Should a host be playing the whole night or is it okay for them to bust out? (1 Viewer)

The deck eventually slaps everyone in the face so a host dropping out early happens but generally they should try to stick to the end and shouldn't busting early most games.
 
It all comes down to preference and I agree with others that a good host will offer to deal (at least for a bit).

If not dealing, take care of the group - offer to grab drinks here and there.

In my case, I run a regular tourney and if I get knocked out during the rebuy period I will always by back in, do the add-on, and stay in the game until official bust.

Job of the host is to support the game no matter what - and never complain!
 
In 2024 when I was running worse than bad we scheduled a game that I just got gun shy about that day, so I just hosted and dealt. Nobody minded (well, they questioned it at first but understood), I was just happy to hang out with the guys. Plus I got to sit back and see if my reads or instincts were off, like a QB who benches himself. I won our first 3 tournaments of 2025, so it may have worked.
Patience is a virtue ! Way to take advantage of the situation and make it a positive one.
 
I played at a guys house. He was having a rough night. After I think three rebuys he not only didn't come back into the game. He went to bed. He said play as long as you guys want. We did. I think this happened around 10 pm.

I "think" he did that twice.
 
For cash games the host can just host. No one should be expected to rebuy beyond their limit. For tournaments I think its fair if the host gets a free rebuy.
 
Nothing wrong with a host sitting out sometimes, but IMO the norm should be that the host plays the whole night whenever possible.

For tournaments I think its fair if the host gets a free rebuy.
Nope. Never. Just because someone is hosting doesn't mean his gambling gets subsidized by everyone else, regardless of format.
 
Nothing wrong with a host sitting out sometimes, but IMO the norm should be that the host plays the whole night whenever possible.
This. ^
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I felt strongly before reading this thread that it should be always, but now agree with @Jimulacrum. It should be the whole night, but it acceptable to sit out if the host isn't feeling it.
 
This. ^
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I felt strongly before reading this thread that it should be always, but now agree with @Jimulacrum. It should be the whole night, but it acceptable to sit out if the host isn't feeling it.
I played for years in a game hosted by a guy who played from first hand to last hand almost every time. A couple times a year at most, he'd get really shit on by the cards and get frustrated and sit out. Usually he'd come back before the end of the night, but sometimes not.

Sometimes he'd also sit out to make space for someone when he had one too many players.

Pretty straightforward example of what I consider the right approach.
 
Nothing wrong with a host sitting out sometimes, but IMO the norm should be that the host plays the whole night whenever possible.


Nope. Never. Just because someone is hosting doesn't mean his gambling gets subsidized by everyone else, regardless of format.
If I'm hosting and get hosed to where I don't want to put money in, I'd generally volunteer to be a dedicated dealer so I'm still playing and having fun. Also hanging out at the table is fine too even if not in, just to hang out.

And I get people not being okay with the host getting a free rebuy. I'm cool going to someone else's game and the host gets a free rebuy. I think of it as a thank you for hosting. This especially so if they also provided food (although my games are pot luck style). To each their own though. I'm more about the fun than the money.
 
If I'm hosting and get hosed to where I don't want to put money in, I'd generally volunteer to be a dedicated dealer so I'm still playing and having fun. Also hanging out at the table is fine too even if not in, just to hang out.

And I get people not being okay with the host getting a free rebuy. I'm cool going to someone else's game and the host gets a free rebuy. I think of it as a thank you for hosting. This especially so if they also provided food (although my games are pot luck style). To each their own though. I'm more about the fun than the money.
I have wondered about the host getting a free buy in for their tournaments. I have wondered if I play in a tournament I'm not familiar with, if that the host is getting to play for free. But I think this is a whole other topic. I'm interested in what people have to say about this. Maybe it deserves its own thread?
 
Weird thread. The host can play as much or as little as they want.

I can think of one time over 15 years ago when I lost half my stack when I was up and lost on a cooler. Picked up pocket 8's next hand and barreled each street and lost the rest of my chips. Told my friends to keep playing but that I needed a break and didn't end up buying back in and played a video game in the same room. Not my finest moment.

Granted now that I'm older and (only slightly) more mature, I would stay seated at the table and offer to deal but I wouldn't walk away and do my own thing if I wasn't cleaning/taking out the garbage/recycling, etc.
 
Agree with most that the host can play as little or as much as they want. But:

1) it IS odd to go into a cash game planning on firing only one bullet (If others did the same, the game would dry up quickly); and

2) I wouldn’t expect the host to sit out and then start dealing. If they want to, great, but I’d imagine if someone wants to sit out, they want to drink/relax without having to worry about the game at all.

@SixSeven what is the friend’s reasoning for the one-bullet-only plan?
 
I have wondered about the host getting a free buy in for their tournaments. I have wondered if I play in a tournament I'm not familiar with, if that the host is getting to play for free. But I think this is a whole other topic. I'm interested in what people have to say about this. Maybe it deserves its own thread?
Oh I would disagree heavily with the host not buying in. They need to put in. But if they bust out early before the rebuy ends, its cool if they get a single free reentry. If they bust post rebuy cutoff then bad luck. They can just focus on being TD.
 
I went on multiple 4-6 month losing streaks during the first 3 years of COVID when I was hosting online on a weekly basis, because I played from beginning to end every time. Mostly because I was banking and running the software we used (and being the DJ on the Zoom) and so had to be there to the end each time. I felt like I couldn't just sit out or quit early when I went down 5+ buy-ins. My players even made note of that after a while, and they actually encouraged me to sit out at least an orbit or two before I rebought whenever I busted out...
 
Oh I would disagree heavily with the host not buying in. They need to put in. But if they bust out early before the rebuy ends, its cool if they get a single free reentry. If they bust post rebuy cutoff then bad luck. They can just focus on being TD.
Yeah, I think the host should buy in like everyone else, but I think they should pay for a rebuy regardless, unless everyone agrees they get a free rebuy. For sure, after rebuy period, then they just do TD and host.
 
The only major drawback I can see here is if the host isn't rebuying, there is potential that they may try to end the game early. As long as there is an agreed start/end time (or some range like no later than midnight, 2 am if it's a holiday, etc.) Personally, I will always rebuy at my own game - if I can't rebuy too many times, I'll play accordingly (don't give action if you can't)!
 
Yeah, I think the host should buy in like everyone else, but I think they should pay for a rebuy regardless, unless everyone agrees they get a free rebuy. For sure, after rebuy period, then they just do TD and host.
Some groups would say hard no to the rebuy. I figure they can't rake (at least here in California) so the least we could do would be to give them a free lifeline as a thanks for hosting.
 
Draw more chips, don’t add more money, and then act like there’s a miscount at the end. Classic!
 
Wish that was the case haha
The hilarious thing is during tourneys as dealer and host at my game, if I'm having a brutal night and wave the white flag, almost always 3-4 of em will toss in some cash and get me back in.

I'll die on this hill, but if you get a good group of regulars, they take care of the host. They know what they have.
 
Yeah definitely no need for the host to always rebuy. Although If the host is constantly busting early and doesn't keep playing the atmosphere might get a little awkward for everyone else wondering why the host doesn't enjoy playing at their own game.
 
If the host knows ahead of time that he/she is only playing with one buy-in then the host should hopefully over invite players. Many home games have a 3 buy-in rule to make sure the game doesn’t break early. A home game is not like a casino. There isn’t usually a list of players waiting to get into the game. If the host tripled up on the first hand and decided he was done and wanted to hang out the rest of the night, would everyone be saying that is fine too? If it is a one time thing, okay, but have a plan to have the game still have enough players if the host busts on the 1 buy-in early.
 

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