Is it a problem to win too often at your own home game? (3 Viewers)

[Preditor]

I started a small, friendly home tournament ($30+$10 bounty) this summer, usually running 6-8 players, and hoping to grow in the new year. I co-host this with another friend out of her house (she has more space). I think it's fair to say she's not super into poker, but enjoys the communal aspect of hosting.

Of the four tournaments we've hosted, I've placed first in the last three. We're not talking huge money here; around $180 for each win. I am just a slightly above-average player globally; but most of the people who come to this are super green so I am clearly the best in that group. But I feel the people who come love it and are there for the dinner and fun.

After this last win, my co-host is concerned that if I keep placing first, it will dissuade others from wanting to come back, and that a tournament host shouldn't win at their own game this often. She wants to find ways to handicap my play. She seems to be the only person to have this concern; none of our players have voiced anything and everyone seems to be having a good time.

Personally, I invested a lot of money into chips, table toppers, etc. this year. And so I don't mind winning to recoup some of my costs (and the winnings haven't come close yet).

But thinking ahead, if this continues and I win a fourth or fifth time, would the community here ever think this would become a problem? And if so, what are some ways to combat this? Like, I already have a double-bounty on my head. Are there other ways to put a target on me? Or is this just an overblown concern?

 

[BPTDirector]

Play to win, or do not play at all. You are putting up the same risk as everyone else.

 

[bergs]

How the fuck would I know?!?

 

[BamaT8ter]

Maybe the way to deal with it is to not make it about you, but about who has been winning. Example: whoever wins the last tourney has a double bounty; if you win 2 in a row, it's a triple bounty, and so on.

 

[JMC9389]

Nope. The other players need to play better.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

It could definitely become an issue but only because people are people, especially because you aren't directly hosting; you can make it clear you're providing all the chips and setups. Few of my players mentioned me winning every time in our tiny stakes game, letting them know how much I spent on everything we were using stopped those comments lol, no longer complained about losing the $10.

Im not saying its fair or right, but sure it can become an issue, especially if your co-host doesn't like it. I don't mind the idea of a bounty building up.

 

[RainmanTrail]

Yes

 

[theshepherd]

is it possible to find another player or two to the group that plays on your level? That seems like a win-win...

 

[Pinball]

It could become a problem if money is for your group important. You could train them, recommend books ect

 

[JMC9389]

It could become a problem if money is for your group important. You could train them, recommend books ect

That's patronizing and would rub some people the wrong way. I'd avoid giving advice unless it's solicited. If they want to play better, they can read books, take courses, and not eat sandwiches at the table all loosey goosey.

My non wiseass input is to lower the stakes/buy in and treat it more like a social event if this is more among friends rather than a serious poker game. Have some food, drinks, and snacks and maybe do a mystery bounty night or make the previous winner put up a double/tripled bounty as has been suggested to drive action.

 

[Natskule]

I run a mostly, small, friendly home tournament ($30+$10 bounty), usually running 6-8 players, and hoping to grow in the new year. I co-host this with another friend out of her house (she has more space). She is not really "into" poker, but enjoys the communal aspect of hosting.

Of the four tournaments we've hosted, I've placed first in the last three. We're not talking huge money here; around $180 for each win. I am just a slightly above-average player; but most of the people who come to this are super green so I am clearly the best in that group. But I feel the people who come love it and are there for the dinner and fun.

After this last win, my co-host is concerned that if I keep placing first, it will dissuade others from wanting to come back, and that a tournament host shouldn't win at their own game this often. She wants to find ways to handicap my play. But she seems to be the only person to have this concern; none of our players have voiced anything and everyone seems to be having a good time.

Personally, I invested a lot of money into chips, table toppers, etc. this year. And so I don't mind winning to recoup some of my costs (and the winnings haven't come close yet).

But thinking ahead, if this continues and I win a fourth or fifth time, would the community here ever think this would become a problem? And if so, what are some ways to combat this? Like, I already have a double-bounty on my head. Are there other ways to put a target on me? Or is this just an overblown concern?

I've had a group that was all beginners before and I won a disproportional amount. But I was teaching them as well, I'd point out different things and show my cards after the hand so they'd understand the strategy. Didn't take to many games and they were playing much better. We don't have an issue and they love it when they beat me. As long as they are getting better, they didn't mind taking their lumps along the way.

 

[Preditor]

Maybe the way to deal with it is to not make it about you, but about who has been winning. Example: whoever wins the last tourney has a double bounty; if you win 2 in a row, it's a triple bounty, and so on.

I actually already instituted this. Double bounty on the last winner, and it's been on my head the last two tourneys.

As an alternative to a triple bounty, one idea I had was - if someone wins two times in a row - let individuals stake personal bounties on them. So if person A has a vendetta for being knocked out twice? Let them be able to personally stake an additional $5 or $10 or $20 bounty on someone if they're won twice. Or perhaps let people pool in for a personal bounty. Thoughts?

is it possible to find another player or two to the group that plays on your level? That seems like a win-win...

I actually have been searching for this. I invited a friend who players poker. Last Sunday was his first time and he placed second. Trying to find a few more players like that.

 

[bigblind]

play to win

 

[MichaelBubly]

If your friends are competent, then play to win. If half your friends are still unsure if a flush beats a full house or not then I'd perhaps soften up in certain spots although in a tournament it's less critical.

I change my play depending on the game. Mainly for cash games though. If I'm played a low stakes game with people who don't really play poker and just want to hang out I'll play loose and won't try to stack them spots I know I have them crushed. But if I'm playing with competent poker players I'll play normal.

 

[xdukeluvax]

the real crime here is a bounty tournament with 1 table

 

[Ainton]

Play to win!

winner brings beer to the next game!

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Lotta people saying play to win, but we all know home games have to be sustainable, especially tournament style ones where you're always the one sitting at the table at the end of the night, people will notice.

Yes, play to win, and if its a casino? Let the door hit them on the way out. But in a home game with beginners, not even in my house, I'm definitely pumping the brakes a bit. Shearing and skinning the sheep.

 

[allforcharity]

Play worse.







(Kidding)

 

[ngmcs8203]

I have been asked by players for podcasts/youtube videos/books and am always happy to share what I have with them. When it comes to a tournament I am playing with the intention of winning. I may get more drunk than I would normally, but I am still playing to win. In a cash game with my friends, I don't look to felt them in every hand but am not looking to lose. I tend to play more loose/aggro with friends to give action, but I do feel bad when I win big pots against the more novice players (even though I know $50-100 isn't something they worry about for 4-5 hours of entertainment).

 

[Frogzilla]

There is definitely an art to not fleecing a private poker game. Can’t win a game you aren’t playing in.

Tips would be
-Making sure socializing even if sacrificing focus
-Widen your ranges a bit
-Don’t over-exploit

As far as handicap implemented via the rules, that’s patronizing horseshit and would not ever consider that.

 

[snooptodd]

I've definitely played less-than-optimal poker in this situation. Winning isn't the most important thing to me (nor is it the only thing, HT Vince Lombardi). While my home game is a cash game and not a tournament, I'm playing with friends and not trying to fleece them.

 

[JWC]

Two thoughts:
- it sounds like you are paying only one place. You could pay more places and spread out the money; or
- I know that this will sound strange, but play the tournament to the end, tracking who is in all six places. Once it is over, shake a dice, and place the place corresponding to the roll of the die. You can place first every time, but the money will move around. If it’s about fun, this might work. If it’s about you winning cash every time, not so much.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Paging @Hornet

If anyone crushes there home game more than him I don’t know about it!

 

[Preditor]

Two thoughts:
- it sounds like you are paying only one place. You could pay more places and spread out the money; or
- I know that this will sound strange, but play the tournament to the end, tracking who is in all six places. Once it is over, shake a dice, and place the place corresponding to the roll of the die. You can place first every time, but the money will move around. If it’s about fun, this might work. If it’s about you winning cash every time, not so much.

Regarding point 1, I always pay at least two places (3 if we ever go 10 or more), and instituted bounties and a bad bead jackpot that's rewarded at the end of the second hour of play (and has gone to last place the previous month and next to last this month). So between the payouts, bounties, and the bad beat about half of people go away winning some money, even if it's a single bounty (25% of their investment).

Little confused about your dice point and how it works. Can you elaborate?

 

[JWC]

@Preditor - your statement:

Of the four tournaments we've hosted, I've placed first in the last three. We're not talking huge money here; around $180 for each win.

Read as if you took $180 each time you won. If that’s the case, then distribute the money randomly at the end of the game by rolling a die, drawing a number, etc. to award the money to the person who finished in that place.

However, it sounds like first place doesn’t pay $180, so this is likely moot.

 

[mipevi]

Why not double your winrate?



Anyway… Poker and especially tournament poker has a lot of variance. People have a hard time understanding it properly, and your co-host seems to think there should be a different winner every time. If you feel like your skills are giving you too much of an advantage, try to think of ways to increase the luck factor. I do it by having shorter blind levels near the end, so a more skilled player doesn’t have the time to grind and chip away at the other players’ stacks and everyone is forced to gamble more. But if the other players are truly clueless, I would use a very flat payout structure, like half of the players getting something (in addition to the bounties).

 

[jamesjkim]

Is your group invested in getting better at poker or just there to socialize? If the latter, it probably makes more sense to play microstakes. If they really want to get better, you being the better player is helping them, guiding them along the way.

 

[Preditor]

Read as if you took $180 each time you won. If that’s the case, then distribute the money randomly at the end of the game by rolling a die, drawing a number, etc. to award the money to the person who finished in that place.

However, it sounds like first place doesn’t pay $180, so this is likely moot.

Ah I see the confusion. To clarify, I did take $180 this last time. 6 people buying in at $30/piece plus 1 rebuy ($210 prize pool). I got $140 of the prize pool, knocked 3 people out, and kept my OG bounty for an additional $40.

Second place got $70 prize pool, but no knockouts.

2 others got bounties, so $10 a piece.

And one person got a $30 bad beat.

So in this past tourney, 4 people got some money back. Two people made some profit.

 

[MatB]

Tell me you’re on the up side of variance without telling me you’re on the upside of variance …

 

[jamesjkim]

Ah I see the confusion. To clarify, I did take $180 this last time. 6 people buying in at $30/piece plus 1 rebuy ($210 prize pool). I got $140 of the prize pool, knocked 3 people out, and kept my OG bounty for an additional $40.

Second place got $70 prize pool, but no knockouts.

2 others got bounties, so $10 a piece.

And one person got a $30 bad beat.

So in this past tourney, 4 people got some money back. Two people made some profit.

Maybe consider making rebuys cheaper for full stack.