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Old 07-12-2007, 06:09 PM
Jeff76 Jeff76 is offline
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Default Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

I am mostly an online player, or have been anyway. I have a micro stakes home game for friends, but it's for stakes that I don't care about. Recently I got invited to a .50/1 game, which, while probably super low for many, is a comfortable limit for me. The players are nice, it's a blast to play in, it's soft enough for me to beat, and playing in it has been the highlight of my week. Unfortunately, they are now going to introduce a rake (10% up to $3 max).

So here are my questions:

a) How bad is this rake? Is it high, or typical? They claim that most of the raked games around are 10% with a higher maximum for the same limit.

b) What level of risk do I assume playing in a raked game at micro stakes? In GA, even non-raked games are illegal so this is clearly over the line; however, at these stakes in a college town where there is plenty of worse stuff going down is there any reason for concern? I'm not the type to get out of line legally so this makes me a little uncomfortable, however I enjoy playing poker a lot and feel like a game of this type is probably waaay off the radar as far as getting me in trouble. If it matters, it seems there are also people who smoke pot in the game, though they do it out back, not actually in the game. Like I said, college town so not unusual.

c) Should the organization of the game be an issue for me? These guys don't seem very organized- they have different values for the colors each week, for example. This didn't really bother me so much before and I'm sure they are just figuring out stuff since it's a new game, but part of me find such irregularities a little uncomfortable if they are going to start charging to play. However, they DO seem to be providing a soft game that that I can beat, so I don't know that I should complain. I just don't know that I have full confidence in them should a dispute arise that they would be able to correctly and gracefully resolve it.

Anyway, I really enjoy playing live and have enjoyed this game, but I'm not sure it's for me. I'll be leaving the area in a couple months anyway (after which I hope to start my own, non-raked game), but I feel the experience of playing live is beneficial to a player like me who has only ever played online. Plus, it's just a lot of fun. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I guess I just want to know if this is the kind of game that could get me in trouble, or if this is just a standard/ fairly safe home game.
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  #2  
Old 07-12-2007, 06:27 PM
BREWMANCHU BREWMANCHU is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

I play fairly regularly in a raked game. There are a few concerns you need to consider:

1.Legality - Since it's illegal to play ANY poker at all, not sure how much of a conern this is to you. However, I am sure the cops are much more interested in busting a raked game rather than a friendly one. If it does happen to get busted you will get a fine and not much else. The runners will be in much more trouble.

2. Safety - Because it's an illegal operation, then you have to rely upon yourself and the runners to provide security. A .50-1 game may not attract attention, but you never know. Robbers love to hit these types of games because the owners have no way to call the authorities. No one is calling the cops to report a robbery on an ILLEGAL game. So watch yourself.

3 The Game Runners - More than likely these are decent guys looking to make a buck. But it not out of the realm of possiblilty that they will fix the game in their favor. A good runner takes care of their players, deals an honest game and takes care not to invite negative types which are bound to cause trouble.

Like in all cases in life, just be aware. I have played in a illegal raked game for years now and have not witnessed a single act of violence, cheating (at least that I saw) or any trouble with the authorities. But I have certainly heard my fair share of scarey stories.
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Old 07-12-2007, 06:29 PM
BREWMANCHU BREWMANCHU is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

The other issue to take into consideration is who is playing. If you have the same group of 10 guys playing eachtime, eventually the games will get short handed. When this happens, the house will win. 5 guys each with $200 in front of them puts $1000 on the table. Within 5 hours the table will only have $500 and the rest goes to rake. So, optimally, you want there to be lots of players to keep refreshing the chip supply before it gets eaten by the rake.
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Old 07-12-2007, 06:46 PM
Grasshopp3r Grasshopp3r is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

The rake will hurt the game, so start looking for another one. It is not a very high rake, though they may rake $1 minimum, which would be high on a % basis in small pots. Are your average pots greater than $30? Probably not.

Also, raked games should provide free food and booze.
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  #5  
Old 07-12-2007, 10:36 PM
grebe grebe is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

sounds like these guys are just trying to make a buck (as stated above), have no idea what they are doing, are not providing anything for the rake (other than the game), and my bet is on the game will be very short-lived.

You are in the golden age of home games. A little inquiring in the right circles will open up all the games a well-mannered person could ever hope for. Just say goodbye to the rake, and find another 4 or 5 games to drop in on. Good luck.
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  #6  
Old 07-12-2007, 11:49 PM
Jeff76 Jeff76 is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

[ QUOTE ]
Also, raked games should provide free food and booze.

[/ QUOTE ]FYI, I believe they will be providing food and booze, though I don't drink so it doesn't much matter to me.

However, the thing I like about this game is the location and time are just about perfect for me until I move in two months.

Thanks for the feedback so far- I really have no idea what to expect from home games. After having played online for a year and a half, I'm totally addicted to live play. Whatever I do about this game, I'm definitely going to try to get one going myself after we move [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
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  #7  
Old 07-13-2007, 10:07 AM
Zetack Zetack is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

[ QUOTE ]
The other issue to take into consideration is who is playing. If you have the same group of 10 guys playing eachtime, eventually the games will get short handed. When this happens, the house will win. 5 guys each with $200 in front of them puts $1000 on the table. Within 5 hours the table will only have $500 and the rest goes to rake. So, optimally, you want there to be lots of players to keep refreshing the chip supply before it gets eaten by the rake.

[/ QUOTE ]

Although I agree that this is a potential issue, I just want to point out that you severly overstate the problem. Unless the game is incredibly wild with virtually every pot going over thirty dollars, its much more likely they'll take something in the vicinity of $190 off the table in five hours.

--Zetack
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  #8  
Old 07-13-2007, 11:09 AM
RarocASP RarocASP is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

I'm assuming they have a dealer.?.? Personally, there is no way I would participate in a raked game outside of a casino unless there were no other options.
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  #9  
Old 07-13-2007, 02:31 PM
Javanewt Javanewt is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

I, too, hope they have a dealer.

I think you can play in this one until you find another, which shouldn't be difficult in a college town. I wouldn't bother with a raked home game -- too many to choose from.

We serve food and some soft drinks / alcohol, and we don't take a rake. We don't host home games very often, though.

If you really like it and don't care about the rake and just want the experience, keep playing. It's your money. You'll only be there for two more months.
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  #10  
Old 07-13-2007, 02:36 PM
Jeff76 Jeff76 is offline
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Default Re: Home Game Introduces Rake- I have Concerns

[ QUOTE ]
I'm assuming they have a dealer.?.?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, they have a dealer(s)- though they are completely untrained. Not that this matters too much- as long as they get the right cards out and ship the pots to the right person, I'm cool.
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