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When deciding if to join a home game, what info do you look for? (1 Viewer)

mummel

mummel

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Beyond the obvious like buy-in amount and type of game (tourney vs cash), what other info do you normally look for when deciding to sign up for a home game?

Put another way, if I send out future invites, what info should I include?
 
I'd be interested in knowing what games will be played, and what bet structure (especially NL, PL, FL, or a mix).

Rake or no?

Bring something or no?

Rules on alcohol? (Provided, BYOB, or dry house)

Timeframe? Ending times are often flexible, but HOW flexible?
 
I like to bum-hunt, so sending out an evite where the invitees can see who said "yes" to responding is a nice feature, That said, typically @Chippy is going to be invited to any local game I would be attending so I don't have to look THAT hard.
 
stakes
max buy in/re buy amounts
games being played
BYOB
No smoking, or outside smoking
start time
 
detroitdad said:
stakes
max buy in/re buy amounts
games being played
BYOB
No smoking, or outside smoking
start time
Click to expand...
^^^yup that's really about it (except the smoking thing...it doesn't bother me)

And maybe:
Dedicated dealer? And what will she be wearing?
 
In order:

1. Run by someone I trust, or who others I trust know well/vouch for.

2. Stakes I am comfortable with.

Everything else is an attend and re-evaluate my decision after the first game.

Most important for continued attendance:

Is it an enjoyable game personality-wise? Do I like the people (or at least a majority)?
 
All of the above are important. Something else I like to ask about is security, especially for cash games.

Is the house locked during the game? Is the host okay with CCW?

Is the game address posted all over the Internet for anyone to know where the game is?
 
CCW in a game? Yikes.

I'm pro-carry, but I won't allow it at my home games. Home owner is the only one with access to a firearm.

I think security in most cases is clearly more about how you do (or don't) advertise, locking the doors, and knowing your players.
 
I am a strong follower of math. Armed, sleepy drunk guys with their guns don't make me feel safe from hypothetical thiefs, it makes me think I am running a small chance of getting in a shooting match over a few hours worth of money. The math for that sucks. If someone wants to drive up and rob my game - fine, take the money (but leave the chips please).

sheesh, its like dealing with boy scouts and their giant knives except its grown men and mistakes are worse than a cut finger -=- DrStrange
 
jja412 said:
CCW in a game? Yikes.

I'm pro-carry, but I won't allow it at my home games. Home owner is the only one with access to a firearm.

I think security in most cases is clearly more about how you do (or don't) advertise, locking the doors, and knowing your players.
Click to expand...

I have had friends get robbed at gun point in 2 separate games, 1 of witch I was on my way to when it happened.

I wouldn't allow a person who is carrying to drink, they don't mix at all. But to get a CCW is lot of work and have to pass a background check that is more thorough than I am able to for new players. I wouldn't want a brand new player to carry, but I allow players that I know well that have a CCW to carry.
 
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Luckily I live in Massachusetts. Never had to worry about sht like this. Thought never even crossed my mind.
 
Possibly a bit off subject, but a bit of advice from having gone through the learning curve. Do not be too quick to build up your game. IMO, stick to friends you know well and possibly someone they know very well. I made the terrible mistake of inviting all sorts and anyone they wanted to bring in an effort to build up a big game. It worked but it backfired. I won't go into all what happened but in the end I had to tell a lot of decent folks they were no longer invited and cut my game way back to a core group. Since then (5 yrs ago I think), I've only added in one person. It's more important to enjoy the people you are with than trying to run a mini-casino. Best of luck.
 
mummel said:
what other info do you normally look for when deciding to sign up for a home game?
Click to expand...

Beyond the points already made, my biggest question is to determine which kind of game it is. I've run into several hosts who are (apparently) semi-pro players that got sick of paying a rake and are only interested in making money. Their games typically are not fun to play at, even if you can beat the table.
 
I've played with Abby, her sister, and, I believe, Mrs. Moose (but iirc they were all pretty civilized). We'd make exceptions for PCF connections. :cool:

I'm not exactly a prude -- nor is my wife -- but there are standards of behavior that should apply, and they limit the kind of wide-ranging (to put it mildly) discussion that my home game always enjoyed.

I will also say that I think those conversational standards are sometimes ignored here in PCF, and it's rude and disrespectful to our female members. This is not a male locker room.
 
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Women are the new men. They're better at solving problems, better at working in teams, and just as capable of talking like a sailor or 12 year old boy. I've never seen any woman offended at a game, no matter where the conversation went, and I play with women frequently. Apparently my experiences are different from yours.
 
mummel said:
Luckily I live in Massachusetts. Never had to worry about sht like this. Thought never even crossed my mind.
Click to expand...
Wait till you start playing in NH, where CC permits are "must issue". In NH I'd bet 30% of people out in public carry.
 
Chicken Rob said:
Women are the new men. They're better at solving problems, better at working in teams, and just as capable of talking like a sailor or 12 year old boy. I've never seen any woman offended at a game, no matter where the conversation went, and I play with women frequently. Apparently my experiences are different from yours.
Click to expand...

Maybe. Or maybe I just don't like hanging around women who talk like sailors. And I damned sure don't like twelve-year-old boys.

Hell, I don't even like hanging around sailors. We're an Army family.

When my wife goes out to Colorado for her annual meet-up with her old college skiing group, I do not ask for a recap of the conversations, even when they've been banned from restaurants for not using their "butterfly voices."
 
pltrgyst said:
Maybe. Or maybe I just don't like hanging around women who talk like sailors. And I damned sure don't like twelve-year-old boys.

Hell, I don't even like hanging around sailors. We're an Army family.

When my wife goes out to Colorado for her annual meet-up with her old college skiing group, I do not ask for a recap of the conversations, even when they've been banned from restaurants for not using their "butterfly voices."
Click to expand...
One of my best female friends is a potty mouth who loves poop jokes and talking about boobs. She is self described as a 12 year old boy with the mouth of a sailor. She's actually pretty funny, and great to hang out with.
 
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I use signup genius and have a permanent link to my signups. I also send out reminder emails with the details and offer a quick read detail at the beginning:

Quick Details
Saturday Night
$80 Buy-in - 10k starting stacks - includes the bounty
Tournament starts at 8pm
$1/$2 NLHE Cash game starts at 6pm
OHB Vanilla Porter, OHB Derelict IPA, and St Arnold's Fancy Lawnmower on tap for this game.
$10 suggested donation if you drink the beer, eat the food or smoke the cigars
Cash Game to follow

My games are smoking games (cigars) except the ungodly hot Texas summers - too hard to cool the room with the exhaust vent running. And I was a sailor. Damn - several of you would not come to my games :eek:;)
 
mummel said:
Beyond the obvious like buy-in amount and type of game (tourney vs cash), what other info do you normally look for when deciding to sign up for a home game?

Put another way, if I send out future invites, what info should I include?
Click to expand...

I believe the single most important thing is the rules. Especially in a friendly home game, which won't stay friendly very long without rules.

We play mostly cash games and I always have the most recent version of Roberts Rules handy.
 

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