New home game advice

How would you handle this??

Did my first home game about a week ago. Just a $40 buy in .10/.20 nl holdem cash game.

The night was a lot of fun drinks flowed and people generally enjoyed it. However, one player (tom) was slightly annoying to the majority of the table.... he drank alot. And by the end of the night it was obvious he was trashed..

Not necessarily a problem as the plan was to drink and play cards...

However, the poker got to be just a game of slots..

Ie he would jam his stack over any raise. With any two cards. And this is about how the last hour and a half of play went.

He bought in 5 times..

Now I am probably the most serious poker player in the group. And I realize this is actually a good thing.

But the other guys have reached out to me and have said it made the game not fun..

How would you navigate this?

It's your game. Do you feel it was detrimental to your experience and/or the experience of your players? Are you interested in maintaining your current player pool at the cost of not inviting tom? If yes to either, you simply don't have to invite Tom back. Again it's your game. There could be more background to this that tom is your BFF and it would feel wrong to exclude them, then maybe a conversation is in order. Based on information given, a polite "tables full this week" or quiet quit is reasonable.

If your priority is fun and you want to continue hosting, let him off the hook for a few matches. Evaluate how things go, then decide what to do next.

Cut out liquor

Tell him to tone it down

Talk to him one on one. Check in to make sure it was fun, then let him know the drinking got real annoying. Some drunks don't realize just how annoying they are. Yes the money would be good but time is a currency, if I took time away from wife n life I don't want to waste it listening to the annoying guy.

Sometimes its a one-off, tough day and skipped dinner, but for others this is a pattern of behavior over decades. Very different situations in my mind.

Don’t add him to the guest list for the next match! Lol

It's your game. Do you feel it was detrimental to your experience and/or the experience of your players? Are you interested in maintaining your current player pool at the cost of not inviting tom? If yes to either, you simply don't have to invite Tom back. Again it's your game. There could be more background to this that tom is your BFF and it would feel wrong to exclude them, then maybe a conversation is in order. Based on information given, a polite "tables full this week" or quiet quit is reasonable.

From my perspective as the host. He was fun until he wasnt.. which was maybe 1-2 hours.

At which point he made the poker less fun for the majority of the table.. suggestions i received from the group is limiting number of buy ins to two. The thought is if he has to tread lighter he will play more normal.... although to me that seems like a bad idea.. cause if I get KK vs AA twice and am out then I can't play..

I think the point is for majority of the table a buy in is actually worth playing smart.. ie the money matter..

I think for tom it doesnt.

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

It's a question of how much you prioritize creating a fun atmosphere for the rest of the group and the long-term wellbeing of your game versus how much you prioritize the quick cash available.

I'd handle it by having a private one-on-one conversation with him.

I took this right off our club Discord page.

Speaking of rules…

I provide beverages, but not booze. I do have refrigerator and cooler space if you like, but booze is on you. If you drink, drink well. Don’t be an ass. Anyone who is causing a problem will be given a friendly warning. The second will be less so and you’ll be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave a second time, you won’t be welcome back. Ever.

I’d give him a warning and make a similar rule. You’re right that it’s easy pickings and if I’m playing at a casino, I’m happy to take the drunk money. At my home…no thanks. I realize I’m a fuddy daddy when it comes to boozing. I subjected my household to enough private drunken ass shows for a lifetime. So, maybe I’m overly sensitive to it, but it’s my house, so my rules. But, since it’s been made clear up front, it’s never been a problem at my game.

I agree with most of the points here. This needs to be dealt with for the good of your game.

It's preferable to lose one player than several if others are upset, see no action taken, and then stop playing.

suggestions i received from the group is limiting number of buy ins to two.

I personally hate 'flock shoot' solutions for an individual problem.

A cash game limited to two buy-ins wouldn't be any fun at all for my crew - that's just an invitation to either become super tight, or else to leave after an hour.

I personally hate 'flock shoot' solutions for an individual problem.

A cash game limited to two buy-ins wouldn't be any fun at all for my crew - that's just an invitation to either become super tight, or else to leave after an hour.

💯

Any news about your game and Mr. Drunk?

Before I launched my home game I asked everyone about preferred games, buy-in and stakes…and received a full spectrum of responses. Some people attend for the social atmosphere, some to play seriously, some to gamble, and some to unwind. I learned you can’t satisfy everyone. So you have to choose what’s best for your game. Only you and your regular players can decide that. Good luck, and please keep us posted — I’d love to hear how it turns out!