[DrStrange]

As the host, I control the invitation list, manage the environment and mediate conflict should it occur. I make sure my guests have a good time and want to keep coming back. I escort the broke players out the door and chat briefly about their bad fortune and their noteworthy successes, even if I miss a hand or two.

"Bad boys" of poker don't get invited back to my game, win or lose. Even guys who are rude and nasty at other venues clean up their act for my games. We certainly have fun at each other's expense - but the weakest of the players are off limits.

The net effect of all of this TLC is that the worst of the players keep coming back and losing because they have a good time and no one makes fun of them. As host, I don't have any advantage over the other players, but I think the EV of games I host are higher than the other games I play simply due to player selection.

Oh, and let's not forget my games are more fun too.

DrStrange