Home Games vs. Public Games

The typical home game goes something like this.

Ante Up! <deals>

OK, Phil has high card, start it up.

Phil bets 1, Daniel it's to you. Daniel raises to 2. Howard you're next. Howard calls. Next, call. Everyone is playing. Here comes the next card. <deals>

Annie you have a pair, you start. Annie bets 1. Men you're next. Men raises to 2. Everyone else calls, no one out yet. <deals>

Annie you're still up, bet is 2, everyone still in... NO wait T.J folds, HAHA, no stones no bones T.J. Everyone else is in. <deals>

Last card. Betting starts, a raise, everyone else still calling. OK let's see. Nothing for you, nothing for you, pair over there, OHHHH 2 pair wins it all.

That may be a little extreme, but it does make a valid point about home games. It is typically a game focused on entertainment more than it is good play. A typical home player has an attitude that if they lose a little that is fine, they sometimes win but it is mostly about having fun.

In contrast, the public games found in cardrooms are more typically focused on better play and winning money. That is not to say that players do not consider the game fun, they just take it a bit more seriously.

Keep this in mind when playing, and try and identify players that seem to be there only to have fun. This information can be valuable, as they may be more apt to call with inferior hands (can be good), but will also be more apt to call down your bluffs and semi-bluffs (can be bad).