live house games a few times a week for 3 or 4 years now, and online for about 18 months. I play strictly for fun and my philosophy has always been that the stake money is spent on the evenings entertainment, and if I win then it's a bonus.

I love the game, playing it and learning about it. Recently I've made some radical adjustments to my game and started making small but steady wins online.

Here's the thing. Played my home game last night (a very friendly game with low stakes and a mix of new and experienced players) and applied what I'd been doing online. Worked beautifully and quadrupled my buy in... But it killed the fun! Playing more aggressive, tighter and nastier just felt wrong! I've had nights where I sucked out 3 rebuys I've enjoyed more! I felt, bluntly, like a B*****d.

Is this something anyone else has experienced? It seems weird but my enjoyment in improving my game seems to be interfering with my enjoyment at playing it!

Where's the fun for you guys? Is it the winning or the taking part?

First off, welcome to CC. There is plenty of knowledge here that will help you out a ton. To me, it depends. If I'm playing small stakes with friends I'll usually just donk around and have some fun but if we play for a lil bit more it's all about the win. You can learn to do both and switch it around depending on your mood.

It very much depends on the crowd you are playing with , I play with a group of guys who have no mercy and we all like it that way. There are other times such as when I play with my wife and other couples that I definitly have to play way less aggresive or face a very long tense ride home.So yes circumstances can change a winning strategy into an overall loss of fun as well as a night on the couch.

Depends on what you want from the game. Play for fun, go with the flow. Play your best, there may be some feelings hurt.

If anything, learn how to shift gears in a game. If you want to keep the home games fun, then try to watch how, A) to adjust your game, and then B) what that adjustment does to your opponents, the game, and your bankroll.

Just keep learning no matter where you play. There's always something to learn each time you sit down at the table. Heck spend just one night looking for common tells and call down people to see their cards. Learn!

Cheers

Good advice. Thanks people's.

spstevens said:

It very much depends on the crowd you are playing with , I play with a group of guys who have no mercy and we all like it that way. There are other times such as when I play with my wife and other couples that I definitly have to play way less aggresive or face a very long tense ride home.So yes circumstances can change a winning strategy into an overall loss of fun as well as a night on the couch.

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ahahahhah, well put. If you do choose for some reason (drinking too much) to go for it on couples night, make sure you gloat heavily, I mean you're on the couch anyways.

So yes circumstances can change a winning strategy into an overall loss of fun as well as a night on the couch.

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ahahahhah, well put. If you do choose for some reason (drinking too much) to go for it on couples night, make sure you gloat heavily, I mean you're on the couch anyways.

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+1 Yes! lay it on thick!

Play to win. If they can not take a loss then they should not be playing.

Really don't feel bad if you win. And if you do feel that bad offer to teach some of your friends how to play better.

I have found drinking beer adds to the enjoyment but has a negative impact on bank roll,. lol, but I'm pretty sure once you go pro the only fun is winning.

So keep religion and politics out of the conversations, and leave proper poker strategy for the card rooms, it is.

Penhorse340 said:

hi all. I would suckle at the teat of your collective wisdom.

I've been playing live house games a few times a week for 3 or 4 years now, and online for about 18 months. I play strictly for fun and my philosophy has always been that the stake money is spent on the evenings entertainment, and if I win then it's a bonus.

I love the game, playing it and learning about it. Recently I've made some radical adjustments to my game and started making small but steady wins online.

Here's the thing. Played my home game last night (a very friendly game with low stakes and a mix of new and experienced players) and applied what I'd been doing online. Worked beautifully and quadrupled my buy in... But it killed the fun! Playing more aggressive, tighter and nastier just felt wrong! I've had nights where I sucked out 3 rebuys I've enjoyed more! I felt, bluntly, like a B*****d.

Is this something anyone else has experienced? It seems weird but my enjoyment in improving my game seems to be interfering with my enjoyment at playing it!

Where's the fun for you guys? Is it the winning or the taking part?

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"I play poker for the money if I want to have fun I will go on A cruise" Forgot who said it.

cdooley72 said:

Play to win. If they can not take a loss then they should not be playing.

Really don't feel bad if you win. And if you do feel that bad offer to teach some of your friends how to play better.

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After all sex is way overrated & sleeping on the couch is good preparation for when you are homeless & broke after the divorce.




FYP.

I can equate this to my pool playing experience. I used to frequent a bar that boasted three APA teams, where most bars had one. The teams always made it to the regionals and one made it to the APA nationals in Vegas. On Saturday night a lot of the league players would come up to the bar to hang out and we would often play king of the table. Even though we didn't play for money, it was obvious to the guys who came in with their girlfriends to have a good time, that they would be better off playing on one of the other two tables. I eventually started hanging out at a pool hall more and more, where I was exposed to some of the best players in the Atlanta area. Being around these guys raised the level of my game to the point where, I was constantly playing in tournies or for money. I eventually reached the point where, unless you were part of my crew, very few people could get me to play for free. And if anyone did, they were constatntly telling me to stop taking it easy on them and to "play for real". It wasn't that I would let people win. It was that without a challenge or the possibility of winning or losing money, I just wasn't able to focus play my best game. I remembered with fondness the times when all the best league players would gather to play on the third table, in the back corner of Snuffy's Bar & Grill. I really enjoyed pool back then. It used to be so much fun. Now it's fun to win money. Now I enjoy the expressions on people's faces when the lose, or seeing my opponents rattled, and put on tilt to the point where they're throwing racks across the room and slamming $500 pool cues around.

I play $5 and $10 BI cash games with some of my college friends. I often play like an absolute moron with them, especially because we have such ridiculous history and meta going...

Depending on how much you are playing for, it's definitely fine to do whatever's most fun. In fact, imo it should be about this way more often. TBF, most of the time, winning the most money is the way to have the most fun, but if you're just with your buds, it is usually more of a social affair.

I'd suggest playing for small stakes with your buddies if you're not planning to go hardcore. No reason to risk a lot when you know you will enjoy it more to play less profitably.

Penhorse340 said:

hi all. I would suckle at the teat of your collective wisdom.

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Also, best intro to an OP ever. Best way to get favorable responses from those around here with egos. Not that I would know anything about that.

As a rule always play to win all the time. It's personally better for your game. If you have guilt about playing aggressively with friends, then give the money back. If you know they won't take it directly, purposely loose a few hands so they get it back.
I know it's sort like hustling, but they will be more likely to want to play with you again.

In home game tourney's I added a few bucks to the pool, if I've won often or in previous game. This encourages repeat customers.