The Well ... I am a pfapfap, AMA! - Page 6 - Home Poker Games

Beckley · 06-16-2012, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfapfap

I've been at work for 16 hours (still here)

Do you know how much your cat misses you?

pfapfap · 06-16-2012, 10:16 AM

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

**eneely** · 06-16-2012, 02:49 PM

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials.

I may have missed some posts. Are you still working as a Vegas dealer? If not, what happened? And why Vancouver?

The Meal · 06-16-2012, 05:03 PM

If you were putting together a playlist for a friend's pre-wedding pseudo-reception (weeknight drinks and socializing at a local art house) with a stipulation listed as: "I think a mix of '90s and early '00s, generally upbeat, fun, enjoyable music that a decent number of people recognize and would enjoy would fit the bill perfectly," what songs would you want to make sure made the cut? How about if you were given extra pressure by being told: "I can be more specific in requests if you want, but I also trust your music tastes implicitly."

So just that one hypothetical for you. Figure this is a good place to say that you make HP a much better place to hang out and I hope you keep fighting the good fight in terms of doing your part to make playing cards an enjoyable activity.

Meow.

DavidNB · 06-16-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfapfap

Recruit, recruit, recruit. Recruit, recruit, recruit.

I couldn't convert existing friends into poker players, but it takes a crowd to draw a crowd. I scheduled an afternoon BBQ followed by a small 5/10¢ game with some friends who enjoyed VERY casual poker, to which I invited some people from other home games to play in "this game I have going."

There's a difference between, "I need players for a game," and "I might have room if you act now!"

From there, I aggressively recruited from within the game. Everybody had a brother or cousin or buddy, so the next game was bigger. I pegged the people with the personality I wanted, and asked them to invite others. After a few steps of that, I hit into a rich vein of poker playing hippies, perfect for my sensibilities. Players were instructed not to invite people without asking me first, and not before playing a few times themselves.

Turnover in poker is high. Those of you who have a core of 10 guys who have played every week for 20 years really have a good thing going. Most games tend to dry up within a few years. You can see at the end of the video everybody who played in my game from that time span. When the game came back for a year in 2010, it was almost an entirely different player pool.

I never stopped recruiting. I played multiple home games a week, and was always feeling out players if I felt they were right. This started feeding itself: people who got invited to my game returned the favor by introducing me to their player pools.

Make it fun. People like to have fun.

My games were very well organized. Too organized, I dialed it back after I found my footing. I spent a few hours setting up, and an hour tearing down and cleaning up. I had nice soft lighting and warm colors in the room. I had layers of stuff to look at on the walls and in the rafters. My music mix was accessible yet interesting, loud enough to fill lulls but soft enough not to overpower. I had couches and smoking areas. I had a wide variety of beer, snacks, fruit and cheese spreads, pizzas, burgers, and ultimately caterers. We were in a separate building apart from the main house that wasn't used for much else, so we could do whatever we wanted.

Mix all that together, and your hippie-minded poker players are a happy bunch indeed.

…

I forced people to leave.

Shear a sheep, don't skin it. At first we played 'til dawn, but people don't have fun wasting the next day feeling unproductive and regretful. You want them itching for more in a comfortable environment, not steeling themselves to prepare for another jump into the fray.

…

Share the wealth, keep it accessible.

Hardcore players want long deep-stacked cash games because they have the highest edge. Casual players want short lottery tournaments, because they have a level playing field. I had at least one tourney a month, and even more once we started leagues, most of them very cheap and very fun. $20 rebuys, that kind of thing. Most you'd spend was $100, and that's if you really tried. The payouts were very shallow, paying 25-30% of the field, while giving first about 35% of the pool.

People just want to have fun, man. They don't want to lose the house. The good players can still very easily collect a little bit from everybody and make a solid profit. It doesn't have to come from one or two crippling blows.

…

Make it an event.

The cash games were the weekly break & butter, but we had monthly cheap tourneys as a recruitment tool. I went all-out, creating custom graphics for evites and tournament clocks, post-mortems sent to a listserv of the player pool, other prizes, etc. They were longer than a typical home game tourney, 7pm-2am, with rebuys for the first hour at least, dinner break (pizzas) at 8pm. Breaking bread with someone makes you an ally, and everybody ate together every time.

where did you get posters from. I would love to get some

lanyi · 06-17-2012, 02:58 AM

How long have you been peeing sitting down?

pfapfap · 06-17-2012, 09:32 AM

About twenty seconds. I love my iPad.

Some good questions in there, I think I'm off work tomorrow, so I can get to them then.

findingneema · 06-17-2012, 09:54 PM

Considering a return after a long absence, saw this, thought I'd say hi. You should have mentioned in your tips post how important flips are to promoting gambool. So my Q, what's your favorite way to do flips?

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akhanar

If you ran a university and created a major in poker playing, what would be the structure and courses offered? Include 100 , 200, 300, and 400 level courses with pre-requisites, required classes vs electives, etc

Not as detailed as you asked, but here you go...

Poker for Teenagers 101:
Do something else with your life.

Poker for Teenagers 102:
Seriously, this isn't worth it. Get out.

Poker for Teenagers 201:
Your brain is a sponge. Fill it with something better. Poker will be here later, when your brain is hardened and crusty.

Poker for Teenagers 202:
Mountain climbing. Cycling. Join a sports team. Read a book. Paint a picture. Go to parties. Get involved in campus life. Go get laid. Only cheap women find poker players sexy.

Poker for Twentysomethings 301:
If you took the energy required to sustain a life playing profitable poker at a comfortable standard of living and put it towards practically anything else, you would make far more money and have a far happier life.

Poker for Twentysomethings 302:
Even the time spent right now is a waste. Go get laid!

Poker for Twentysomethings 401:
Where are all the young phenoms from five years ago? Three? Last year? They're mostly gone, and they were the lucky ones to get noticed in the first place. This game sucks out souls. Get out.

Poker for Twentysomethings 402:
It's a hard way to make an easy living. Don't say I didn't warn you.

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanyi

Your perspective on why of all games NLH is the prominent game of choice?

I agree with the majority view on this. It strikes that good balance between many elements. It's a combination of complete and incomplete information. It combines control and randomness. The moves that are possible to make come from a fairly limited bag. It's easy to play reasonably well, and it's difficult to play completely horribly.

With draw, everything happens behind the scenes, and there's nothing entertaining for the casual observer. With 5-stud, there's too much information revealed. With 7-stud, there's too much to remember. With Omaha, the goofy restrictions and exponential math of hands and betting is difficult for casual players.

Draw, stud, and Omaha tend to be slower games, with less of a clear path to victory. And fixed limit games are boring to watch on TV.

Plus, there's the thrill of a huge payday. Hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror. Intermittent reinforcement.

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eneely

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials.

I may have missed some posts. Are you still working as a Vegas dealer? If not, what happened? And why Vancouver?

Yes, I'm in Vegas.

Vancouver because that's where the fiancée lives. Also because it's Vancouver. I look forward to having health care again. It's been far too long.

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meal

If you were putting together a playlist for a friend's pre-wedding pseudo-reception (weeknight drinks and socializing at a local art house) with a stipulation listed as: "I think a mix of '90s and early '00s, generally upbeat, fun, enjoyable music that a decent number of people recognize and would enjoy would fit the bill perfectly," what songs would you want to make sure made the cut? How about if you were given extra pressure by being told: "I can be more specific in requests if you want, but I also trust your music tastes implicitly."

So just that one hypothetical for you. Figure this is a good place to say that you make HP a much better place to hang out and I hope you keep fighting the good fight in terms of doing your part to make playing cards an enjoyable activity.

Meow.

Thanks!

This is something I would love to do, but I just can't right now. A CD-length mix takes me a week of searching and picking and balancing and ordering and listening and re-listening and analyzing and etc etc etc. I simply don't have the time right now. I worked seven shifts in six days, and I go back again tomorrow, or maybe tonight if they call me in.

But I'd be down for it mid-July. Hit me up then.

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidNB

where did you get posters from. I would love to get some

I made 'em. The two big posters are just Attack of the 50-Foot Woman and The Evil Dead, I changed the text. The other "pitr" posters are part of sets I made for my first dozen or so tournaments. Evites and tournament graphics all coordinated. I figured "poker in the rear" worked well with a pinup theme. I found artwork online, used what I felt worked with the game number.

pfapfap · 06-18-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by findingneema

Considering a return after a long absence, saw this, thought I'd say hi. You should have mentioned in your tips post how important flips are to promoting gambool. So my Q, what's your favorite way to do flips?

'Sup, bro! I trust all is well. You seem the kind to make good for yourself.

I love the 7-card Dragons. Each card is a sweat!

Omaha with the round-the-table reveal is also good, similar idea. But the Dragon wins.

The Meal · 06-19-2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfapfap

Thanks!

This is something I would love to do, but I just can't right now. A CD-length mix takes me a week of searching and picking and balancing and ordering and listening and re-listening and analyzing and etc etc etc. I simply don't have the time right now. I worked seven shifts in six days, and I go back again tomorrow, or maybe tonight if they call me in.

But I'd be down for it mid-July. Hit me up then.

Bzzzt. Your hypothetical was for a hypothetical party taking place hypothetically this Saturday. And some hypothetical jerk gave you incomplete/incorrect inputs. Thursday is campyard shenanigans, Friday is the ceremony (here, includes photos, but many more available at google's image page), Friday night the reception, then Saturday is "The Party" in an urban setting (Denver Photo Art Gallery) for folks not traversing the great outdoors (and those unwilling to end the fun any earlier than necessary) — these songs are for "The Party."

Hypothetically.

Spoiler:

Considering my time frame and the desire to get some personal selections in the mix along with putting something together that would be found acceptable for those seeking familiarity and those wanting to hear something new (my own foible, but my strength isn't in regurgitating someone's idea of Now That's What I Call Music™ vol. 362), I'm pleased with the result. I forced a copy on the groom in a weak attempt at seeking his approval, so we'll see. He gushed thanks and claimed me a life saver, but as I told him that when his fall back plan is something as complicated as "turning on a radio," I didn't feel particularly slurp-worthy. He corrected me: "Pandora."

Touche.

1. ~ Soul Finger ~ The Bar-Kays ~ 1967
2. ~ 1979 ~ Smashing Pumpkins ~ 1995
3. ~ Mama Told Me Not To Come ~ The Wolfgang Press ~ 1991
4. ~ Under Pressure ~ Queen / David Bowie ~ 1981
5. ~ The Prince of Parties ~ Flight of the Conchords ~ 2008
6. ~ Groove Is In The Heart ~ Deee-Lite ~ 1990
7. ~ Do You See My Love (For You Growing) ~ Dirtbombs ~ 2001
8. ~ Girlfriend ~ Matthew Sweet ~ 1991
9. ~ Mirror In The Bathroom ~ English Beat ~ 1980
10. ~ 70s 80s ~ Nightmares on Wax ~ 2002
11. ~ Too Dramatic ~ Ra Ra Riot ~ 2010
12. ~ Candy ~ Iggy Pop ~ 1990
13. ~ Glad Girls ~ Guided by Voices ~ 2001
14. ~ Here Comes Your Man ~ The Pixies ~ 1989
15. ~ Wonderwall ~ Oasis ~ 1995
16. ~ I Want You to Want Me ~ Cheap Trick ~ 1977
17. ~ Just Like Heaven ~ The Cure ~ 1987
18. ~ Young Adult Friction ~ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart ~ 2009
19. ~ Love Spreads ~ Stone Roses ~ 1994
20. ~ Fell In Love With A Girl ~ The White Stripes ~ 2000
21. ~ Chalkdust Torture ~ Phish ~ 1992
22. ~ I’m Not Living In The Real World ~ Belle and Sebastian ~ 2010
23. ~ Superman ~ R.E.M. ~ 1986
24. ~ Now We Can See ~ The Thermals ~ 2009
25. ~ Earn Enough For Us ~ XTC ~ 1986
26. ~ Rock This Town ~ The Brian Setzer Orchestra ~ 1998
27. ~ Wake Up ~ Arcade Fire ~ 2004
28. ~ Dear Prudence ~ Siouxsie & The Banshees ~ 1983
29. ~ We Close Our Eyes ~ Oingo Boingo ~ 1996
30. ~ Miss Freelove '69 ~ Hoodoo Gurus ~ 2010
31. ~ Fireworks ~ The Tragically Hip ~ 1998
32. ~ Never Had Nobody Like You ~ M. Ward ~ 2009
33. ~ Don't Tell You Mother ~ The Sundays ~ 1989
34. ~ In The Twilight ~ Alexander ~ 2011
35. ~ Two Of Us ~ Aimee Mann / Michael Penn ~ 2001
36. ~ Give It Away ~ Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ 1991
37. ~ For Your Love ~ The Yardbirds ~ 2006
38. ~ It's Not Unusual ~ Belly ~ 1993
39. ~ Saturday Nite ~ Blitzen Trapper ~ 2008
40. ~ American Music ~ Violent Femmes ~ 1993
41. ~ Death To Los Campesinos! ~ los campesinos ~ 2006
42. ~ Banditos ~ The Refreshments ~ 1995
43. ~ Why Does The Sun Really Shine? ~ They Might Be Giants ~ 2009
44. ~ Wonderful Night ~ Fatboy Slim ~ 2006
45. ~ Pulled Up ~ Talking Heads ~ 1977
46. ~ Unbelievable ~ EMF ~ 1990
47. ~ Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 ~ The Flaming Lips ~ 2002
48. ~ Desire ~ U2 ~ 1988
49. ~ Why Does The Sun Shine? ~ They Might Be Giants ~ 2009
50. ~ Cut Your Hair ~ Pavement ~ 1994
51. ~ Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) ~ Cornershop ~ 2006
52. ~ D'Yer Mak'er ~ Sheryl Crow ~ 1995
53. ~ Bottled In Cork ~ Ted Leo & the Pharmacists ~ 2010
54. ~ Across the Universe ~ Fiona Apple ~ 1998
55. ~ Heart Skipped a Beat ~ xx ~ 2009
56. ~ Einstein on the Beach (For an Eggman) ~ Counting Crows ~ 1991
57. ~ Sabotage ~ Beastie Boys ~ 2005
58. ~ Divine Hammer ~ The Breeders ~ 1993
59. ~ Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare ~ Matt & Kim ~ 2009
60. ~ 3 Strange Days ~ School Of Fish ~ 1991
61. ~ Song 2 ~ Blur ~ 2000
62. ~ Santa Monica ~ Everclear ~ 1995
63. ~ All the Young Dudes ~ World Party ~ 1995
64. ~ Golden Age ~ TV on the Radio ~ 2008
65. ~ Dizz Knee Land ~ Dada ~ 1992
66. ~ A-Punk ~ Vampire Weekend ~ 2007
67. ~ Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now) ~ Cracker ~ 1992
68. ~ The Underdog ~ Spoon ~ 2007
69. ~ I Will Survive ~ Cake ~ 1996
70. ~ I'm The Man Who Loves You ~ Wilco ~ 2002
71. ~ Blood Makes Noise ~ Suzanne Vega ~ 1992
72. ~ Bohemian Like You ~ The Dandy Warhols ~ 2000
73. ~ Troublemaker ~ Weezer ~ 2008
74. ~ Peaches ~ The Presidents of the United States of America ~ 1995
75. ~ No Rain ~ Blind Melon ~ 1992

Given more than 4 hung-over hours on a Sunday morning, it'd been intriguing seeing what I really could've come up with. I don't have a lot of overlap with his other friends, so I really wanted to focus on upbeat and easy-to-digest. Mostly. Mission Accomplished? Feedback yet to arrive.

Love your Pfapfapfapfap Poker U courses for today's youth!