Taking money from friends. By Steve White
We have all been there. Sitting across the table from a friend. Be it a close friend from years ago (pre poker) or a poker buddy. How do we really feel taking cash in a hand of cards from our friends?
This situation come up recently with me and a close friend (pre poker). In two hands I got KK and AA. Unfortunately my mate got 66 and AK. I raised and he fancied it so called me. The upshot is I wiped out all of his £150 profit and £100 buy in.
Could he have folded? Well yes of course he could but at the time he felt he was ahead. The hands were not played that badly at all.
Should I have soft played my mate? Well no, on principle (not to mention the rules) and no because it wasn't just him and me in the pot. I had to Consider the other players. No cheap flops with KK and AA thank you very much.
The end result is that I took the cake and my mate went home pot-less. I spoke to him and he was happy with the hands and the poker played but feels sick losing to me as a friend. In his mind he would rather win and lose money from strangers.
I can see his point but can't agree. Don't get me wrong I don't derive any extra pleasure when winning to friends. To me it's all about the situation, the cards and the cash.
This made me think about how I feel losing to friends and it doesn't bother me one bit. If anything I would rather lose money to a mate as it will probably come back to me in another game on another day.
To me it's much worse to lose cash to a stranger who you will never see again. That cash is gone forever and it wont enter the local circle of poker playing friends again.
Would I be prepared to lose a friend over this? No. Maybe it's best not to sit at the same table if there will be a problem. Could I slow-play a friend? No. One of us should get up and leave the game.
Emotions are best left away from the table. My mates, my Mum, my Brother and even my children (especially the 2 year old!) better watch out when in a cash game with me. It's MY money on that table, even if its in front of you right now.
It's poker not tiddlywinks.
