On being a "poker snob"

[ACG2x]

Let me start out by saying that I don't know where this thread really belongs and thought for a while before posting it here. If it doesn't, mods accept my apologies and please move.

OK, so recently I have stepped up my playing from part-time to almost as a second income. I work a regular day job and have a wife and son. My wife is TEH NUTZ when it comes to me playing and has no problems about me going off and putting in a session pretty much whenever I please.

Prior to this I did play in a casino a good deal, but not at the frequency I am now. As a result, I have pretty much stopped putting together the home game I used to host. The game, while actually having reasonably decent players, was usually for only $10-20.

I said to another friend of mine who plays as a FT job while in college last night that I find it incredibly difficult to get my "poker juices" flowing for a total pot of $50-60. Like damn near impossible. As a result, I usually play terrible in these home games and am a LAGtard x 1,000 because I don't take it seriously.

I was asked recently if I thought I was a "poker snob" because I would much rather sit at a table with 8 strangers with a total of around $2-3K on the table vs. playing in a home tournament where first prize is $50.

My counter was that if I'm going to do an all-nighter and spend time away from my wife and son, I want to make it financially worth my while. Plus, I can't take such a low stakes, more social event seriously.

I ask this because I have another friend who is a very decent player however from what it sounds like from what he tells me, his wife is not as cool with him going casino playing like mine is. Like she's virtually not ever. He's only been to the local casino with us twice and every time we ask him, he always has something going on or whatever.

This is where I'm torn because he's a good friend and I respect his game. He could absolutely hold his own in any of my regular casino games. However, since the only chance he gets to play is the home tournaments, he takes those very seriously which I understand.

Is it wrong that I don't feel bad at all nor do I want to organize a home game just so he and a few others from our circle can play? Also, anyone else have experience with this topic? Like your friends are having a $20 home game but you choose to go take a couple hundred or more to the local casino or log on to Stars/UB/etc. because you take the game more seriously?

I like making teh monies when I play and if I'm going to dedicate 6-8 hours or more of my life to playing, I want it to be financially worth my while.

Or am I just being a jackass who ditches his friends for a poker game? [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[PJo336]

cliff notes plz

[greggg230]

Make a big last longer bet with your friend and play the home games. Solves the problem, imo.

[DinkinFlicka]

If you are playing poker to make money then do that. Don't let your game selection suffer because your friend's wife selection sucks.

[AaronBrown]

Part of being a professional is not giving it away free. If you don't respect the value of your time at the poker table, ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot.

We're not talking about charity here, a lawyer might take a pro bono case, a poker pro might play in a charity tournament. That's helping a worthy cause, not devaluing your profession. Your friend likes your home game, but can't organize one himself; if you were a mechanic, would you repair his car for free because he couldn't and his wife didn't like spending money?

I started with friendly poker, moved on to taking it so seriously that I couldn't play for small stakes, and only later in life learned to enjoy friendly games again (I still have trouble turning off the intensity or putting up with people who don't respect the game, I even have to bite my tongue at play-money casino night games). At your point, you can't afford to let misguided friendship get in the way of your career.

[RobNottsUk]

Perhaps you should seperate social life and professional poker in your mind.

What is wrong, with playing badly in a small game for fun at home with friends?

Are you really wanting your friends to be a significant 3rd income for you?

Seems to me, playing rather badly and having a laugh is probably a way to be sociable and have fun with ppl. Why feel guilty that you don't play your A game, and be a Stone-Killer with these people?

It's rational to tone it down in these games, you're not playing to make money in those games, you're playing for fun!

[mce86]

Im almost in identical shoes!
I play poker as my part-time job, and I barely play any hom games anymore...plus the games they play our $20 dollar buy ins and they set theblinds to go up so quick,that your really playing only the flop ever. The last "big" one I played, the buy in was 50 bucks...I was done in 20 minutes and left and went to the boat. I think its natural...its not like Pro basketball players, even ones that have been cut, are playing pick up games at the rec center..they are playing in a select "pick" up game where their time and effort are worth while.

[ACG2x]

[ QUOTE ]
Perhaps you should seperate social life and professional poker in your mind.

What is wrong, with playing badly in a small game for fun at home with friends?

Are you really wanting your friends to be a significant 3rd income for you?

Seems to me, playing rather badly and having a laugh is probably a way to be sociable and have fun with ppl. Why feel guilty that you don't play your A game, and be a Stone-Killer with these people?

It's rational to tone it down in these games, you're not playing to make money in those games, you're playing for fun!

[/ QUOTE ]

The thing is, I don't know if I can seperate it. I have to be a Stone Killer all the time, or else I'm mad at myself. This is especially true when playing in home games. I can't bear the thought of anyone who would go busto in an hour in a casino game beating me for $10.

The money doesn't matter a bit to me, it's losing itself. I hate losing in poker, regardless of the stakes. I especially hate losing to inferior competition. They may be taking the game for fun, but I guarantee you someone at that table is thinking "[Insert random HG donk] never plays and just beat AC who plays all the time".

It sickens me to even think that might occur. Don't ask me why, it's like a switch I can't turn off.

[Pokerfarian]

[ QUOTE ]
The money doesn't matter a bit to me, it's losing itself. I hate losing in poker, regardless of the stakes. I especially hate losing to inferior competition. They may be taking the game for fun, but I guarantee you someone at that table is thinking "[Insert random HG donk] never plays and just beat AC who plays all the time".

It sickens me to even think that might occur. Don't ask me why, it's like a switch I can't turn off.

[/ QUOTE ]
Can't play poker with this attitude. You will lose sometimes.

[springsteen87]

I'd say as long as you aren't totally neglecting your friends it's not a big deal. If this is the only time you guys get together I'd say you should continue playing the small game. Money isn't all it's about, you don't want to be working (either poker or real job) so hard that you don't spend any time with your friends.