[Annorax]

I had this same dilemma. I had no qualms about beating online games, live B&M games, or home games I was invited to outside my main group of friends.

Then I recommended a couple books and they started kicking my ass. YMMV.

Also: live straddle, for more than 2bb in NL/PL. You get more action in the pots, you get more chips in blind so a bad run of cards shrinks your effective stacks and makes your friends think they're seriously beating you, and the few monster pots you win will make them think you're a total luckbox.