I just got invited by my company's big dogs to their poker game.

[NuclearNed]

My boss will be there, as well as two of the other managers from the IT department, and some vice-presidents. I played with my boss and the IT managers before, but just for fun, not money. That was last year, and I did pretty well against them. Had the game continued to completion, I think I would have won the night. I haven't played poker with people much, but I play quite a bit on the computer (Hoyle's Casino). Also, I'm a life-long card player in several other games - some of my earliest memories are of playing cards with my family. I've watched a lot of Texas Hold-em on tv, and I've studied the game quite a bit.

I don't want to be overconfident, but I think I can take them all and make a tidy sum.

Does anyone have any good tips or advice?

UPDATE:
I've been talking with some of these guys, and they said that they play "dealer's choice" on games. In other words, they play lots of different varieties of poker, some of which I know and some I don't. That probably hurts my chances somewhat. I think as the night drags on they usually settle on texas hold-em.

POST-GAME UPDATE:
We played from 7:30pm to about 1am Friday night. The ante was $.25 or $.50, dealer's choice. Also, the games we played were dealer's choice. I bet we played somewhere between 25 and 50 different games, some of which weren't even varieties of poker. Since I'm most familiar with Texas Hold-em and 5 card draw, I was real unfamiliar with most of the games we played, which left me at a real disadvantage. I spent most of the night just trying to keep up with the other guys, gradually losing my bankroll. Sure, I won a pot here and there, but still it was a slow but steady decline all night long. Finally around midnight I won a pretty large pot. Then the very last hand they played a completely new game where everybody put in $5, and I won the pot.

I went in with $100, I came out with $106. Not bad all things considered. Especially since I got to eat free pizza and talk it up with the big dogs.

 

[Canai]

Take a bottle of high quality whiskey and give lots of shots to your opponents.

And bluff, bluff, bluff. So that people think all you do is bluff, until you get the full house or straight and take all their money away.

 

[skrilla]

Just make sure to fold a few hands to keep the big guys happy.

 

[JDMnAR1]

If you want to get invited back, don't clean them out.

 

[sixone]

Table image counts for a lot. Start out playing tight and aggressive; when you've got them convinced, then you can loosen up and steal some pots.

Good luck!

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1
If you want to get invited back, don't clean them out.

Its funny you should mention that. At last year's Christmas party, they gave me a tentative invitation to their game. Then we played for a while, and I did a pretty good job of cleaning them out. Needless to say, I didn't actually get invited to the real game.

 

[mercanucaribe]

These dogs?

 

[iamme]

how much is the buy in?

 

[daniel1113]

Just play your game. Any winnings or losses will probably even out over time, anyway, assuming neither you nor your co-workers are especially talented with the pasteboards.

 

[iamme]

my advice would be (tournament play): play tight and premium starting hands only, until it gets down to like 3-4 players. don't dig yourself into deep holes trying to bluff. identify weak players and those who are willing to make big laydowns. just be patient and don't fret if you're not playing very many hands. once the field narrows down, you've established yourself with a uber-tight image and then you can make bigger bluffs and steals.

completely depends on your experience, personality, and comfort level......but i think it's the safest strategy.

 

[FP]

Go all in first hand and show them who is really the boss.

As you rake your stolen blinds in say "You didn't tell me I would be playing with a bunch of panty wastes"

 

[funboy6942]

Just break even, have a good time, get called back for a few more games, get in with them all on a first name, then wipe them out. I wouldnt show them up too much on the first game with new people, especially bosses and higher ups, atleast not right away. I like to play mostly for fun and atmostpher, more important to get called back and have fun again then to wipe their asses on the floor and never be asked to come back again. Especially if you got the higher ups who have all the money, means free beer and food all the time

 

[Reel]

Don't think about money and winning. Think about the networking opportunity.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Reel
Don't think about money and winning. Think about the networking opportunity.

lol, seriously!

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: binister
Go all in first hand and show them who is really the boss.

As you rake your stolen blinds in say "You didn't tell me I would be playing with a bunch of panty wastes"

LOL

 

[gamepad]

I agree with most of the replies. Don't clean them out, just go for the networking. It's kind of kiss-ass, but whenever you can discreetly kiss-ass and reap some benefit, go for it.

 

[alien42]

i say clean them out. executives are typically very competitive and they will want revenge and will invite you back. they will also be impressed if you can beat them.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: iamme
how much is the buy in?

I'm not exactly sure. They basically told me to bring $100.

edit: one guy said $100, another said $75.

 

[richardycc]

win a few hundred bucks and stay at your current job FOREVER or lose your buy in,but get a higher paying job offer from one of these big dogs, take your pick.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
My boss will be there, as well as two of the other managers from the IT department, and some vice-presidents. I played with my boss and the IT managers before, but just for fun, not money. That was last year, and I did pretty well against them. Had the game continued to completion, I think I would have won the night. I haven't played poker with people much, but I play quite a bit on the computer (Hoyle's Casino). Also, I'm a life-long card player in several other games - some of my earliest memories are of playing cards with my family. I've watched a lot of Texas Hold-em on tv, and I've studied the game quite a bit.

I don't want to be overconfident, but I think I can take them all and make a tidy sum.

Does anyone have any good tips or advice?

UPDATE:
I've been talking with some of these guys, and they said that they play "dealer's choice" on games. In other words, they play lots of different varieties of poker, some of which I know and some I don't. That probably hurts my chances somewhat. I think as the night drags on they usually settle on texas hold-em.

[company's big dogs]"ahhhh, fresh meat"[/company's big dogs]

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
My boss will be there, as well as two of the other managers from the IT department, and some vice-presidents. I played with my boss and the IT managers before, but just for fun, not money. That was last year, and I did pretty well against them. Had the game continued to completion, I think I would have won the night. I haven't played poker with people much, but I play quite a bit on the computer (Hoyle's Casino). Also, I'm a life-long card player in several other games - some of my earliest memories are of playing cards with my family. I've watched a lot of Texas Hold-em on tv, and I've studied the game quite a bit.

I don't want to be overconfident, but I think I can take them all and make a tidy sum.

Does anyone have any good tips or advice?

UPDATE:
I've been talking with some of these guys, and they said that they play "dealer's choice" on games. In other words, they play lots of different varieties of poker, some of which I know and some I don't. That probably hurts my chances somewhat. I think as the night drags on they usually settle on texas hold-em.

[company's big dogs]"ahhhh, fresh meat"[/company's big dogs]

Yup - that thought has crossed my mind...

 

[CowZ]

Just play your game. If the exec. are easy going then you can loosen up and have some fun maybe wiping them all out wouldn't be such a bad thing. But, if they're a bunch of cocky punks then i say play it safe since you wouldn't want them to give you a hard time at work from now on.

 

[ranmaniac]

A good quote: "You can sheer a sheep many times, but skin them once."

If your boss buddies are fish, go easy, but not too easy. It also helps if you know what subjects, interests they like, make them have a good time while your taking their money.

 

[NuclearNed]

bump for update

 

[funboy6942]

Congrats! Exactly how I would of thought it would of gone, great time, free food, and just need to know if you were asked back or any talk of it happening again with you?