This is pretty much parroting things already said, but some of it likely won't hurt from reiterating.

You're playing in a home game. While people like making money in home games, they are, by and large, social activities for the majority of people. If there is someone there who isn't meshing with the group, it's not surprising for them not to be asked back (or, as in the case of a friend of mine who came to mine and ran over the table, wonder if they should come back). As was stated earlier, you have to adapt to the mores of that situation, not try to apply what you consider the norm (whether or not it is) to the situation. You're a guest, and you should try and conform to the what the host expects. If you don't like it, don't go back.

Didace already mentioned this part, but I'm mentioning it again just because it's one of my major pet peeves. Your buy-in is $35. The fact you are paying for your gf as well has no bearing on the situation. That's between you and her, not the rest of the game. I would suggest you consider that simply as a relationship expense, not the cost of your buy-in. Sure, it bites into some of your overall +EV, but it's not that big of a deal in the long run in order to keep your gf happy. I have people I won't invite back to certain things because of that exact attitude (I have no problems with "I don't chop," but saying "I'm not going to chop because I had to buy-in twice will steam me rather quickly).

Bottom line, you adapt to the environment and do what you can within reason to keep the organizer happy. If you can't or won't do that, then common sense says to find somewhere else to play.

I don't agree that you have to be an entertainer, to be a pro player.... but, if you're going to draw from a limited pool, or hold onto players longer, while playing as a pro, then I would agree that it is more of a requirement. I certainly agree that it's only +EV long-term to be likeable, as a player.

Online, you can probably get away with being a drag.... since you really don't have to interact with anyone.



FYP. Even if you're planning on becoming a live circuit player, traveling around home games and playing profitably... you need to be accepted- nay, LIKED- in order to maintain your welcome.

Primarily, it's to prevent the word from being spread... and you losing your invitation to MULTIPLE games in an area, at the same time.

For underground games, perhaps that isn't as important- I don't know. However, I suspect that underground floorpeople will try to weed out players that they feel are driving others away..... so gedanken's point is a very good one, even if I don't 100% agree with the range.

Hold on a sec. While I agree with you on one hand, you're not really seeing it completely on the opposite side. I'm in the same situation as OP, with having to pay for two people at every event, so I know where he's coming from (in a narrow sense).

Don't forget, hosts, that we're talking about a SECOND buy-in and a SECOND player, to help prop up the game. Odds are, that second person is not going to be as good of a player as the banker is, so the game is gaining some EV. So, don't judge overly harshly.



That being said- I've already shown that I wouldn't be using my intended profit-making goals to upset the karma of the home group that I'm a guest at.

I never have told them 'I don't chop' or 'I'm in for double, so I can't take this deal'. They don't know, and I have never told them, that I have $70 at risk each time fwiw.

And yesterday was the first big sign that I should look for a new game if I want to continue to play live in home games. But it really is more about my gf and her having a good time playing, as she has made friends with some of the people there/her dad works with some of them. Conversely, I can not see myself hanging out outside of the game with the majority of the players there, just the couple we're good friends with already, as we don't share many of the same interests. They like beer, fishing, nascar. I like halo, poker, nfl.

Would your opinion change if you were the host of the game?

This cash out of hand $70 is the wrong way to look at it. As anothe rposter said, write $35 off as a relation expense. Your only into the game for $35.

And another point that has been mentioned is pulling in the pot on the 65 hand before the other player had a chance to table/muck thier hand. Thats a real no no, even if you had a royal flush, never ever do this. Always wait for the other player to concede the pot before you do any thing.

You come off in your post as being cheap and petty with no social skills or empathy at all so I can only imagine what your are like in real life.

My advise to you is to pray hard for the return of internet poker.

But, since it had nothing to do with what you are talking about- unless you think the main problem is your winning- we didn't need proof.



Then you shouldn't have needed the other host to speak up, right? You already could read the tells....
For me? No, not that much. In fact:

.... I'd be MORE likely to crack down, as a host, than I would as a player. I don't care if you're winning or losing, even against me. It's up to me to get better, even with the disadvantages of hosting, if I want to profit from my home game group.

I care about whether you're contributing, or not, to the ongoing maintenance of the game.


Well, while that's dumb from a playing perspective, it should have given you an indication of the group's attitude around the goals of the game night.


If you want to look at your gf's involvement as a staking situation, you can... but I'm here to tell you, you're probably not going to be happy long-term about the results.

I don't know, but I'm not sure you're quite getting it yet. Is it about YOU, or is it about the poker group that your gf plays in, her father plays in, and you were invited into?

Great! You have a new poker skill to work on, one that will bring you much +EV in home games AND in life!

Aren't you excited???

And yet, with this reply...... irony?

I simply disagree, about only being in for $35. While, yes, I personally only paid $35 for my chips I am out of pocket for $70 for the game and I look to win at least that amount to break even, not $35.

And agree that it was pretty bad to start raking the pot before she mucked her hand. Obv never gonna happen again.

I still don't think you get it.

How good of a poker player can you be if you keep getting kicked out of games? Yes, I know, you haven't been kicked out of this one yet. But if you don't change, you will be. You don't need to turn off anything. You need to turn on acting like a person that has at least a few social skills.

Edit to add:

I now see this -
This is the right attitude. Keep working, you'll be fine.

Thanks for your reply.

Massive grunch.

Yes, that is exactly what he is referring to, and it can't possibly do you any good. Either the fish learn, and you lose profit, or they don't learn and they feel insulted.

Well, don't do that, it's not your game. Your next example isn't an example of that, though, but still...

1) You rivered it, so I hope "I had" isn't a direct quotation.

2) Playing 56o against calling stations is really not a great idea, you don't make a good enough hand enough of the time. Unless you overlimped in a limped pot maybe.

3) "joint" is not really that common terminology, and if I hadn't heard it before I think I would more likely assume it meant air than nuts, based on how it sounds to me. Declare you hand. "Straight" is one word, not hard.

4) FFS don't reach for the pot ever unless it is a self-dealt game. Especially when you don't know what the opponent's action is yet, even if you do have the nuts (there's this thing called chopping...)

Don't use the term ICM with casual players, I mean seriously wtf.

You should fight for a fair share or play on, of course. But you should be able to explain why this is fair. Use an extreme example where the current 4th place has 1BB left; show how he'd be better off just losing. Or if you know this is how they play, then just don't agree to a chop. Or just don't agree to a chop period. What, did you have to go home early? You think you have a massive edge in this game and you didn't want to keep going?

Ok, so your plan worked, now call and shut your trap.

But honestly if you're **after** the point in a tournament where 3bet all-ins can happen, then how are you not getting stacks in preflop, or at least on the flop here, BvB? Would you have folded to a limp/shove if you'd raised your option?

He cares way more about your "I'm so proud of this hand" schtick than the fact that you can explain why re-raising would be a bad idea, IMO. Well... I guess he was trying to save face because he doesn't understand how raising works... but rather, more to the point, he wishes you had re-raised so that he could hollywood and then muck. Oh well.

This is not bad, assuming you can keep a friendly demeanor about it, and you're entitled to the information, and it affects your strategy.

Don't play these table-talk games with someone you don't think is interested in playing table-talk games.

You should be doing this, at least for AIPFs; you look anti-social for not doing so. It sounds like everyone is at least good enough to know what your outs are, so the fact that you don't seem concerned about them when they're your chips looks really strange.

When you win, say "phew, nice hand".
When you suck out, say "well, I got lucky".
When villain wins, say "ahh, nice call, I was crushed".
When villain sucks out, say "arrrrgh, ya got me!"

And always smile.

Nothing wrong with it, but keep it down.

There is probably more behind-the-scenes politics going on here than you realize, but you still have room to improve your act.