Friends playing poker

Now dont get me wrong I rly enjoy hanging out with my friends and love em to death but do you ever have those moments where you go wow theirs absolutly no way they could ever play poker just based on some of the comments I heard one of my friends who dident know that I played say hey so I was watching some poker on tv and thought how stupid their betting all this money on 2 cards and I would just kinda sit their and not say anything cause I dont want to argue kinda made me think wow do I do that when I see new things that I know nothing about? Sure hope I not. Does anyone else feel this?

Well, without any background to the game, there is a certain level of absurdity in winning/losing hundred of thousands of dollars in a single hand. I mean, the sort of money they are pushing around there in a typical hand of TV poker is in the neighborhood of what an average person earns in a year working a 9-5 (and in many cases much much more). Would you risk an entire year's salary or your life savings on a single hand, even if you were an 80/20 favorite? Unless you are a complete degen, the correct answer is no.

I mean, taken out of context, people bitch and complain about sports stars making millions of dollars when all they do is "shoot a ball through a hoop". It's the same deal with these high stakes poker games because if people don't understand the context as to why they are able to make so much money then they just see it as ridiculous frivolity.

I would suggest starting a small stakes home game with your friends and they will soon see the lure of poker. It will also be enormously +ev for you in terms of bankroll as well as in fun. You will be sharing something you love with your friends which they may take to and eventually be able to enjoy watching high stakes games on TV and analyzing play together, or having a regular home game or a casino trip.

Seraphim said:

Now dont get me wrong I rly enjoy hanging out with my friends and love em to death but do you ever have those moments where you go wow theirs absolutly no way they could ever play poker just based on some of the comments I heard one of my friends who dident know that I played say hey so I was watching some poker on tv and thought how stupid their betting all this money on 2 cards and I would just kinda sit their and not say anything cause I dont want to argue kinda made me think wow do I do that when I see new things that I know nothing about? Sure hope I not. Does anyone else feel this?

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just nod and agree save yourself a headache

By the way, if you need an 'in' to start the conversation towards a home game, when your friend says how ridiculous it is they are betting all this money on some stupid cards you should say something like "I know, it's pretty crazy the amount of money on the table there. But poker is actually kind of fun -- you ever try it on facebook?"

It's not always going to work, but you should stand up for the things you believe in. Don't try to force the issue and make it a wedge between you and your friends, but make casual banter about it and if your friends are having none of it or are shunning you then get new friends or just don't bring it up with them again.

now this is crazy,i just act like i have no idea whats going on and let them chat away with a grin.enjoy the fun with them and let them play it out while i take the pots,lmao. while watching poker on tv too. .nothing like free beer and hanging with the buds..haha .

Friend of my parents sees me grinding...procedes to tell me how he goes to vegas every year and plays slots and they give you free prime rib and everything! Also rambles that you should always play the end slots this whole time I'm thinking SHOOT ME NOW!

I generally try to help them improve. The last thing I'd want is for one of them to run off to Vegas and lose some serious cash because they think they are good.

yea anyone who isnt used to gambling will think betting money is crazy.. just like betting thousands of dollars to TV pro's is nothing.. its is normal to win or lose hundreds of dollars for me.. and when some friends come to the casinos with me they find it insane to bet even that amount.. i felt the same when i first started goin but after a couple wins and losses ur mind changes