Top Pair Podcast 320: The Right Home Game Environment
In episode 320 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski discuss different types of environments for home games. Do flat screens and music have a place or is “pure poker” the way to go.
Also, discussing the idea of a home game simulation of the WSOP Main Event final table, and plenty of interesting tales from our hosts’ home game session recaps. Is breaking even contagious?
Plus, Robbie’s headed to Malta and good old Gutterball has another funny line you won’t want to miss.
Top Pair thanks their sponsors, J Design Cards and the Poker Notes Live mobile app for their support. Be sure to check ‘em out!
Show Time Stamps
| 00:27 | Synopsis |
| 1:04–22:41 | How Ya Runnin? |
| Robbie: Two home game sessions having bought in for big money, being down a lot, then making it all back in the last 30-60 minutes. One session down $5 and the other session up $5. Learning lessons from having taken notes on previous games and explaining “birthday Joe-maha.” Also, heading to Malta to experience the inaugural Malta Poker Festival. | |
| Bruce: “Breakeven Bruce” strikes yet again over four sessions. Down $180, then up $185. Down $0.75 then up $5. Thinking about blowing the “entire” four sessions-worth of profits… Also, more listener updates about which poker chips to use. | |
| 24:01–45:25 | Cards in the Air (Improving the home game experience) |
| 24:06 | Do you allow cellphones, headphones, and tablets at the table? Should there be a TV in the room? If so, what should be screened? How about music? Helpful or distracting? Bruce finds the extra stimuli helpful. Robbie’s more of a traditional purist. |
| 34:30 | Reviewing an article by Bernard Lee discussing how one of his Boston-area home games simulates the WSOP Final Table. |
| 36:18 | Ken Tilden replicates the tournament as best as possible: Uses the same blind levels, same chips stacks, button placement, and creating high denomination chips with a label-maker. |
| 38:26 | Past WSOP Main Event champions Scott Blumstein and John Cynn have Skyped in to wish the home game group well. |
| 39:13 | What changes Bernard would make to how the home game runs it, namely that shorter stacks should pay less than the chip leaders. |
| 40:20 | Reflections on the idea, how it could be tweaked; e.g., bid auction-style on which final tablists’ chip stack you’ll get to start with, with extra money going to prize pool). Why the idea resonates with home game players. |
| 47:00 | What the #$%& did Gutterball say? – Sometimes you just have the premonition that you’re going to hit the hand you’re chasing… |
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Follow hosts Bruce Briggs @toppair and Robbie Strazynski @cardplayerlife, also available via email: [email protected]
