Playing Against Family and Friends in Poker

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Playing Against Family and Friends in Poker

It’s an everyday occurrence for me, battling my wonderful friends in poker tournaments. At times it is hard to bust them out, take their chips and say goodbye to them. This however is a must.

Relatives and friends in the poker circuit; both online poker and at our local casinos is a common thing. The unfortunate thing is on those tables they are our enemies! Playing your brother, lover mother or son can be a horrible thing – but that’s poker. It is in our blood and seems to pass through families. Our associates once entering this wonderful world become close friends as we travel, dine, play, party and bunk with them. How do we overcome the feelings of resentment either party may have after knocking each other out of a major online poker tournament and tournaments such as the WSOP and Aussie Millions?

I remember back to Annie Duke knocking her brother out of the tournament of champions. I may be wrong, maybe it was another tournament. Regardless; it must have been a hard thing for Annie to do and hard for her elite playing brother to take.

Simple poker strategy must always be used – friends off the table, enemies on it! I have made the mistake in past times of going easy on friends only to be smashed by them in return. I have felt guilt at knocking a friend out on the bubble, I even offered them a portion of my winnings just due to the fact I busted them. As I grow in the game of poker and learn, I have learnt to check raise and bust even my mother!

There must not be resentment or feelings of hate, guilt or unhappiness after busting each other – end of story! Entering a poker tournament with the people closest to us is simply friends and family going to battle; and the battle means POKER ONLY all friendships and feelings aside!

Step off that table and rail them to victory if you are busted out, it feels fantastic after a while – alike if you we there to watch and support them to start with. Your concentrated feelings of being annoyed to the maximum soon fade and the concentration is focused on their success instead. Harder said than done I know!

When the game is over, celebrations are going to occur and best it be the celebration of a friend or family member winning rather than a stranger or someone you do not like. I think it’s a marvellous thing to be able to compete and battle with friends this way.