[jmc]

Had an interesting discussion with my friend the other day. We both were playing at a home game against a couple beginners (their first time playing NL hold'em) and a couple decent players.

A hand came up against one of the newbies where I ended up rivering bottom set (I thought I had him crushed with 33, despite his PFR mainly because he checked every time he had nothin). I made a rather large value bet on the river but probably could have gotten him to call for all his chips (I called his raise with 77 the previous hand and value bet him twice/checked the river -- he called down with A-high).

My friend thought I should have considered softplaying against him because if he went busto and didn't rebuy, the game might break and we'd lose an opportunity to win more money from the other donks at the table. Anyone see a need for this, or should I just go ahead and take all his money now?

[Quads]

Never.
Run a hand twice or something, but I don't like the idea of soft play into a n00b with fear of the table breaking.

[dad604]

In a cash game, I think I would want all his chips if I can get it. Why would I want to keep him around if he does not rebuy if I already have his chips. The fact that the game might break up if he quits depends on if you want his chips more or do you want to keep the game going more. Maybe if all the other players are also weak and I have been taking a ton of chips from everyone.

Keeping a weak player around is good idea in certain situations in a tourney but I can't think of too much in a cash game.

[TBonesPoker]

Chapter 42 of Daniel Negreanu's Hold'em Wisdom for All Players is entitled Soft Playing is Cheating; Play Hard or Don't Play. One paragraph states, "Soft playing destroys the integrity of the game of poker and it's wrong, dead wrong." Not sure what I would do in the situation outlined but "Kid Poker" is pretty clear where he stands!

Interesting little book by the way. Only takes an hour or less to read.

[jojobinks]

i think meta-game factors should always be part of the equation.

[ipgyst]

Originally Posted by jmc

My friend thought I should have considered softplaying against him because if he went busto and didn't rebuy, the game might break...

Maybe your friend was jealous that you got the guy's money instead of him, so he's setting you up for the next time you're in a game with some fish. The "Play Hard or Don't Play" advice sounds good to me here.

[kyle9]

If you keep him in the game, you run the risk of someone else busting him, or he'll slowly give away his chips evenly amongst everyone at the table. Just bust him yourself and take the money. There's nothing you can do if he decides not to rebuy.

[poker-paradise]

Originally Posted by Quads

Never.
Run a hand twice or something, but I don't like the idea of soft play into a n00b with fear of the table breaking.

wouldn't he have an advantage in running it twice? lol..

[hachkc]

Originally Posted by poker-paradise

wouldn't he have an advantage in running it twice? lol..

[smoore]

Go onnnnn, take the money and run,
Oooh, ooh, ooh,
Go onnnnn, take the money and run,
Oooh, ooh, ooh.