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What destroys long-running games? (1 Viewer)

surfik said:
I played in pool club. Finally owner decided that we do not drink enough...
He propobly was a bit afraid about police raid.
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I played in a cigar store game that had to find a new home after a Covid closure. New place agreed to match the "buy two cigars" rule of the old place. Then after a month upped it to four cigars. Game died. Wasn't the money as much as who the hell wants to buy/go through four cigars per week?
 
merkong said:
The guy that sold me the Donkey Rescue chips (I believe - so much has happened in that short couple of years) would always have a seat. Even named the lounge from that very early purchase in my chipping career…
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If I'm ever up in that area, I'd love to stop in. Or, if a meetup happens... *hint hint*. :P
 
Not once in my life have I ever attended a regularly running game.

I also didn’t start playing til I moved to west coast, so not a huge time period there. I really, really look forward to attending or hosting a regularly scheduled game with known people.

Unfortunately, also having a desire for the game to be cash non hold ‘em (the only poker worth playing) limits the possibilities.
 
Rhodeman77 said:
Having too many games. If you are hosting cash games they can be very difficult to keep running on a weekly basis if the same people keep winning.
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Ugh, I hate how accurate this is.

My current situation, my friends and I have been playing for about 4 years now. Friend #1 I introduced to poker, Friend #2 was a revival for her, and the other sort of core player is my son that has started playing last couple of years.

We started with little turbo tournaments, but at some point I made the change to a 5c/10c game and it immediately took off. We have our wives + a few other friends who could jump in. Increased stakes, added mixed games at times, etc.

Recently it has felt like it is dying. Friend #1 wins every time, I'm usually next in earnings, occasionally my son has a big night. Friend #2 punts, and has dusted some stacks at other games nearby or casino. No one else can really keep with us and don't take it seriously enough to improve. So no one wants to join, Friend #2 is discouraged, and lately I'm the only one wanting to play. Really sucks because I enjoy it as a friend get together and far more casual. Plenty of games in town, but I'm not always interested in committing that much cash.
 
bmacpoker said:
Ugh, I hate how accurate this is.

My current situation, my friends and I have been playing for about 4 years now. Friend #1 I introduced to poker, Friend #2 was a revival for her, and the other sort of core player is my son that has started playing last couple of years.

We started with little turbo tournaments, but at some point I made the change to a 5c/10c game and it immediately took off. We have our wives + a few other friends who could jump in. Increased stakes, added mixed games at times, etc.

Recently it has felt like it is dying. Friend #1 wins every time, I'm usually next in earnings, occasionally my son has a big night. Friend #2 punts, and has dusted some stacks at other games nearby or casino. No one else can really keep with us and don't take it seriously enough to improve. So no one wants to join, Friend #2 is discouraged, and lately I'm the only one wanting to play. Really sucks because I enjoy it as a friend get together and far more casual. Plenty of games in town, but I'm not always interested in committing that much cash.
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At some point if you’re playing with friends you start to feel bad too, or at least I do. I definitely have nights where I donate it back.

The good news is you’re playing for $10. Perhaps decrease to $5? Or, I think returning to the tournament format might help since there’s a bit more luck in that structure, especially if blinds increase quickly
 
Rhodeman77 said:
Hosts that are losing players. I’ve seen at least 3 games break up because the host was one of the biggest losing players.
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It’s so brutal when I’m stuck. It probably actually changes my game, a wee bit tighter, which sucks. I’ve been on a bit of a cooler and have been quite stuck a session or two lately. I always reach yet again and probably get a little more snug. In the off chance I’m dead tired or just not feeling it I keep dealing. Even if I left the table to grab a bite to eat or started tinkering with something, my game knows that the session is allowed to end on its own volition and that they will not be forced out of the room.

Isn’t it written somewhere that you can fold to the host once in awhile and not feel bad about it? lol
 
Rhodeman77 said:
Hosts that are losing players. I’ve seen at least 3 games break up because the host was one of the biggest losing players.
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That can be tough. I’ve only had one night where I ran so bad that I actually ran out of cash at my own game. I borrowed a buy-in and won back a few buyins so it didn’t end as badly as it could have.
But if that were a regular occurrence, I imagine I’d consider quitting hosting. I suppose a gracious host could quit playing for the night and just deal, but I feel like as a host, I owe it to my guests to play as long as they want to play. But if that meant losing more than 3 buyins every session, there wouldn’t be a lot of joy in that.
 
elemeno said:
At some point if you’re playing with friends you start to feel bad too, or at least I do. I definitely have nights where I donate it back.

The good news is you’re playing for $10. Perhaps decrease to $5? Or, I think returning to the tournament format might help since there’s a bit more luck in that structure,
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It's a bit tricky, we definitely play stacks over $100 frequently. It's $20 to start but match the stack after. With certain guests we will cap it, but most prefer not to. I've also tried to introduce limit games so the action is there but the pot sizes don't balloon. It's just a tough sell.

I'm at the point I'd rather get a more regular 25c/50c game going and try to build a wider variety of players. I think it can be done, but I will miss the casual games with my close friends.
 
I think Players can make or break the game. As a host I try really hard to find people that fit, that are fun to be around and hang out with, the Poker skills are secondary.

My main rule is that my game is a douchebaggery free zone. I want players, whether you win or lose, to do so nicely. Everyone who plays is a guest in my home and I want people to be treated accordingly.

It's about the fun! if I ever had a player being disrespectful, or a jerk, or starting a major drunken argument, that player would probably not last long in my game.

I get some very skilled players, and some relative newbies to the game, and I want everyone to have a good time win or lose.

While there are some exceptions, it's not uncommon for my game to fill up within 15-30 minutes of sending out an exploratory text. I'm proud that people want to play my game, and I work hard to live up to that.
 
I’m an outlier. I’ve hosted a big game for years. 47 was my biggest game. 17 was my lowest, (for my monthly game).

But, not to brag, but I’ve learned what my players want, and make sure I provide. I like it, they like it, and we have great people

Sometimes the host becomes the obnoxious drunk, but never gets (too) out of line.

I’ve often wondered if I could host 2x monthly, but I think that would be too much for most, and break the game up some.

I’m going to host a circus night soon. @DMV folks)… early October. I’d love 3 tables of 6, that would kick ass
 
krafticus said:
I’m an outlier. I’ve hosted a big game for years. 47 was my biggest game. 17 was my lowest, (for my monthly game).

But, not to brag, but I’ve learned what my players want, and make sure I provide. I like it, they like it, and we have great people

Sometimes the host becomes the obnoxious drunk, but never gets (too) out of line.

I’ve often wondered if I could host 2x monthly, but I think that would be too much for most, and break the game up some.

I’m going to host a circus night soon. @DMV folks)… early October. I’d love 3 tables of 6, that would kick ass
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I have no idea how guys like you do that. Hosting a single table can be challenging.
 
upNdown said:
I have no idea how guys like you do that. Hosting a single table can be challenging.
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Patience and practice. I love hosting. I love running tournaments. I have added cool technology to help. I don’t do a lot of things well in this world, but I’ve (generally) got this down to a science

If you ever travel down the coast, you’re always welcome
 
I think getting to “cutesy” and “trying to make sure everyone has fun” are a quick path to ruin.
Play poker regularly, have a good setup, and the people you want will come.
I go to play cards, it doesn’t have to be a thrill a minute. Honestly the more “gambly” the game and the more it relies on gimmicks of any kind the less likely I’m going to be a regular.
 
krafticus said:
bad players make games break up. Not bad in the sense of terrible at poker .. bad is in bad life skills
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It really depends on the kind of game you're running, but if we're talking a fun home game amongst friends/aquatences and not a private card room kinda game, ^this^ above anything else. One asshole can fuck up the vibe of a game very quickly.

krafticus said:
But, not to brag, but I’ve learned what my players want, and make sure I provide. I like it, they like it, and we have great people
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This is very important too, you have to have your finger on the pulse of the group and be ready to evolve in the best interest of the game, while at the same time being comfortable with the change. And cater towards your most reliable regulars, not the outliers. I've been hosting for 16 years; for the first 5 or 6, it was a very cheap $20 tourney (mostly because we started as poor post-college kids). At one point players started inquiring about upping the stakes - some to $40-$50, others to a $100+. I knew the change would upset some and I'd probably lose a few, but made a change based on my best judgement of the group. Lost a few who didn't want to play bigger, and some don't play as much because it's not big enough, but the game has survived. Made another change just before COVID hit to switch from Friday to Saturday night, partially because it was better for me with the family schedule, but I asked around the group before changing. Again, I lost a few, but gained more regulars and we're still trucking along.

krafticus said:
Sometimes the host becomes the obnoxious drunk, but never gets (too) out of line.
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A common phrase I hear in the latter stages of my tourneys is "before I call your ridiculous raise, remind me how many bourbons deep are you again???"

ME: enough......
 

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