The claim is that poker is not fun when you don’t put money on the line. My retort was that your poker playing shouldn’t differ when there’s not money to win. The point of the game is to win, regardless of the stakes, but I was the minority in that battle.
However, I’m willing to compromise. I’ll admit it is nice to get something for winning, although I don’t feel it is a requirement. I feel bragging rights are reward enough.
It is no secret that I’m a tightwad. Money in, good; money out, bad. That’s how it works and that’s how I like it. But considering the amount of loose change in my car and pants pocket, a few small time wagers certainly won’t hurt.
The Morning Toast rules for poker stand for those of us that don’t like shelling out the high side of $5 just to play cards. But if we don’t put up the green then we’re ostracized from the game (or don’t get invited at all) and miss out on some quality social time.
First off, winner takes all poker is stupid. That’s now how “real” poker works so why should that be the rule in kitchen table poker?
There needs to be place winnings through third place. Now, this only works if you have more than three people playing. Of course, if you have less than three it probably won’t be a very interesting game anyway.
Each game buy-in should be at least $2.00 and any higher than that should be in even amounts ($4, $6, $8, etc.). The $2.00 is preferable because it’s affordable for everyone. Also, betting with single dollar bills is best; you’ll read why next.
The person that finishes as runner-up in the game gets their buy-in back, so here $2.00.
The third place finish gets half the buy-in, so $1.00.
The winner gets whatever else is left over. So in four-player game with a $2.00 buy-in, the winner gets $5.00.
Obviously $5.00 won’t buy you that new 62″ TV, but it will get you a work lunch or almost a movie ticket. Point here is you get a bigger payoff for winning, but you don’t get boned if you make it until the end of the game.
For those of you that must have some cash on the line to make your time worthwhile, you get your money. For those of us that don’t want to spend a lot of money just to play cards, the chances that you’ll get something back are pretty high, so there’s no reason not to play.
It makes sense to me. The chances of leaving that type of game happy are pretty good.
The problem with a $2.00 buy is the same as with no buy in. Your not risking anything. Losing $2.00 doesn’t mean anything, it’s 1/2 a 6″ sub at subway.
Poker is fun to play without money, but it’s not really poker. What are you risking? What do you win? What are you gambling with? You need to risk something to gamble, namely money.
A $10 buy-in is managable for everyone and but it invests you in the outcome and makes you want to win. With outcomes like 1st: $25, 2nd: $10, 3rd: $5 you will play a different game.
People will never play their best with nothing on the line. People can argue that they play their best every hand, every game but that’t not true. (Can you honestly say you would play the same if you had $100, $1000, your car, your house or even your life riding on the outcome of the game?)
Just some thoughts from a guy who has never won a poker game.
“Losing $2.00 doesn’t mean anything, it’s 1/2 a 6″ sub at subway.”
I LOVE the fact that you think of money in terms of the amount of food it will buy! People look at me funny when I say, “Three dollars? That’s dinner at Wendy’s!” (Of course in my case I’m being a tightwad while you’re encouraging people to spend their money, but at least we understand each other)
I’m glad you’re my friend.
$10 to play cards is ridiculous…unless you’re an addict, then that’s probably a deal.
I shouldn’t have to lay down that type of cash just to sit around and play cards with friends. On top of that you usually have to pitch in for pizza, etc. So you’re really spending upwards of $15 at that point just to sit in your friend’s kitchen.
I’m just saying that if people need something on the line to get them to play, make it small so those that don’t care about getting something out of it can (get invited,) still play and have fun.
It’s always more fun to get something for winning, but the quailty of fun shouldn’t go down when there’s nothing at stake.
Don’t bragging rights and embarassment count for anything?
Like videogames…you don’t get anything for winning except your name on the high score board, which is just bragging rights. So obviously people are spending top dollar just to have their name at the top of the list. Poker, or anything other game, shouldn’t be any different.
And even though $2.00 only buys a 3″ sub, if you win $2.00 you can instantly use that as the buy-in for the next game and possibly win the whole shabang, and then you’re up to maybe $5 - which almost gets you a combo meal.
I think I agree with Moog.
For those of us who aren’t real motivated by money, the point of playing poker is to spend time with friends. I for one would be content to play for toothpicks again.
The way I see it, it is not wise to play high dollar poker with friends. It’s a quick way to loose them.
G+
I think I agree wit Moog n’ shit.
For those of us who aren’t real motivated by paper, da point of playing poker is spend time wit friends n’ shit. I fo’ one would be content play fo’ toothpicks again.”
The way I see that shiznit, that shiznit is not wise play high dollar poker wit friends.” It’s a quick way loose ‘em n’ shit.
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http://www.asksnoop.com
I got totally thrown off by Thjee’s ebonics generator…I thought we had a new friend around here n’ shit.
But really though…I agree that $10 is a bit too much. Especially since you guys play that sissy Texas Hold ‘Em.
i know im commenting on an old article but i just wanted to say that i KNEW that Big G’s dad was mixed!
Also…loose is not the word you were looking for…it is L O S E ;)
You know what they say, Becky…once you go black, you never go back ;-)
Why’s it always gotta be a black thing with you guys? As a man who might possibly be of mixed ethnicity I take offense to the last two posts, which are clearly unabashed jabs at our ambiguous heritage. Shame on y’all for not being more sensitive!
I’m curious, though… In the case of a potentially mixed individual like Big G and myself, once you go black would you still go back half of the time?
I think that the dancing video clip proves that I’m as white as they come…
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