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To TV or not TV? (2 Viewers)

BleedingChips

BleedingChips

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I have been hosting a micro stakes cash game in my home for 2 years this year and purposely not had any TV in the room. The main goal of my game is to build connection and a tv seems to distract from that for me (and most guys I know). Just ask my wife if we go to a restaurant that has a tv haha!

With playoff season in full swing, my poker game this week is coinciding with an important football game. I have made an exception and moved a tv to the poker room so people don’t miss out on the game.

My questions for the group… Am I the anti-fun police for not wanting a tv at my games the rest of the year? If you have a tv, do you have more than 1 to allow for the whole table to view?

Update: thank you all for the feedback! I ended up using two screens - it worked out well for the game and when asked if it should become a permanent thing, everyone at the table agreed no tv. Surprising to me, but I won’t complain!
 

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If you had a table full of PCFers or people otherwise savvy in poker game flow, I would think it should work just fine. For the average home game table though, I think it’s too much of a distraction. If people wanna have an important game on a certain night, I’d do it but default is no tv
 
It's a double-edge sword. It allows for the sports games to be on, but sometimes you have to yell at the player to act because they're distracted by said sports.
 
We generally play on Saturdays and try to get as many of our 8 events in before college football starts (#8 is inevitable). I have a TV in the game room and I'll put the "game of the day" in whatever sport on very low volume or mute. Yeah "slightly distracted apes" are a good thing.
 
For my group TV(s) is a must but we only play sports and if no sports then stream poker.
Depending on how important the sporting event is the TVs could be muted and music could be playing.
 
I have 120” screen on one wall and a flat screen nearest the main table on the opposite side of the room. Unless it’s a big game, the side flat screen is strictly for tournament timing/shows blinds etc. The 120” is usually on Apple Music. If the guys are really wanting a game on, I’ll let them push a game, usually to the smaller tv and leave music playing so I don’t have to hear the announcers. We did turn on the big screen to a Chiefs game (I’m in the heart of Chiefs country and a die hard fan) one night, but usually I don’t schedule poker games when my team is playing. I want to watch the game or play poker, not both.

The upside is when there is a game on, the players who are into the game tend to play poker significantly worse than when they are paying full attention. We have a dealer, so action isn’t delayed. She keeps things moving. So, it makes winning significantly easier during those times, particularly bluffing. lol

Generally speaking, I prefer some background music and nothing else.
 
It absolutely disrupts the action, but it may draw more people who are enjoying the camaraderie

But 100% when a big play comes on, it doesn’t matter who is the dealer someone is going to start shout “ oh oh oh go go go yes yes yes come on baby”

I am a huge fight fan, but I was still mind blown when I went to a game, my buddy hosted and when the main card came on, we just stopped playing 455 minute rounds plus the decision
 
We have two TVs going always with sports going with the volume turned down. After the game, we move to movies. It's enjoyed by everyone and does not distract.
 
BleedingChips said:
I have been hosting a micro stakes cash game in my home for 2 years this year and purposely not had any TV in the room. The main goal of my game is to build connection and a tv seems to distract from that for me (and most guys I know). Just ask my wife if we go to a restaurant that has a tv haha!

With playoff season in full swing, my poker game this week is coinciding with an important football game. I have made an exception and moved a tv to the poker room so people don’t miss out on the game.

My questions for the group… Am I the anti-fun police for not wanting a tv at my games the rest of the year? If you have a tv, do you have more than 1 to allow for the whole table to view?
Click to expand...
Haha I’m in the camp that hates putting popular radio stations on because the whole table turns into kumbaya karaoke.
We will put a game on if requested but no sound.


Jers28 said:
The upside is when there is a game on, the players who are into the game tend to play poker significantly worse than when they are paying full attention.
Click to expand...
There is no sport in shooting fish in a barrel. Just go buy fish.
 
BleedingChips said:
I have been hosting a micro stakes cash game in my home for 2 years this year and purposely not had any TV in the room. The main goal of my game is to build connection and a tv seems to distract from that for me (and most guys I know). Just ask my wife if we go to a restaurant that has a tv haha!

With playoff season in full swing, my poker game this week is coinciding with an important football game. I have made an exception and moved a tv to the poker room so people don’t miss out on the game.

My questions for the group… Am I the anti-fun police for not wanting a tv at my games the rest of the year? If you have a tv, do you have more than 1 to allow for the whole table to view?
Click to expand...
I like having TV, and yes, most of my players are sports fans so that's a difference. Otherwise we'll do music as well. Both can be fine conversation enhancers.

There's nothing quite like the experience of @merkong 's excellent playlist while watching "Hogan's Heroes" and "Perry Mason" on mute :).
 
TV is almost a must for me, especially during playoffs or high interest sporting events. I’ve had no problems with attention spans having a game on in the background, outside of a big play or two which only lasts for a few seconds.

As others have said, mute the TV and play music in the background.
 
I have game sounds on low and when the game is over we go to music on low.
 
Do you care how fast/slow the poker game is? Is it ok for the poker to essentially stop if the sports on TV gets exciting?

TV (or streaming on a phone) will be attractive to many players. The ADD crowd especially need something to distract them when not acting in a hand.

If non-watchers can tolerate the S L O W game, there is definitely an edge to be gained from inattentive sports fans.

It all boils down to deciding slow play vs more entertainment. I don't have a TV in my poker room but other people have one on 100% of the time. -=- DrStrange
 
Jers28 said:
You’re welcome to come play if you ever think we are soft.
Click to expand...
I just don’t go looking for cheap angles. My comment was in reference to you saying that the players watching tv were soft because of it, and you act like that’s a good thing.

Sure you can dunk on 6yr olds playing basketball, but does that mean you should?
 
JustinInMN said:
I like having TV, and yes, most of my players are sports fans so that's a difference. Otherwise we'll do music as well. Both can be fine conversation enhancers.

There's nothing quite like the experience of @merkong 's excellent playlist while watching "Hogan's Heroes" and "Perry Mason" on mute :).
Click to expand...
We can even break into voiceovers on HH and PM…

“I object to that raise!”

“I know nothing!”
 

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