Most people are taught how to play poker by a family member.  Family poker can be fun when the stakes are simply tokens such as chocolate buttons or plastic poker chips, but once you’re more experienced, the temptation arises to play poker for real money.

Once you start playing poker with your family for money, you’re entering dangerous territory. Even if you generally have a good relationship, gambling for money is one of those dangerous dinner table areas – right up there with discussing religion or politics.

The best thing to do if you want to play poker with your family for money is to keep the games as friendly as possible.  Try playing limit poker, and stick to low stakes – preferably just nickels and dimes.  Yes, this decreases your winnings, but it also decreases the amount you can lose.  This isn’t a bunch of random strangers on the internet or at a big town poker room tournament.  You’re playing with people that you will be seeing on a regular basis, and you don’t want to have them resent you.

When you’re playing with family, set designated break times and stick to them.  This avoids accusations of favouritism.  If someone wants to take a bathroom break and it isn’t a designated break time, keep playing while they’re away from the table.  Don’t break just because it’s your brother asking for it – that will only leave your cousin annoyed.

Finally, don’t exclude younger family members.  If a child is old enough to understand the rules of poker, they’re old enough to play for a few pennies.  If you think about it, excluding a child from a game that is going on in the house sends rather mixed signals.  If you want to encourage responsible gambling, then the best way is to allow a child to experience responsible play in a friendly and supervised environment.   Playing poker with a child can be a great bonding experience.