To the folks who said not to rake a game, I said in my initial post that I wasn't a fan of that idea. I've never raked my games, nor do I plan on doing so. I was only bringing that option up since it was suggested by one of the players.

See, this I disagree with to a point. I agree, it's my responsibility as the banker to make sure that it is correct and I covered the loss.

What I disagree with is more of a, for a lack of a better word I can't come up with at the moment, philosophical difference. This is a game with a core of regulars that have played together for a number of years. I think as a core group it is the concern of everyone to make sure things are right.

I should have waited a couple days after the game before even making this thread, but, I was frustrated the next day and was almost venting in a way. Perhaps it's selfish, but, it still frustrates me nonetheless. People have always said how much they love the game and that I run one of the best games they play in around town. Each week, I open up my home (which we all do as hosts) to provide a place for this group to get together and play. Like I said in the original post, I don't provide a ton of stuff but there are always drinks, usually snacks, and there are often beers in the fridge that people are welcome to.

The $100 isn't that big of a deal. It was the attitude of the responses that kinda soured me on the whole situation. If it was a raked game, no big deal. But, I think as home game players who play consistently in other games it is our responsibility to "pitch in" to help the hosts. This is not just financial, but to help clean up at the end of the game, to bring something to the game (drinks, snacks, etc), and to respect the hosts and their efforts. I've chipped in before when other hosts are off. As I've posted in another thread, I always round my cash outs down to leave a little something for the host.

I was going to take a couple weeks off from having the game, but, then the next week started getting emails when people hadn't heard if we were playing or not because they wanted to play. No one has really brought it up again, nor did I. BrianBoyko, who posted in this thread, came back the next game and won like $400 and didn't even mention it despite being "more than happy to kick in".

So, while I'm pretty much over it, it did kinda sour me on hosting after all the effort I've put in to this game and I have decided to do this. This week, I'm going to buy several pizzas, snacks and drinks. I'm going to send an email letting people know there will be food and that we never found the missing $100. Then I'm just gonna put out a box and if people want to throw anything in there, then fine and if not that's fine too. I consider almost all of the folks that play friends so if I get something back great, and if I just end up buying my friends pizza that's great too. After that I'll just forget about it and move on and get back to enjoy hosting and playing.

In the end it seems that you have learned how to deal with this just fine. The most positive thing, however, is that you have solid idea about this aspect of your crews attitude toward the bankers responsibility, and know that in the future any shortages will likely be totally on you for certain. This is good information and allows you to be even more serious ( anal) about the counts without seeming to be a dick. You took the hit openly and now you have the position in the group to do whatever it takes to keep the bank correct. Good luck!

Ordered pizza, drinks, cookies and chips then played cards, had fun.

BrianBoyko crushed the game again and I know he made two trips to the donation jar and more than helped out. So, it's appreciated sir.

I only got to the point where you were texting people= unprofesional.
I appreciate the rake free game but I wouldnt want a text of that nature, it almost feels like an accusation.

I will add- eat the loss. You say youre running a rake free game, but also say you used to be running mtt. Clearly you are making money from tips or something. If this is only the 2nd time you got shorted then you are LUCKY watch the player closely from now on.

a rake free game is great, but I would never ever run one.

Why is that?

I agree that he has to eat the loss. That's what you're signing up for as a host/banker. It sucks, but that's the deal.

But this idea that he has to be making money because he has run MTTs is silly. Some people aren't afraid to go into their pockets to make a game happen, just as some people will host a house party or cookout without expecting to get paid. A tournament doesn't cost significantly more than a cash game to run.

And people would have less respect for you, your game, and your venue (presumably your home) as paying customers than they would as guests in your home. Semi-serious players like me would be less likely to show up at all, donators would run out of funds faster, and players in general would trust you less. Simple, honest mistakes become "mismanagement," and everyone has to suspect that any change you make to the game is geared to increase rake income. This is not to even mention that you're more likely to run into trouble with the law in one way or another.

Honestly, do you even host games?

Couldn't have said it any better, Jim.

Bro, welcome to HOME POKER.

This is the correct answer.

"Bank was off - Just let it go?"

I think he did a long time ago.

Yep. This has been forgotten about and not even sure why I'm responding as this thread should just die in peace. But...

I didn't text anyone, and I didn't accuse anyone. Most of these players have been coming to my game for years. The email was simply along the lines of "Hey guys, I was $100 short on the bank. If you could please check your cashout amounts and make sure I gave you the right amount I'd appreciate it." I also trust that if someone had an extra hundred most of these folks would have said so.

I know it's a crazy thought, but, did it ever occur to you that someone could host a tournament where all the players paid a buy in fee where there was no contribution from the house? Could it also be possible that once people start busting out from said tournament that they may want to play a cash game? It's pretty out there, but, it is possible that that situation could happen...

There were also no players or player that was being accused. It was an honest mistake somewhere. You clearly have no understanding of what was going on here.

Your point here is totally valid. It's absurd that people are willing to have their poker playing friends over for a game without trying to make a profit from running that game. In fact, since my wife and I are about to have a house warming party in the near future I think I am going to charge an admission fee for that too.

After feeling free to give you lots of advice earlier in the thread, I thought you might be mildly amused to hear that I ended up $70 short in my home game 3 weeks or so ago myself. I know what happened, honest mistake by a noob, but I ate it just like you did! No one is immune LOL

Isn't the expected house warming gift the rake for a house warming party?