Poker vs friends or similar.

[lucky_scrote]

Ok so you are playing in your biggest live event to date and you have gone 10% with your poker friend. You do not share winnings its just you have decided to go 10% since it is quite a big tourney.

Now the tables have been drawn and you have been put right on your friends table!! Oh dear.


Now i want you guys to tell me if you play any differently here, do you play your normal game and if you have a chance to bust your friend you would, or would you totally avoid action with your friend.

I want responses from pro's and normal, social poker players please

[madasahatstand]

im a social player. i just play my game in the normal way:)

[Graham C]

I'd play as normal, any special treatment for him is collusion surely and puts the rest of the table at a disadvantage?

[RED-DOG]

I would always play my normal game, unless it was tikay of course, then I would try that little bit harder to bust him.

[RED-DOG]

Seriously, I think soft-play is the scourge of poker. I played a satellite the other day, 4 seats, 5 players left, and two friends openly saying "check it down, we don't bet against each other"

[matt674]

Normally don't swap % with anyone to avoid any conflicts of interest (though did do 10% with BigArmo in 2006 WSOP main event - but no chance of even being drawn together til at least day 3).

In your position though i play my normal game regardless even if it means busting him out.

[Mango99]

Was this is the World Heads Up Championship?

[tikay]

I echo Red's sentiments exactly.

In fact, it's bad for me to be at a table with one of my (few) close friends, as it's a sort of "who can bust the other" thing.

But for absolute certain, you SHOULD & MUST play "properly" - & that includes confrontations when the need arises - against mates with whom you swap %'s.

My regular "swaps" are only with Thewy, Chili, Irish Denis & a few others, but to soft play them (= cheat) would be unthinkable.

Sadly, many don't see it that way, & collusion & soft play is rife. But everyone knows who does it, & these low-lifes are held in contempt by almost the entire poker community.

In Super-Sats it is even worse.  In the Online Grosvenor Super Sats, I've lost count of the number of times players have rung me " let's avoid each other". Yeah, right.....I even had "I'll R, you RR, & I'll Pass, as I have a shed-load of chips, after that we will check our hands against each other down".

Don't do it. Ever. That's my advice Dan.

[lucky_scrote]

Thanks for the awesome response tikay, i personally HATE soft playing against friends, im just worried what my friends or players i have % with would think. Sounds like everyone is pretty fiesty at the poker table, i wont be backing down...

[tikay]

Thanks for the awesome response tikay, i personally HATE soft playing against friends, im just worried what my friends or players i have % with would think. Sounds like everyone is pretty fiesty at the poker table, i wont be backing down...

Dan, if your pals think less of you for playing "properly" you are mixing in the wrong company.

I know Matt (Dale) is a genuine guy, and if it happens that you & Lucy end up on the same table, he'll expect you to do the done thing, & try to bust her, as she will you. That's how it should be.

I've shared Tables with Chili when she's been totally boracic, & still "targeted" her & busted her, thats how it has to be.

I was in Italy one year, with Thewy, & I was on a massive losing streak, & a bit down. Bubble time came, it was a Televised Final & I was aching to Final, I made a move, Thewy called me in a flash with AK & busted me. Quite right too, & that's why I love these guys.

I don't "swap" with Red, but he's a very close friend, & he busted me in a Super Sat "on the bubble" with no regrets from either side.

Grown-Ups, see?

[lucky_scrote]

Hey ive never actually come across this situation, but i always think about it.

[Dingdell]

I always play the same game - I have played on the same table as Bern and we will knock each other out no problem - with an apology at the time though. We always have 10% of each other.

[booder]

I would always play my normal game, unless it was tikay of course, then I would try that little bit harder to bust him.

ditto

[tikay]

I would always play my normal game, unless it was tikay of course, then I would try that little bit harder to bust him.

ditto

You are different - I don't even notice you.

[AndrewT]

I think you need to give more clues Ariston - how could anyone work out who you're referring to from that...