Warning: This is most likely a stupid thread.

Like myself, I'm sure many of you have taken part in your fair share of home games with your friends. Personally, we've played pretty much every type of poker, including HE(tourneys, limit/NL ring), stud/omaha/pineapple(ring) among others. Naturally, these games have included the regulars, but many have included players that we play only once or twice with.

The topic of discussion here is what can be taken from home games, if anything at all. Playing a lot of poker with generally the same people can lead to a variety of outcomes:
1. You learn a lot of your friends' tendencies, helping pick up on patterns/tells.
2. Playing with your friends gives you the freedom to play at your own stakes, but also allows you to play what games you want.
a. I feel playing other games helps with your primary games.
b. Especially at a younger age, playing with your friends teaches you about bankroll management, since you are most likely playing with money that is hard to come by.

However, at the same time:
1. Playing with the same players does not keep things fresh, and may lead to not much getting accomplished in your game.
2. Psychologically, you may try to change up your game too much, opening up flaws in your real money games.

Basically, I'm really bored right now just watching some NBA(a sport I hate), and I was thinking about the hundreds of home games that I have had. My question to the forum: What are your experiences from home games? How have these games helped you learn(primarily from experience, and picking up on your own mistakes)? How, if at all, have home games changed your play in online/casino games?

my friends all play 5 dollar sng's and when i play with them, i find myself playing alot like gus hansen, but they like to chase so it usually never ends up in my favor.