An interesting time at a local VFW game (1 Viewer)

[Legend5555]

Might be better you're not playing at his table and he still wins. You don't want anyone accusing you of collusion, especially when you're bringing your own cards...

Scott has not played with my cards. Night 4 was the first night I used mine and he wasn't at the table.

 

[dkellerd]

I’d love to hear what happens if you introduce some mint paulsons to the fun!

 

[upNdown]

I’d love to hear what happens if you introduce some mint paulsons to the fun!

Nobody would care. I mean these people were using denominated chips and asked him how much they were worth. I’ve literally had that happen at my games more than once. People don’t get it. We’re a very rare breed.

 

[arch3r]

You don't want anyone accusing you of collusion, especially when you're bringing your own cards...

 

[Legend5555]

I’d love to hear what happens if you introduce some mint paulsons to the fun!

I'm not a super serious chipper, so I don't have any. I can't justify paying $1+/chip on my budget.

 

[ekricket]

Night 4

So last Friday my wife is working out with her friend in the garage home gym. The 15 month old is in bed. The 5yo wants to work out with them. I'm a moderately overweight slob, so working out is like staring into the sun as a vampire for me. So I head out to the VFW for round 4. This time I remember my old people cards... I mean jumbo index Desjgn. We'll see how these people react to them as they are bridge sized and considerably thinner than Modiano poker sized garbage.

I arrive at 7:20 and decide I'll donk around in the tournament again. It's a nice relaxing time and the best way to chat with people. I sit with an older couple... I guess they are almost all older couples , that I have played with before on night 1. Guy is a star wars nut. He is always in the same Star Wars shirt. A much more elderly gentleman sits to my left. While a bit passive, he actually plays his strong hands like a poker player. He tells me he is banned from several Gulf area and Florida casinos for card counting. He asks if I've even played blackjack. I tell him I have, and have done some counting myself. He says I should think about playing to earn some real money. I tell him, it's not my thing. But in my head I'm saying, "Do I look like I really want to fucking bore myself to tears and have to constantly count shit when I can just beat people at poker?!? C'mon old man!" He tries to talk to me several times over the course of the night, but dude's voice is so quiet that I have to get my ear up to his mouth to hear him. So most of this "conversation" is me not hearing him at all, and me saying "yeah." I may have agreed to knock off a casino. I'm not sure.

I win a couple hands. Lose some hands. Nothing of serious note. Then I start raising and calling with a lot of junk near break to try and get out. I've already missed the first cash table starting. And Scott is at that table. I could try and bust and play at that table, and even though I wouldn't call myself a real chipper, playing with dice chips is a little beneath me at this point. And I don't really want to suffer through someone other than me dealing. I hate dealing to myself enough, I don't need to add some random mostly non-experienced person dealing to me. I don't want just 15 hands an hour for God's sake!

We are about to go on break, I raise K9o from UTG. That's an approved raise 10 handed, right? Flop comes K99... so much for trying to donk it off. I'm not going to get broke this hand unless my opponent bets and I fold, and she ain't betting. So I just play it for real. I'm coming back from break to 27bb. WAY too much! I head to the snack bar to get some water and Red Bull as I'm feeling REALLY tired today. 5am wake up, work, pick up kids, play with kids, coupled with bad sleep the night before. Anything for poker I guess. I comment that I'm thinking about spewing off my chips to get into the cash game. Lady I just beat in the K9 pot is right behind me and says, "After you just won that pot?!?" I'm thinking, the pot was only like 9bbs. I pivot, "Well, maybe not. I have a hard time losing on purpose. My pride in the game won't let me do it very easily"

I go back and sit down and see the Star Wars couple playing the card game Casino. My wife and I used to play that a lot. I try to talk some poker and make some connections. A lot of these people are running home games and I'm trying to get some invites. I mention I prefer to play mix games these days. They have ventured into Omaha. I mention SOHE, which I don't even really like that much, and they seem to think it sounds pretty cool. Then I mention Drawmaha and I completely lose them. Oh well.

Break is over. I manage to spew off my chips in about 15 mins. The 2nd cash table has already started. It's being run by one of my home game players, who used to be a regular at my bar game. His name is Ryan. I have no clue what he actually does. Every time we invite him to a game, if he's busy, he is travelling and playing low limit cards somewhere. I suspect he does something with drugs. But I honestly have no clue. I've never in the 15 years I've known him ever heard the word "job" come out of his mouth. Granted, we aren't "friends." But still. You'd think at some point I'd have heard something about what he does. As far as I know, he only comes into existence when I text him.

So I get out and start the 3rd cash table. My table is me, 5 ladies in their 60s & 70s, 2 ladies in their 40s, a guy in his 30s, and a guy in his 80s. Doesn't look super promising. I set the buy in at $40 - $100. Debbie (60s lady, seat 9) says she doesn't like it when people buy in for a lot. She doesn't like to play "big." Okay Debbie... okay. She buys in for $60. Only one person buys in for $40. Most everyone else is $80 or $100. So maybe not looking so bad after all. There are also 2 sets of mother and daughters at the table. So we get under way.

First orbit: no raises. Most pots 6-9 ways. Most post flop bets are $2-$4. 4-5 callers. This table is looking better and better. Oldest lady at the table one of the mother's, is on a heater. She bought in for $100, and is up about $200 already. My first hand of note comes about an hour or so in. I limp 99 on the button after 4 limpers. I COULD raise, but only if I want to play a massively bloated pot against 3-4 opponents. So... no. I flop a set and get some moderate action. I show the table to be friendly. Normally I would let them think I'm the "young" bluffing whipper snapper. But they'll call anyway. So it makes no difference. I'd rather get some respect on the chance a halfway decent bluff opportunity comes up so I can bet someone off 3rd pair. This of course never comes up. So I'm just an idiot.

Debbie starts to get a little annoyed with me as I'm not dealing her any winners. "I'm trying Debbie. I know I dealt you bad a couple weeks ago when Scott won $700. I'm trying to make up for it!" The funniest person at the table is mom #2, Irish. At first I thought it was Iris. But it's Irish. Irish is quite witty and has a sharp tongue. She calls me out on raking $5 instead of 2 from a pot, when in reality I was changing out the rake. I explain it to her and she openly berates herself for being a moron. Later as she is shuffling the deck for the next hand, she finishes and slides it to me, I reach for it, she takes it back and shuffles again, then slides it towards me, before sliding it around in a circle as I try to grab it. Well played, Irish. When someone tries to buy the button as they come back into the game, I explain what's happening to the table. "The $2 is live, the dollar is dead." Irish, "how do you kill a dollar? Who killed it? What happens to it now? Do we bury it under the felt?" There were a few times a particular lady at the table thought she knew the rules better than me. I just let her. I try to make it clear it's a friendly game, and I'm there to help facilitate it for them. So as long as they all agree on weird stuff like paying a missed blind to the person that won the hand when that blind was missed, I just go with it.

Table lineup changes a bit over the night. The husband of a 40s brunette lady comes and sits. He bets like a normal person. Later he comments to me "I didn't know it was customary to bet so small at this table." Another 50s woman takes over another spot. One thing I've forgotten to mention is how often players ask, "what are the values of the chips?" I'm using my CPS chips. They have denoms. That is how used to dice chips these people are. I get compliments on the chips and the cards. Though some people complain the cards are too small. They get over it though.

One super annoying thing about all the short stacking is the amount of times I've had to do more than 1 side pot for a hand. It's annoying. And I get questioned nearly every time I calculate out the pots. Inevitably, someone jams pre for like $10, someone that limped then calls all in for less. Then 3 people call and play more action on the side. It's by far the worst part of the game. But when you play with people this loose and bad, you just do what you have to do.

I raise A7s from utg+2 to $8. I get 2 callers. Flop AA4. I decide to slow play. Checks around. Turn K. I fire $14. One call. River brick. Checks to me, I bet $20, and get called by a K.

40s blonde lady has been up and down all night. Her range is... wide. I've seen her limp call T2o. I've seen her call flops multi way with 22 on 67Q. But she has been winning. And is also the biggest tipper at the table.

Old guy jams UTG for 5 whole dollars. 3 callers to me. I make it $30 from button with QQ. SB is the 40's blonde lady. She cold calls the $30 without any hesitation. Folds back to brunette's husband in CO and he calls. $30 in the main, $75 on the side. Flop KK7. We are only about $100 effective. Checks around. Turn Q. Queue Vince Van Patton. Both check to me again. There is a flush and straight draw available. I should bet to get called by that, because they won't fold. But i'm tired. I check like an idiot. River brick. Checks to me AGAIN. I fire $40. Both fold. Blonde says she had J9s. Husband had A2. Good calls pre. Good calls. I beat old man in the main, but he had K8. We all have to explain to him how he lost the hand.

I raise to $12 with AQs from UTG. I get 5 callers. Wonderful. Flop KQ5 two spades. We check around. Turn 7s. I check. Blonde checks. 60's lady bets $20. Husband calls. I fold. Blonde calls. River 5. Checks around. 60's lady wins with 88! But she had the 8s guys. So totally fine.

We end the night up $180. Oldest lady that when on a heater early ends up on lock down. She cashes out for $320. Blonde out for a small profit. Husband out for small profit. Wife out even. About 1.5k on the table or so.

I see Scott cashing out as I'm leaving and ask how he did. In for $200, out for $700. They just keep giving him money. Nobody knows how to play against his aggression. But, I'm thinking it might be better to be off his table so I can better drive the action in the hands against all these loose passive players. Having to have the majority of hands go through Scott gets a bit tiring. So I think I'm going to try and be off his table again tonight and see how that goes.

Until Monday everyone! Have a great weekend!

So can you bring a guest to these games? Asking for a bunch of friends

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

Night 4

So last Friday my wife is working out with her friend in the garage home gym. The 15 month old is in bed. The 5yo wants to work out with them. I'm a moderately overweight slob, so working out is like staring into the sun as a vampire for me. So I head out to the VFW for round 4. This time I remember my old people cards... I mean jumbo index Desjgn. We'll see how these people react to them as they are bridge sized and considerably thinner than Modiano poker sized garbage.

I arrive at 7:20 and decide I'll donk around in the tournament again. It's a nice relaxing time and the best way to chat with people. I sit with an older couple... I guess they are almost all older couples , that I have played with before on night 1. Guy is a star wars nut. He is always in the same Star Wars shirt. A much more elderly gentleman sits to my left. While a bit passive, he actually plays his strong hands like a poker player. He tells me he is banned from several Gulf area and Florida casinos for card counting. He asks if I've even played blackjack. I tell him I have, and have done some counting myself. He says I should think about playing to earn some real money. I tell him, it's not my thing. But in my head I'm saying, "Do I look like I really want to fucking bore myself to tears and have to constantly count shit when I can just beat people at poker?!? C'mon old man!" He tries to talk to me several times over the course of the night, but dude's voice is so quiet that I have to get my ear up to his mouth to hear him. So most of this "conversation" is me not hearing him at all, and me saying "yeah." I may have agreed to knock off a casino. I'm not sure.

I win a couple hands. Lose some hands. Nothing of serious note. Then I start raising and calling with a lot of junk near break to try and get out. I've already missed the first cash table starting. And Scott is at that table. I could try and bust and play at that table, and even though I wouldn't call myself a real chipper, playing with dice chips is a little beneath me at this point. And I don't really want to suffer through someone other than me dealing. I hate dealing to myself enough, I don't need to add some random mostly non-experienced person dealing to me. I don't want just 15 hands an hour for God's sake!

We are about to go on break, I raise K9o from UTG. That's an approved raise 10 handed, right? Flop comes K99... so much for trying to donk it off. I'm not going to get broke this hand unless my opponent bets and I fold, and she ain't betting. So I just play it for real. I'm coming back from break to 27bb. WAY too much! I head to the snack bar to get some water and Red Bull as I'm feeling REALLY tired today. 5am wake up, work, pick up kids, play with kids, coupled with bad sleep the night before. Anything for poker I guess. I comment that I'm thinking about spewing off my chips to get into the cash game. Lady I just beat in the K9 pot is right behind me and says, "After you just won that pot?!?" I'm thinking, the pot was only like 9bbs. I pivot, "Well, maybe not. I have a hard time losing on purpose. My pride in the game won't let me do it very easily"

I go back and sit down and see the Star Wars couple playing the card game Casino. My wife and I used to play that a lot. I try to talk some poker and make some connections. A lot of these people are running home games and I'm trying to get some invites. I mention I prefer to play mix games these days. They have ventured into Omaha. I mention SOHE, which I don't even really like that much, and they seem to think it sounds pretty cool. Then I mention Drawmaha and I completely lose them. Oh well.

Break is over. I manage to spew off my chips in about 15 mins. The 2nd cash table has already started. It's being run by one of my home game players, who used to be a regular at my bar game. His name is Ryan. I have no clue what he actually does. Every time we invite him to a game, if he's busy, he is travelling and playing low limit cards somewhere. I suspect he does something with drugs. But I honestly have no clue. I've never in the 15 years I've known him ever heard the word "job" come out of his mouth. Granted, we aren't "friends." But still. You'd think at some point I'd have heard something about what he does. As far as I know, he only comes into existence when I text him.

So I get out and start the 3rd cash table. My table is me, 5 ladies in their 60s & 70s, 2 ladies in their 40s, a guy in his 30s, and a guy in his 80s. Doesn't look super promising. I set the buy in at $40 - $100. Debbie (60s lady, seat 9) says she doesn't like it when people buy in for a lot. She doesn't like to play "big." Okay Debbie... okay. She buys in for $60. Only one person buys in for $40. Most everyone else is $80 or $100. So maybe not looking so bad after all. There are also 2 sets of mother and daughters at the table. So we get under way.

First orbit: no raises. Most pots 6-9 ways. Most post flop bets are $2-$4. 4-5 callers. This table is looking better and better. Oldest lady at the table one of the mother's, is on a heater. She bought in for $100, and is up about $200 already. My first hand of note comes about an hour or so in. I limp 99 on the button after 4 limpers. I COULD raise, but only if I want to play a massively bloated pot against 3-4 opponents. So... no. I flop a set and get some moderate action. I show the table to be friendly. Normally I would let them think I'm the "young" bluffing whipper snapper. But they'll call anyway. So it makes no difference. I'd rather get some respect on the chance a halfway decent bluff opportunity comes up so I can bet someone off 3rd pair. This of course never comes up. So I'm just an idiot.

Debbie starts to get a little annoyed with me as I'm not dealing her any winners. "I'm trying Debbie. I know I dealt you bad a couple weeks ago when Scott won $700. I'm trying to make up for it!" The funniest person at the table is mom #2, Irish. At first I thought it was Iris. But it's Irish. Irish is quite witty and has a sharp tongue. She calls me out on raking $5 instead of 2 from a pot, when in reality I was changing out the rake. I explain it to her and she openly berates herself for being a moron. Later as she is shuffling the deck for the next hand, she finishes and slides it to me, I reach for it, she takes it back and shuffles again, then slides it towards me, before sliding it around in a circle as I try to grab it. Well played, Irish. When someone tries to buy the button as they come back into the game, I explain what's happening to the table. "The $2 is live, the dollar is dead." Irish, "how do you kill a dollar? Who killed it? What happens to it now? Do we bury it under the felt?" There were a few times a particular lady at the table thought she knew the rules better than me. I just let her. I try to make it clear it's a friendly game, and I'm there to help facilitate it for them. So as long as they all agree on weird stuff like paying a missed blind to the person that won the hand when that blind was missed, I just go with it.

Table lineup changes a bit over the night. The husband of a 40s brunette lady comes and sits. He bets like a normal person. Later he comments to me "I didn't know it was customary to bet so small at this table." Another 50s woman takes over another spot. One thing I've forgotten to mention is how often players ask, "what are the values of the chips?" I'm using my CPS chips. They have denoms. That is how used to dice chips these people are. I get compliments on the chips and the cards. Though some people complain the cards are too small. They get over it though.

One super annoying thing about all the short stacking is the amount of times I've had to do more than 1 side pot for a hand. It's annoying. And I get questioned nearly every time I calculate out the pots. Inevitably, someone jams pre for like $10, someone that limped then calls all in for less. Then 3 people call and play more action on the side. It's by far the worst part of the game. But when you play with people this loose and bad, you just do what you have to do.

I raise A7s from utg+2 to $8. I get 2 callers. Flop AA4. I decide to slow play. Checks around. Turn K. I fire $14. One call. River brick. Checks to me, I bet $20, and get called by a K.

40s blonde lady has been up and down all night. Her range is... wide. I've seen her limp call T2o. I've seen her call flops multi way with 22 on 67Q. But she has been winning. And is also the biggest tipper at the table.

Old guy jams UTG for 5 whole dollars. 3 callers to me. I make it $30 from button with QQ. SB is the 40's blonde lady. She cold calls the $30 without any hesitation. Folds back to brunette's husband in CO and he calls. $30 in the main, $75 on the side. Flop KK7. We are only about $100 effective. Checks around. Turn Q. Queue Vince Van Patton. Both check to me again. There is a flush and straight draw available. I should bet to get called by that, because they won't fold. But i'm tired. I check like an idiot. River brick. Checks to me AGAIN. I fire $40. Both fold. Blonde says she had J9s. Husband had A2. Good calls pre. Good calls. I beat old man in the main, but he had K8. We all have to explain to him how he lost the hand.

I raise to $12 with AQs from UTG. I get 5 callers. Wonderful. Flop KQ5 two spades. We check around. Turn 7s. I check. Blonde checks. 60's lady bets $20. Husband calls. I fold. Blonde calls. River 5. Checks around. 60's lady wins with 88! But she had the 8s guys. So totally fine.

We end the night up $180. Oldest lady that when on a heater early ends up on lock down. She cashes out for $320. Blonde out for a small profit. Husband out for small profit. Wife out even. About 1.5k on the table or so.

I see Scott cashing out as I'm leaving and ask how he did. In for $200, out for $700. They just keep giving him money. Nobody knows how to play against his aggression. But, I'm thinking it might be better to be off his table so I can better drive the action in the hands against all these loose passive players. Having to have the majority of hands go through Scott gets a bit tiring. So I think I'm going to try and be off his table again tonight and see how that goes.

Until Monday everyone! Have a great weekend!

Cool stories. I have a couple of vet friends that play. I need to ask them if there are any games like this nearby. I'm old enough to fit in with this crowd.

One question, there's something I'm not understanding in the hand I bolded above. If you have AQs and 3 more spades come out, why are you folding the nut flush? Board isn't even paired.

 

[Legend5555]

Cool stories. I have a couple of vet friends that play. I need to ask them if there are any games like this nearby. I'm old enough to fit in with this crowd.

One question, there's something I'm not understanding in the hand I bolded above. If you have AQs and 3 more spades come out, why are you folding the nut flush? Board isn't even paired.

AQ suited, not necessarily spades.

 

[Legend5555]

Did not end up going last night.

Wife's friend cancelled workout so my wife decided to go instead. I had to watch the kids. But then she started not feeling well. So she decided not to go and I decided to stay home to help with the kids.

But I'm ready for tonight's action!

 

[CrazyEddie]

I take it that's for your home game, or are you seriously going to teach the Little Old Ladies at the VFW how to play Razzdugi ?

btw if that's your home game I want a seat

 

[Jake14mw]

So, how do you remember these hands to be able to tell these stories in such detail?

 

[Legend5555]

So, how do you remember these hands to be able to tell these stories in such detail?

I don't remember all the action perfectly, but I tend to remember generally how the action goes on the hands I win and lose in a night. Plus, the weirder the play, the more I remember it.

 

[Legend5555]

I take it that's for your home game, or are you seriously going to teach the Little Old Ladies at the VFW how to play Razzdugi ?

btw if that's your home game I want a seat

It is for my home game. I have a core group of 5-7 that will play mix. Been trying to get others into it, but to not much avail. I need to make a plaque for Drawmaha.

 

[Legend5555]

I take it that's for your home game, or are you seriously going to teach the Little Old Ladies at the VFW how to play Razzdugi ?

btw if that's your home game I want a seat

And if you want to come to the Atlanta suburbs tonight to play micro stakes limit, there is a seat open!

 

[Jake14mw]

I don't remember all the action perfectly, but I tend to remember generally how the action goes on the hands I win and lose in a night. Plus, the weirder the play, the more I remember it.

I always envy people with good (or even average) memories. I generally can't remember even one hand after a given night. In fact, I can't recite action from any hand played in my life... EVER.

 

[Legend5555]

Heading to the VFW tonight. I'll try and remember to post some pics. I think I'm going to not deal tonight. Not really feeling it today.

 

[Legend5555]

Alas... I didn't go last night.

Had an opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife after we had to put the oldest to bed early for throwing multiple temper tantrums. So we watched a movie together without our phones as distractions instead. Was a good time. Eventually I will get back out there. Maybe i'll try to head over to the local card room today or something. We'll see.

 

[Anthony Martino]

My god, I have PTSD from these stories

Reminds me of home games I tried where they didn't believe in split pots and would go to your kicker to break a tie

Board 789JQ

You T6
Them AT

you have a straight with a 6 kicker and lose to a straight with an Ace kicker!

Or how during a fucking tournament a guy won with 7's vs 6's and they all laughed about it, and the winner tossed the loser a 100 value chip back and nobody batted an eye

These games would make me rage, everyone is all loosey goosey eating sandwiches!

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

My god, I have PTSD from these stories

Reminds me of home games I tried where they didn't believe in split pots and would go to your kicker to break a tie

Board 789JQ

You T6
Them AT

you have a straight with a 6 kicker and lose to a straight with an Ace kicker!

Or how during a fucking tournament a guy won with 7's vs 6's and they all laughed about it, and the winner tossed the loser a 100 value chip back and nobody batted an eye

These games would make me rage, everyone is all loosey goosey eating sandwiches!

LOL using a 6th card. I think my wife wanted to do that when I was first teaching her to play. She also tried to play "small" straights. We used to play a lot of Yahtzee.

 

[Legend5555]

Have not been able to attend for the last several weeks due to a variety of factors. But suffice to say, I will go back and bring back some more stories. Likely not going this week as I'm still getting over a cold and I have a nagging cough, which isn't a great thing to do in a public environment these days.

 

[Taghkanic]

This has been my same experience in virtually all “charity” social hall games (VFW, American Legion, firehouses, church events, etc.)

If the fields are large enough, you’ll usually find a couple other thinking players. But most everyone is just there to see flops.

If you play it “normally,” meaning you raise strong hands early and decent hands in position, and c-bet 60-70% of the time… expect some dirty looks (especially from the older ladies). And that eventually some of the players are going to get mad and try to push back.

… which means they’ll wait for the “right moment” to reraise you all-in pre. In which case you happily fold this one time, and they triumphantly show AA.

Oh, and about them absolutely knowing the value of the game’s familiar undenominated dice chips, but getting confused by new colors *with* denoms? I TOLD YOU PEOPLE:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/home-game-chips-why-denominate-at-all.39143/