Home Game Happenings

Poker this past Monday was awesome. It was a very competitive game, in which control of the table shifted many times among several solid players. As usual, there were some big bluffs and some brutal beats, some laughs and some curses, some tension and some fun. We played Texas Hold’em for four hours straight, and then played some short-handed Dealer’s Choice for another three. I needed to have a long session like that, just to restore my sense of balance. I’ve been poker-deprived for a while.

So far, I’ve spent over $400 of my own money to get this game operational and running smoothly. I waited a long time for it to happen, and to this point it’s been everything that I’d hoped it would. Already, there are some great stories circling around, with old rivalries re-awakening as well as new ones being forged. And I think our game is garnering a great reputation. My ultimate goal is to make this the best low-limit home game in town. Naturally, that’s an impossible task; even if it is the best game there’s no way for me to really know that. But having that goal keeps me motivated to constantly try and improve things where I can. But so far, I think word of mouth has generally been kind to us.

I’m also glad that we’re playing weekly now rather than bi-weekly. The waits were just killing me back then, especially since I’m not really making the rounds any more these days. I wish I could play enough at the casino that it wouldn't be an issue. But I simply cannot do that right now, for financial and temporal reasons. Eventually I’ll get back to where things were, but for the time being, home games are going to be pretty much it.

Unfortunately, we’re going to lose Dan -- one of our regulars -- in about a month as he moves on to grad school on the East Coast. I’m glad I got the chance to bluff him out of a huge pot before that happens. Hopefully our game will keep growing and will continue for a while … it’s a lot of fun and it gives me a chance to keep my skills sharp until I can fully return.

An even greater reason that I want the game to continute is that I haven’t yet recouped my $400 investment. But if I can steal a few more huge pots off Dan, and if Billy would kindly stop sucking out on me, maybe I can get there soon. :)
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P.S. Still can't believe you called my all in with top pair, 8 kicker, Billy. You really give me no credit at all.

P.P.S. Though, in all fairness, I wouldn't have complained if you didn't hit the three-outer. Naturally.