Home Game (and general gambling) Etiquette

[Taso]

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I gotta disagree with you on this. Isn't the point to win as many chips as possible? Why is it bad for me to leave when ahead? My goal is to stack everybody.

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Winning is certainly important, but, especially at a home game, respecting the experience of the other players is also important. A lot of these guys are effectively paying you a lot of money and you should sacrifice a little to make their experience better; its the least you can do.

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Exactly...If you have all the chips, leaving will kill the game. Don't be a meany.

[HolyRoller78]

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How about some online bot ettiquette? Like not using the whole fking clock every time you have a decision.. that would be nice.

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QFT

[pfapfap]

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Exactly...If you have all the chips, leaving will kill the game. Don't be a meany.

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Maybe I'm not understanding properly. If you're saying don't hit and run, fine. But if I say long ahead of time that I have to leave at 10pm, and 10pm rolls around and I have a monster stack, then too bad so sad see you next week.

If you're saying don't dominate the table in a new home game, sure, that's long term planning. But in an established game with regular players, f that noise. They're after all my chips and I'm after all their chips.

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you should sacrifice a little to make their experience better; its the least you can do.

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Yeah, that is the least you could do, and it accomplishes the least. The losers still see that I have a big-ish stack and won't appreciate that I donked some of it away just before I left. I prefer to do things like be nice to people, not boast about good plays, compliment others, joke around with the boys, not complain when losing, be a great host with food and booze, help people feel comfortable, etc. Within that I'll also occasionally donk off a bit when I know I have time left to get it back with interest, but I'm certainly not doing that just before I'm leaving or the game is ending (at least not intentionally). I do stop after going busto sometimes (depending on timeframe), and I think that's enough to keep the regulars thinking that I'm not as much of a winner as I am (since my busto is usually for the minimum).

In the end, poker is a trickle-up economy with the rich and smart getting richer and smarter. It sucks, but blame our worldwide political and economic structure. It'll all collapse soon enough, so might as well grab what you can now. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

(PS, not trying to be all MAD POKER BALLA SKILLZ here; I just play in games with some total fish and have good reads on them.)

[Javanewt]

I don't know what I'd talk about if it weren't bad beat stories [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] LOL. I need to quit that.

Agree with the rest. As to No. 9, give at least an orbit's warning, if not more. You know when you are leavig. If you win a big pot and jump up to leave, don't expect to be liked or asked back.

[Small Fry]

Don't know what # we're up to but how about tipping or offering the host some compensation, especially if he /she provides some good food / drink / game / atmosphere if you're invited to a game. If it's a good game this goes a long to getting you invited back again. This assumes host hasn't taken a cut or fee already.

Also there are varying levels of "home" games. Some are much more friendly, like some of Pfapfap's that I've heard about, while others are much more like a casino. If new to the environment adapt to it, don't try to adapt it to you.

[Richard Tanner]

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3. Don't tell bad beat stories

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I would add that the enforcement here is dependent on the level of seriousness (of the game).

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5. No bragging.

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See above.

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7. If you are not running the game, don't try to run the game.

If you are at someone else's home, their rules apply, no matter how dumb(as long as they are equally dumb for everybody). This also applies to enforcing string-raises and such; if it is not the house standard to enforce, don't do it unless it was a clear angle shoot. Further, this applies to enforcing rules of etiquette such as those listed here.

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I disagree, assuming the game is on the "more-serious" side, then the most knowledgeble person should run the game. Just because it's their house doesn't mean they can make/enforce wrong rules or wrong interpretations thereof. As always, do everything with a polite attitude and manners, but see that the rules are followed.

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8. When side-betting, give the other player the chance to get even.

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Another on the seriousness scale, but in general, quit when you want.

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9. Try not to leave while significantly ahead.

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I'd adjust this. First with the addition of the scale mentioned above (serious vs. for fun) and second with the idea that you should leave whenever you feel like it, BUT take into consideration 1) will you break the game (no one likes that) and 2) will you adversly effect how others feel about you (a little grumble is ok, them not inviting you back is not).

I agree with the not hitting and running policy 100%.

Cody

[Obfuscation]

I don't agree with 9 and don't really understand 8 the way you phrase it.

If you give proper notice in advance of your intention to leave the game, that's perfectly legitimate under just about all circumstances. Noone advocated hitting and running by any means. In my home game, a half-hour or more is generally considered satisfactory notice of quitting.

As to 8, are you talking about prop bets and such? I don;t really agree with any piece of "etiquitte" that requires you to lose. Give some action and a change to get some back? sure. Anything more than that is a bit unnecessary.

[lgas]

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8. When side-betting, give the other player the chance to get even.

If you are playing zero EV games on the side, don't book a win and quit. If you are ahead, it is only proper to give action until you are no longer ahead or the other player is now ahead (may be different times if more than two people are involved).

9. Try not to leave while significantly ahead.

If you absolutely have to go, that's fine, but don't get up a bunch of money and leave to book a win. Stay longer than you might want to if leaving would remove a huge amount of chips from play.


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Both of these are ridiculous. #8 is actually contradictory. If both players observe this rule, no one can stop playing a 0EV side game until they are even. So why play in the first place?

In any event, anyone should be able to quit any gambling game at any time they please.

[HRFats]

I borrowed a table about a year ago from my father-in-law. He needed it back the next weekend for his monthly game with his buddies (60 year old crowd). When I brought the table back they asked me to stay. At first I declined but they eventually talked me into it. I think they smelled "fresh meat". I told them I could only stay until 9:00. At 9:05 I WAY up but had to leave. I did not break up the game - everyone seemed to have a wad of cash on them.

I didn't feel bad because everyone knew I was leaving at 9:00 BUT they hassled me as I was leaving and some of them still mention the fact I left when I was way up. I have never been invited back...