How much time for socializing? (1 Viewer)

legonick

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How much time do you allocate for socializing?

I have a few 5 minute breaks in the tournament structure, but they seem to come a bit late, and 5 minutes isn't that long, especially since I've had a few where the last hand before the break lasted a long time, and I didn't bother stopping the timer for the hand, so by the time it was over, there was only like 1 or 2 minutes left on the break.

I guess the better question is - how much time do you allocate to socializing BEFORE the game starts? I feel like some players who haven't run great will bust, hang for a few hands, realize that others are a bit more focused on the hands/game, get bored, and leave. It doesn't feel like a good recipe for them to come back. I'll usually get up and walk them out, shake hands, say GG and goodbye, etc., but it's always awkward.

I'm wondering if I did something like a 7 PM ET doors open, game starts at 8:15 PM ET, if people who want to socialize and drink came in that first hour, then sat down for the game, if I'd get a better repeat rate.

What does your home game schedule look like? How much talking is there during your home game?
 
If you told me doors open at 7:15, game starts at 8:15, I’d get there at 8:10.
At my home cash games, it’s all talking. Poker is for socializing and that’s what we do.
If people aren’t chatting at your table, I have a hard time imaging them showing up early, to chat.
 
Aren't you "socializing" throughout the entire game?
Yes but it seems minor and sometimes awkward - I personally don't like to talk during hands I'm involved in for obvious reasons, and you can't really be talking across the table. So you end up having short side conversations with mostly people on your left and right. We do a randomized table draw, but the crew is somewhat mixed, so sometimes people sit next to those they wouldn't be conversing with that often.

Breaks, on the other hand, a lot of people stand up, break into groups of 2+, chat about the tournament, life, kids, work, etc. They are really nice breaks. Then "ding ding ding" and everyone sits back down. Breaks are some of the best parts in the games.
 
If you told me doors open at 7:15, game starts at 8:15, I’d get there at 8:10.
At my home cash games, it’s all talking. Poker is for socializing and that’s what we do.
If people aren’t chatting at your table, I have a hard time imaging them showing up early, to chat.
Maybe part of it is that some of the group are very new to poker. So there is sometimes banter about what's going on in the game - "action's on you", "raise, fold, call, check", "oh you must have a good hand if you raised that!" And lots of focus on the action and hands...just trying to learn the game, what the chips value are, range people, etc. I think most aren't good enough for a lot of that, but even the decision of what they have can take them a bit to figure out.
 
Breaks, on the other hand, a lot of people stand up, break in groups, chat about the tournament, life, kids, work, etc., they are really nice breaks. Then "ding ding ding" and everyone sits back down. Breaks are some of the best parts in the games.
I actually agree with this. One of the things I miss about attending and hosting tourneys. Yes, we are socializing or shooting the shit throughout the cash game but it’s a little different. I think if I start running 2 tables I’ll set time for a short 7 minute or so break
 
I actually agree with this. One of the things I miss about attending and hosting tourneys. Yes, we are socializing or shooting the shit throughout the cash game but it’s a little different. I think if I start running 2 tables I’ll set time for a short 7 minute or so break
Yeah that's a good idea!

Maybe I need to up my break timer from 5 minutes to 7 minutes, or put more in more breaks! I'm hoping my earlier door opening will work out - those who really want to hang out/drink more than play cards can come early. I'm always down for either, so hopefully I can entertain them enough so they are happy, but the card sharks (which I don't really have any of, but those who are busier, whatever) can clock in late for the game if they want.
 
My first and second break are 15 minutes. I do not pause the clock and wait for people to return. Break expires and if you aren't back you either a blinded or you fold your cards. The problem solved it's self.
 
My first and second break are 15 minutes. I do not pause the clock and wait for people to return. Break expires and if you aren't back you either a blinded or you fold your cards. The problem solved it's self.
How long are your tournaments including breaks? When do you start them? When do "doors open"?
 
Yeah that's a good idea!

Maybe I need to up my break timer from 5 minutes to 7 minutes, or put more in more breaks! I'm hoping my earlier door opening will work out - those who really want to hang out/drink more than play cards can come early. I'm always down for either, so hopefully I can entertain them enough so they are happy, but the card sharks (which I don't really have any of, but those who are busier, whatever) can clock in late for the game if they want.
In my game the card players are the early birds lol. I think I’m going to start a cheap and social circus cash game from now on while we wait for everyone else
 
In my game the card players are the early birds lol. I think I’m going to start a cheap and social circus cash game from now on while we wait for everyone else
Yeah if they are the early ones, that makes sense. And add/keep the long breaks for the social players.
 
Might not be a good gauge...but my home game looks a bit like this. We used to play weekly. Now we play a couple times a month. We truly are a social club that just happens to like playing poker. Socializing and drinking are a big part of the fun.

From my regular home game:

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From the Memorial Week meetup.

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How long are your tournaments including breaks? When do you start them? When do "doors open"?
Tournament is designed for 4 hours, but depending on who makes the final 3 or 4 it can stretch to 4:30 or 4:45.

Doors open at 6pm for pre-tournament cash games and the tournament starts at 8pm. I offer a 1,500 on time chip bonus, so everyone is either in their seat or paid prior to 8pm.
 
A short dinner break is probably ideal, for cash games at least.
Talking on the table is a very delicate thing to "regulate".

OK, I wouldn't opt for "church" silence, but again, too much talking and coffee-housing could be detrimental to the game and dangerous for its integrity.

If a man tries to concentrate, to calculate odds, please don't expatiate about your experience the other night in a specific restaurant.

Additionally, please don't talk to just the guy next to you. Nobody knows if you 're talking about a lost girlfriend or about the hand currently played.

IMHO, any talk (short jokes and current- hand-unrelated comments) should be heard by all.
 
Yeah maybe the tournament style keeps people somewhat tighter lipped, especially because I'm still doing freeze-outs. If it was a small-stakes cash game (like $5 buy-in based) and people could just rebuy, people would probably be talking and joking around more, but the cards would kind of suck...drunk donkies shoving all-in every hand, LOL.
 
I don't think I've every played in a home game where people weren't talking. It's always very social. If I was frequenting a home poker game where no one was ever talking to each other, I think I'd feel pretty uncomfortable. Maybe if it was really high stakes I'd understand.
 
I hosted (after more than a year) a game of .50/1E.
To get the feel on the average American pocket, multiply by 3, so a $1.5/3 NLHE and PLO game, in American terms (Lawyers, Engineers and medium businessmen on the table).
It was my "big league" game of just well-read poker buddies (not old friends). Still, there was much talking (thankfully, not too much).

Three out of the six players were casino semi-regs and also play in "home" games (my @ss - honestly underground games) of 1/2E (so, $3/6 NLHE in American pocket-feel terms).
They assured me they liked the talking, 'cause in the 1/2E game nobody ever utters a fuckin' word :)
 
A short dinner break is probably ideal, for cash games at least.
I don't know if there's a majority opinion here on dinner breaks - some people post big home-cooked or pot-luck dinners for before, during, or after their games, so I know it's done. My personal opinion - not only am I not interested in a dinner break, but if I were having a bad day at the table, I might take advantage of the dinner break to get the hell out of there. And I can definitely think of some people who would take off at the dinner break if they were up big.
Fine for tournaments, I suppose, because you have a captive audience, I guess. But for cash games? I'd vote no.
 
What does your home game schedule look like? How much talking is there during your home game?
For league games, registration begins at 6 and the cards are in the air at 6:30. I also offer a token on-time bonus to any players seated when the game starts. These are on Tuesday nights and it's important they start on time. My structure is designed to end the game by 12:30 or it goes to chip counts. In 3+ years we've always finished on time.

For special events, we often do a food thing before for anyone who cares to participate. That usually happens an hr before the cards fly.

How much talking goes on during the game? I dunno the normal amount? Pretty much all the people are friends outside of the group, so it's not like a bunch of random strangers you'd encounter at a casino.
 
A dinner break is just a break. And a short one (with sauce-free food, only requiring forks).

When I invite for a cash game, I always determine the earliest hour a winning player can leave (losing players can leave, of course, anytime).
 
Players socialize at the table during play. My games start at 7:30 when I host them and in my group message I tell everyone that I'm okay with them showing up around 6:45. I specifically state in the message that food will be served prior to play. Most will show up early to eat and it helps get the game started on time. Only breaks are 5 minute breaks every hour. This is to color up chips when necessary.

Edit: Grammar
 
Cash Games: we keep it lower stakes and that seems to increase socializing while playing.

Tournament: my crew wants shorter breaks to keep playing which I enjoy. I have a campfire, yard games and drinks set up for anyone who busts and we get a cash game going for people who bust as well. Most of my players stayed until the end and sat by the fire or jumped into the cash game and it was a great time. That also allows the one or two people who don’t want to play but want to come hang out something to do.
 
Poker is a social game, people socialize the entire time during the game. If I wanted to play with a bunch of drones that don't talk then I'd go play at the casino with the hoodie/sunglasses types that are only interested in how many hands per hours they can I get in. In a cash game breaks are not really necessary because you can just sit-out/get up for a few minutes when you need to and be good.

IMO breaks during tournaments should be longer than most they are (around 10-15min is good). Tournaments are just a grind so breaks are a wanted distraction, it gives a chance to unwind, clear your head, etc.... A 5 minute tournament break is barely enough time to take a piss (depending on how many facilities are available) and run back to your seat.
 
Poker is a social game, people socialize the entire time during the game. If I wanted to play with a bunch of drones that don't talk then I'd go play at the casino with the hoodie/sunglasses types that are only interested in how many hands per hours they can I get in. In a cash game breaks are not really necessary because you can just sit-out/get up for a few minutes when you need to and be good.

IMO breaks during tournaments should be longer than most they are (around 10-15min is good). Tournaments are just a grind so breaks are a wanted distraction, it gives a chance to unwind, clear your head, etc.... A 5 minute tournament break is barely enough time to take a piss (depending on how many facilities are available) and run back to your seat.

^This^

For my monthly tourney, I set a "start time" at 8pm and usually we have cards in the air by 8:10-8:15. Some folks arrive 15-20 minutes early because they either have some "chipper" business to attend to, new chips to show off or jump want to hang out a bit before the game. Some arrive at 8:15 every month :) I have 10 minute breaks every hour for the first few rounds and I have TD set to pause at the end of the break, so sometimes that 10 minutes turns into 15, which is fine by me. I couldn't picture 5 minute breaks (especially for 2-3 table tourneys), IMHO that's just too short. My tourneys typically run like 5ish hours, depending on the final table and desire to get a cash game going.

The game is pretty social but definitely not as "loose" with banter as a cash game, largely because folks are a little more focused on hands and keeping things moving due to the blinds aspect. I've definitely had table conversations with folks that had to abruptly stop because one of us was in a hand or two, and the conversation fizzled or never finished. Just the nature of the beast IMHO.

When I first started hosting tourneys many many years ago, I tried having a "social" hour prior to the game - BBQ or dinner or something like that. It wasn't very popular, most preferred to grab dinner prior and come at tourney time. Made my prep easier, so I haven't looked back.

I will say though, this pre-game social hour idea will be very dependent on your crew. If you play with 10 old college buddies, some may really like that idea. One group I play with is like this - we have cigars at 8pm and the game starts between 9pm & 10pm. 5 or 6 usually come early for cigars, the rest come around 9pm for cards. The difference here is that it's a cash game, so we're not as pressed to start the game on time.
 
I have like 10 hands an hour because the guys are socializing rather than playing and paying attention. And some have to tell their story before they act, so I've given up on speeding up the game. It's basically a social gathering with insignificant cards and chips in front of them. :D
 
Have people show up 30-45 minutes before the start time. Encourage this by seat position assignment or whatever. Use that time to allow people to catch up. With Covid maybe more time is needed. Also encourage table chat be kept at a low volume beween folded players, never during a tank and remove cell phones from the table. There’s nothing worse than people passing a phone around to watch a YouTube or Facebook video.
All that said, it’s still a social outing for most. If you have players that are hardcore in it for the competition it may be beneficial to run a second night dedicated to those players.
 
This is why I stick to cash game hosting. We tend to spend about 20 or 30 minutes eating dinner, then get down to business. I generally want people to be done eating before they start handling my chips and cards. With the cash game I don't have to worry about starting a tournament exactly on time, people can be late, early, etc.
 
At a glance, I do think 5 minutes is too short for in tournament breaks. I think really needs to be 8-10 minutes at a bare minimum, maybe more if the tournament is bigger.

I would endeavor to start the tournament as close to the announced time as possible, but definitely have a "doors open" period of 20-30 minutes before that point. Then people can buy in right away and then chat among themselves until cards fly. And yes, it's important to respect when big moments are happening during games, but outside of this, plenty of time for banter.

FWIW, I am planning a tournament in August. I am advertising doors at 6, start at 6:30 (though really I will be happy dealing by 6:40) first break is 18 minutes (same as a full level), later breaks are 9 minutes (half a level)
 
Our events are usually multi-table social affairs, that run thusly...

5:30 Doors open, Dinner is served. Pregame food really encourages early arrival. It is not Hot Dogs.
7:00 Cards in the air. This is very timely. We rarely have anyone show after 6:45, and when they do they have reasons (one owns a nail salon, and will sometimes have a late client). I think one of the marks of efficiency is hitting your timing marks. If you never start late, players wont show late.
12 minute breaks every hour. It takes about 10 minutes for the average smoker to burn a cigarette and I don't allow smoking in the house, so anything less than 10 minutes is senseless. We usually play tournaments, but occasionally host a cash game. We take breaks in the cash game too. This allows me to top off short stacks without interrupting play at my table, and allows more interaction between guests playing at different tables. Many eliminated players will use the break to say their goodbyes without interrupting a hand.

The last break occurs when down to a handful of tournament players, and this break is often skipped if the players agree. By 11:30, everyone is full

Game concludes between 11:30 and midnight, depending on chip set / blind structure used.
 

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