Do You Feel Weird Taking it All Down as Host? (1 Viewer)

[pokerplayingpisces]

Hell No! I've been hosting for almost 10 years, and have won/chopped multiple times. Enjoy it, and keep on hosting!

The only thing you should feel weird about, is winning the high hand with AQo!

 

[fish72s]

I have only hosted 2 games and I chopped one and took 2nd in the other. I didn't feel weird about either.
But then again they were both one table tournaments and it was basically the same group of guys that I played with when they would host.

 

[kk405]

Yes, you should. Only douchebags bink their own tournaments.

Seriously though, I'm a little more strict than most when it comes to hosting. Tournaments are one thing, as it is an fun competition with a fixed loss, so you aren't bankrupting your friends. In that case, play your ass off and gun to win.

In a cash game, I do deem it dickish if the host plays like he's trying to bring home a bracelet, especially if it is a social game. I have about 25 people come to my cash game each month, and if I notice someone who is playing super aggro and trying to felt everyone, diminishing the experience for people to the point where they don't return, I do not invite them back. As for myself, I play pretty light. Even if I'm slammed with the deck, I do not try to squeeze every dollar out of my equity.

Congrats on winning! After spending the time to organize the event, I would consider it a nice bonus.

Pretty much what Dan said.

 

[FDLmold]

I could not respect the game of a host, who at least sometimes, could not show that he was Master of his Domain.

 

[WedgeRock]

Wait, you can win your own tournament?!

I knew I was doing something wrong...

 

[courage]

If I end up the big winner at a cash game I host, I usually make sure that all of the other players know what massive fish they were, and I rub each and every chip that I won on my titties and then pound my chest like King Kong while screaming "GOD. ZILLA. AINT. GOT. SHIT. ON. ME."

^ I stopped doing these when JoseRijo pointed out that I was mixing King Kong and Godzilla. Now I just make signs on post-its that say "I LOST MY ROLLZ TO TRUMANS DAD" and slap everyone on the back as they're leaving.

lol this ^^.

I don't feel bad since I get dinged plenty. I do try to keep it light and friendly no matter who has a big night.

A couple years ago I did manage to bust the entire table mixed game and cash +$2250 and broke the game. Didn't feel bad since I'd lost $2350 the game before.

 

[Mesnik44]

I never feel guilty. I spend the time organizing, feeding the crowd, setting up the chips, cleaning up at the end of the night with just my wife, and spend a decent amount of time on the website. I think it is totally ok for the hosts to win their own games.

Now if only I could bink a few tournaments

In all seriousness, I really don't care if I win or lose. As long as everyone has a good time.

 

[BPTDirector]

I hosted a league for 5 years before I won at my house. I won many many times against the same group when not hosting, but never at home.

So did I feel guilty - OH HELL NO!!

Congrats!!

 

[pltrgyst]

I suppose I'd feel guilty if I won *every* week...or maybe not.
:

 

[Poker Zombie]

I felt weird the first couple of times that I binked my own tournament. Word got around the Firehall that I was a cheater or a shark, because it was inconceivable that a "Yankee" could ever defeat a bunch of southern boys. I still cannot get other firemen to play. Once better players began to show up, my win/loss ratio dropped into a better range. Now everybody looks at @Ben as the man to beat, and my wins are just as well received as anyone else's.

 

[detroitdad]

I felt weird the first couple of times that I binked my own tournament. Word got around the Firehall that I was a cheater or a shark, because it was inconceivable that a "Yankee" could ever defeat a bunch of southern boys. I still cannot get other firemen to play. Once better players began to show up, my win/loss ratio dropped into a better range. Now everybody looks at @Ben as the man to beat, and my wins are just as well received as anyone else's.

Wait, you were the best player in your game?

 

[Perthmike]

Half of my players are pretty poor so I win quite a bit. No guilty feelings here, although the stakes are fairly low.

 

[BGinGA]

Congrats on the bink. Just don't be this guy when you win:

 

[TheBigTater]

I take it that some of you are actually not trying to win to appease your guests, seriously. That is just crazy talk.

 

[justsomedude]

Congrats on the bink. Just don't be this guy when you win:

Hahahahahhahaa

WTF???

 

[GenghisKhan]

Congrats on the bink. Just don't be this guy when you win:

Am I understanding correctly that I should NOT do that anymore?

 

[GenghisKhan]

I have hosted for like 15 years.
I don't feel bad when I win and neither do the guys because they know I've always reinvested into my setup to make the game more fun for them.

Buying cash chips, tourney chips, poker tables and accessories ain't cheap. And it's for ALL their enjoyment. I also have provided free beer since forever.

I just went out and stocked the glass jars on my bar with goodies. The other night I skipped a few hands and made everyone popcorn in the popcorn machine.

Correction: while making popcorn I always called blind or raised blind to keep things fun.

I take things lightly. I'm not gunning to win tourneys or cash nights at all costs. If I do it goes in the poker stash which is as much for games as it is for poker chips/accessories/supplies.

So what I'm saying is with those winnings you need to go straight to the classifieds and spend that on more chips asap.

 

[Pierna]

Should I not feel weird? Is this just "part of the deal"? Any input/advice is appreciated.

You shouldn't feel weird, I usually don't, and mainly for two reasons: your guests know everything you do is just because you love the game and you like to play and spend nights in their company, you wouldn't do it just for the money so when you grab all their money that's all right just as much or even more than when anyone of the guests does. Second I really consider tournaments as a different game, just like Risiko or MtG or Chess, so when I win I literally love that I played good and the last thing I'm concerned with is money so I don't feel weird at all. Money is just a secondary aspect of tournaments IMO.

Cash games are really different to me. It would feel really weird winning often and lots when I host because I usually play with friends and people I know very well. Online or in a casino it would be just fine . When I host cash games I tend to play a little softer when I have the nuts or when I read my opponent's hand and I know I'm the winner. I tend not to overbet in those cases and I just keep betting for value without reraising because I don't want to maximize my incomes, It's a night with friends and Indon't want to rip them at all. In general I don't like home cash games when I don't know most of the players because they tend to be something different and less homey to me.

Just my thoughts, hope they help.

 

[Poker Zombie]

What do ya know? It turns out that when it's versus a bunch of PCF'ers, I don't mind it at all.

 

[datasci]

I know the host of my game doesnt feel weird about taking all our money, but it's a very low stakes, casual game. Nobody's ever losing anything significant.