Getting tossed from a homegame for winning.

[gwhiz_612]

I have been playing in the same homegame for the last year. We play 1/2 with $200 buyin and just recently started a 2/5 $500 game. At first I would win sometimes and lose sometimes, but I was still showing a profit. After I read Sklansky's new book on NL it was a different story. I am now winning about 85% of my sessions. I'm now maximizing my winnings and minimizing my losses. In one year I'm up a little over 20k. This isn't a brag post, most of the guys are just gamblers and really don't know how to play the game. I have won over 3k in a couple of sessions and my last 3 losing sessions have not lost more than $180. Anyway it is pretty evident now that I'm crushing this game. The bad thing is, everyone else has noticed this too and are constantly making comments about what I do with their money and how much am I going to win tonight etc... I usually laugh it off and just tell them I've been really lucky or that you have to get the cards to win etc...

Two weeks ago this group started another game on wednesday, which I can't go to because of work. Then on Friday when we usually play I call to see how many they have playing and the host says "Your not invited." I'm like WTF??? He says he is only joking, but he sounded serious. Another player told me last week in confidence that I should start letting other people win so they will want to keep playing with me. Again WTF??? Like I said this isn't brag posting, I just don't really know how to handle this situation. I told the host on the phone that I could look for another game if they really didn't want me to play. Deep down though I was hoping he didn't call me on it which he didn't he just laughed it off. So do I continue business as usual or do I confront the whole table and ask if they want me to quit coming or what???

[tsearcher]

After a big night you could be extra generous. You could leave a decent amount of money to the host. Bring extra food and drinks to the next game. Donate a nice set of cards. If it's acceptable, bring some entertainment for the next game.

Always be gracious when you win. No reason to confront the table. Just keep on going to the game until they kick you out.

[PantsOnFire]

Think about the situation from the other players' point of view.

Online or in a casino, you can sit at any table and leave anytime you want. Usually you don't know anybody and are free to play with all the skill you want. Another factor is table selection. You play at tables where there is a good dynamic for your game. If you are at a table where all the fish leave and only tough players are left, then you leave too.

Now consider the home game. These are regular guys who are likely friends. There is only one table so it's not like you can leave if the conditions are not good. I don't think it's unreasonable at all for these guys to see you as too tough to play against. I'm sure it's not personal and really it's a compliment.

So what are your options? That's really a tough call. You could take it easier on them but I'm not sure if I could do that. You could offer to come only every other game.

This actually reminds me of the quote: "You can only kill a sheep once, but you can shear it many times." This might apply to your situation where it might be +EV if you do throttle back a bit. Try to make your wins less noticable and your losses more noticable. Perhaps you need to get up a certain amount and then pick a part of that which you will donate back.

Also ask yourself if the money you win here is more important that the social aspect.

[Fubster]

Bring pizza and beer. Problems solved.

[Humble Pie]

Do you like these guys? Do you hang out with them other than to play poker? Are these guys really your friends or are they just poker marks? If these really are your friends and you care about them, maybe you should just stop playing poker with them and still do the other things that you do mutually. However if these guys are just some poker marks, you're gonna have to passify them to keep the game alive, I'm not saying lose $ back to them, but you might have to get kinda creative and make it seem like its just luck and not skill that's getting you the $. Check out this book.

[Quadstriker]

This Ebook (Poker: A Guaranteed Income for Life) has some information that might be useful to you. The trick is to make them like you even while you're winning (obviously). It's a pretty good read too. I mean... I liked it.

http://www.neo-tech.com/poker/contents.html

[ShipitFMA]

Yeah, what everyone has been saying sounds good, surely you can be the one to spring for pizza/beer and whatever else some weeks. This sounds like it MAY solve the problem somewhat

[HOWMANY]

Start live straddling and dark betting in spots where you would likely bet anyway.

[Ace-Ex]

Just start playing every hand, as I'm sure most of your competition is doing anyway. If you're good enough to outplay them post-flop at least they'll think you're just getting lucky.

[DavidNB]

Crush the game and don't let up. The only other thing to do is show up with some snacks from time to time. Nothing too expensive, just finger food and don't make any commments about giving back your winnings.