A regular from $2/5 invited me tonight and I'm wondering if I should go. I know the games at my casino tonight(Friday) are juicy as ****, but there can be up to $7 raked from each pot. I was planning on playing $1/2 there.

His home game is $.5/1, no rake, and he tells me the game is wild with lots of rebuys. I'm not concerned with security as he's a good old boy and I'm a good judge of character.

Would you all go to this home game? I've read before that home games can help a grinders green line and I wonder if I should take this opportunity.

If the table has one or more loose fish or maniacs, I can be a nit too, If it was my home game , I wouldn't invite a grinder like me, lol; although I am one of more nice and friendly players at the casino who isn't anti-social or hiding behind glasses with headphones. I just wouldn't invite me because I don't easily give my money away.

Even though the game is smaller stakes it'll probably be more profitable, the no rake helps a lot.

I used to play $20 home game tournaments in high school, we got 7 of those guys together for a $0.25/$0.50 game recently and there was about $1K on the table 3 hours in.

And it was a $50 cap.

Home games are so much better than a casino. I would go in a heartbeat. Some games play huge with $30 for the first bet in a $.25/.50 game, others can be tight and boring. You'll never know unless you go---gl op.

No, i don't like home games specially low limit home games. I live in Texas where casinos are banned and have a lot of home games/underground. I rather play at casinos. If it's rake free then who will deal?

Based on my experience the best home games/underground are raked and should be at least 2/5 to attract decent professionals (accountants, etc..) 1/2 home games/underground attract a lot of shady/burn out characters.

If you casinos near you don't go to home games to make money. Unless it's a friendly one with friends.

I'll try anything twice. Give it a shot and check it out. If it sucks or is shady never go back, if it's a great game maybe you will go all the time. It's just one session Man. I wouldn't sweat it so much.

Underground are worse than home games. Those guys run the games for the $ and the rake is huge and sometimes uncapped. Home games have less $ but worse and looser people usually.

Figure out the structure to be sure it's not crap and them go for it. It is good for business to build a network. One home game can lead to others and variety is profit. Friends can tip you off on good games as well. I get a text once or twice a week tippin me off to where the whales are at from dealers etc just because I'm friendly with them.

^ Dealers and guests aren't allowed to know each other where I play. Or the dealer I asked out my second time there just wasn't that into me.

You are playing at Wrong underground places then. Yes, bad underground games are the worst. It's almost always low limit 1/2 underground with 10% rake uncapped.

I already said I've been to a lot of underground / home games places coz I live in Texas where casinos are banned. There had been a number of people getting killed on these places. Money, gambling with strangers in unsecured places - very bad idea.

It is a mixed bag. The first question you need to ask yourself is why are you being invited. Some games just need as many players as they can get. They aren't as worried about you beating the game as getting the game going on a regular basis. Others are looking to rip you off by cheating. If you're well liked at the table because of your social skills and you display a certain amount of gamble, it is more likely the regular is bringing you in because you'll be good for the game. If you wear a hoodie, listen only to your earbuds and talk to nobody, you're more likely to be cheated.

You tell the difference by what is going on. If there is a dealer and refreshments are being served at no charge, you're likely to get ripped off. If the dealer is paid by tips and you have to pay for or bring yourself refreshments, you're least likely to be ripped off. Anywhere in between is a judgement call. I'll note that the easiest people to rip off are those that think they are a good judge of character.

Often a dealer who works for tips only.

I make as much hourly at .5/1 rake free home games as at 1/2 raked casino games.

Most home games are dealt by the players. It isn't rocket surgery.

At the home game I ran in college, I dealt all the hands because no one else had a clue.

I'd be round there like a shot! You have to at least see it. These homegames can be juicy beyond belief!! If you don't like it you can tell within an hour make your excuses and leave.