[AVA80]

hi, ive noticed that at home games for beginning poker players, it is hard to get a completely talented group of guys together. So you have to change up your style of play and remember youre not playing with the pro's lol. Ive noticed that some of the weakest players at these games win the pots, so i would suggest taking a different approach.
1. Tighten up more than usual at the beginning and take note of whos aggressive and what kind of betting patterns theyre making.
2. as the game progresses blinds will advance quicker than real casino tournaments, so when a few players get out start to loosen up hand requirements and make re raises to aggressive/unknowledgable people who youve noticed have been chasing a lot of draws, and playing middle pair as if it were aces.
3. Last remember they could be putting their chips in with any two cards because Q10 suited might be just as good as AK suited in their minds.

I hope these playing tips help you because theyve helped my game significantly at the office/home games.

[jscrons24]

I like all of those tips, because I run into alot of players at my home games that do the same plays you mentioned. This one kid trapped me with pre-flop!!!! It is also good to just juice up the pot with obvious betting patterns that show a lot of strength when you have a very strong hand, because they don't understand betting patterns that show strength.

[fubarcdn]

When I play at home I play to have fun which means seeing a lot of flops. My advice is to treat these as social times where you drink and have fun with your buddies. We always have 1 guy that wants to play to win but never the same guy twice. we play at home to have fun. If we want to play real poker we go to the casino and take money from strangers.

[AVA80]

fubar i couldnt agree more, that home games are more social than anything, but as many know the poker world is growing not only in the adult world, but also the adolescent world. For example. if a bunch of 15 year old kids get together they are in it for the money because we all know how valuable 40 or 50 dollar pots could be to people that age and thats more where my post was directed. I totally agree with you though in the older game it's pretty much social : )!