Advice Needed: How to deal with "Friends"

[Swax]

Good post - in the few opportunities to steal in that type of game with those types of players that act as if raising preflop is "personal" or whatever, I tend to explain while I'm raising that "somebody has to raise or they're gonna take half the pot with the rake."

[JJNJustin]

Friendship is for gays (not that there is anything wrong with that). Real men argue and fight until violence and death are the result.

-J

[TheStation]

[ QUOTE ]
The degenerates playing $3/6 usually can't afford to lose the money they're throwing away.

[/ QUOTE ]

True

[ QUOTE ]
Move up to a game where people respect your raises and not their money.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is probably the worst advice ever - loose bad play exists at much higher limits than 3/6 - I have had friends who run bad ask me if they should just move up - I say only if they have the roll and ready for the move as its a lot of the same players - the only differeance is these palyers have more money, and therefore more money to lose

[xxx]

I am going to disagree with most of the responders. In my opinion, there are times that it makes sense to base your actions on the table mood. The bottom line is that you want to increase your EV, and that may be at the expense of playing your best poker!

For example:
1) It may not pay to check-raise a weak player. Doing this may be interpreted as unfriendly (by weak players). If this causes him to tighten up or (even worse) leave, then your slight edge on that hand has come at the expense of a large edge over the course of the night.
2) It may not pay to be seen as a tight player. An example is when you will not be invited back to a home game with guys who like a lot of action. Playing in a LAG style may be much more important to long term success than getting kicked out after a night of TAG.

Now, I don't know if this situation is one that calls for you to make any style adjustments. You are the best judge of the situation.

Personally, I would continue as TAG since it is a casino setting. In addition, I would never apologize for raising the blind with a weak ace. (to be honest, I think it would be a kick to see him fly off the handle everytime I raised him in the future!)


But I think you are smart to think about these issues.

[DesertCat]

You shouldn't apologize to the grumpy nits, they have personality disorders. Just make light of it by saying "hey I guess you were right, I sure shipped you a bunch of chips by raising such a light hand, next time I'll make sure I have Ace Four." And then laugh, you are showing you have no hard feelings about losing, and if he still has hard feelings it's his problem. It's good to show you don't hold grudges, and give off the vibe that you are playing to have fun, not for dough (even if you are) so that everyone can be happy, and play sloppy. Don't let the nits rule the table.

But you should move up. Not because of that moronic cliche "where they'll respect your raises" (since a game where they don't respect raises is much more profitable than one where they do), but the rake at 3/6 is murder. If you can play well enought to beat 3/6 you can play well enough to beat 4/8, 5/10 or 6/12, and pay proportionately less rake.

[Dozer64]

Wow, I reread the OP and the pissed off guy did win the pot!

I have seen some weirds stuff, like a guy giving back 1/2 of a $300 pot because he drew out and didnt figure he deserved it, but I have NEVER seen anybody get mad after actually winning a pot.

This is a whole different deal.

Sounds like "Mr pissed off" needs to refill his Lithium prescription. I wouldn't apologize to a fruit loop, the voices in his head may not hear it anyway [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[redfisher]

From your post I'm assuming you play in a relatively small room with little tourist action. There's not much IMO that you can do if the other regulars figure out you're better than them. Your profits will decrease as they realize they are taking the worst of it 90% of the time they call your bets. This takes longer at lower limits, but even 3/6 and 4/8 players recognize the guy that always beats them. You need to find other rooms so you can spread your action.

[JacksonTens]

This happened to me.

Get better build a roll and move up. Then you will get new 'friends'. Never apologise.

However I started against harsh old greek guys. They don't mess around.

JT

[Yads]

Just move up to 15/30 where they respect your raises.

[DrSavage]

[ QUOTE ]
A little later I got up and tracked him down and apologized.


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think poker is for you.