can you go "home again," i.e., to the silly social home games?

[Wynton]

After taking poker seriously for the past couple of years - at least to the point of doing a lot of reading and analyzing - I wonder whether I can tolerate my old social home game, which basically consisted of stud, guts and some silly split pot games. Stakes were inconsequential and, of course, no one ever folded.

Last time I played in the game six months ago, I found it excruciatingly boring, even though I like hanging out with everyone there. I'm supposed to return tonight, and I have a feeling that it will be just as boring.

Do any of you still get enjoyment from these types of games?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Sure. Playing in my regular one tonight, In this game, though, some people actually fold early, though rarely on the first round of betting. All games are hi-lo declare, some weird games, and unless you have a really bad run, you lose no more than double what you spent on beer.

I find it relaxing twice a month or so.

[Ioz]

Do you drink?

This is a really good time for that.

I also try some obscure things to see if they work. Because there really isn't any money involved, I can experiment.

[sternroolz]

Wynton meet beer.

Beer meet Wynton.

[Wynton]

Of course! Drinking. How could I forget?

[vypremik]

I still enjoy them, but I don't take them seriously. It is more of a social hour than a poker game.

I agree with what other people are saying. Do it for fun and forget about all of the rules for a while. Just play and talk and enjoy the company.

I think a lot of people get too focused on having the perfect game and lose a lot of the enjoyment of poker.

If it makes it more fun for you, try doing something different. Maybe volunteer to deal, maybe tell them all your bad beats, make up new games.

Maybe, you could try to convince them to end the game with a small tourney and take away a small stake.

Ultimately, if it kills you to go, don't go. But be careful that you don't give up everything else in your life just to play. There is more to life than poker.

[Songwind]

I think the "social" part of "silly social home games" is paramount. Don't go there expecting to play interesting poker, or learn more about how to beat the game or any other serious poker pursuit. Just have fun hanging with your buds, play sill games where you stick cards to your forehead, and feel free to drink a beer because it doesn't really matter if you get buzzed or not. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Edit: Hopefully I play poker better than I spell.

[beavens]

drink.

drank.

drunk.

have a good time with it!!

[aces_full]

Well you can do what I did-take control of your home game and turn your friends into ATM machines for your withdrawing pleasure.

I like many others, started out playing in such a game. When I first started playing for real I despised the stupid games and the luck factor that many of them brought. So I decided to try and get my buds excited about playing "real" poker.

Since it's dealers choice, the first thing I did was to add fixed limit hold'em to our rotation of stud variations. There were no blinds, everyone would just ante .25 and it was .50 more to limp in to see the flop and the betting jumped to $1 on the turn. When it was my turn to deal, the game was either hold'em or straight up stud.

Antother thing if you live near a casino or cardroom is to suggest that one week instead of your usual game, you all take a trip to the cardroom to play some real "poker". Also tournaments are a great idea. Last year I purchased a nice set of chips off ebay with my own money. We started having a mini-tourney almost every week. It has now grown into a pretty big semi-monthly multi table affair.

You can also introduce new "real" poker games to your buds. I brought Pineapple and Omaha (both high and high/low) to the crew. Basically if you can convince your friends that poker can be fun even without wildcards you can ditch those silly games.

[jkkkk]

[ QUOTE ]
After taking poker seriously for the past couple of years - at least to the point of doing a lot of reading and analyzing - I wonder whether I can tolerate my old social home game, which basically consisted of stud, guts and some silly split pot games. Stakes were inconsequential and, of course, no one ever folded.

Last time I played in the game six months ago, I found it excruciatingly boring, even though I like hanging out with everyone there. I'm supposed to return tonight, and I have a feeling that it will be just as boring.

Do any of you still get enjoyment from these types of games?

[/ QUOTE ]

I feel exactly the same way, although I'm not obligated to play in any of these games most of the time. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

My advice to you is drink. Drink lots.