Absolute must do's for home game (3 Viewers)

dmabe31

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So, I’ve hosted home games a while back, like a WHILE back, but have recently started up again. Have a decent group of buddies that can sometimes manage to fill 6-8 seats every few weeks. That being said, what are some of y’all’s must do’s for home games. Like, aside from solid poker and good convo, what attracts players and keeps them looking forward to “poker night”? Seems like it’s been hit or miss over the last couple months, with having to reschedule due to people not being able to make it. Preciate y’all!
 
A bigger player pool... That's really it. Ideally you have a solid 5 or 6 minimum, then people that are less consistent, but generally up to play.

It sounds like you have people that kind of like poker, but they can take it or leave it. Eventually poker night just falls down the list of priorities.
 
I try to get 4-5 solid YES, then 4-10 MAYBES. And 5-6 handed poker is still a lot of fun. Try not to reschedule. Even if you get 4, try a freezeout tournament. At least those 4 people get to get out of the house and play cards...and practice shorthand tournament!

Comfortable chairs, I won't go to other games I know bc the chairs are not comfortable. Or I will leave early. Food isn't that important to most players in all reality.

Splash Pots (We take $1/hand, once it gets to $30+ or so or more, we do splash pots, bomb pots, we even have a wheel we spin, etc something to get the money into the next hand for action)

Usually Friday/Saturday nights work best. Sometimes I plan 2 weeks ahead, sometimes 4-5 days ahead. I'm going with Sunday tournaments this Fall during fball season. Interested to see how it goes. Going to try multiple Sundays with different times to see what ends up working better.

Trial and error. And bigger player pool like @umbkcshah said.
 
Hot dog roller
I'll be buying a hit dog roller right after I sell my currently posted NPS chips!

Aside from that could things we do ...

No cash on the table, only chips.
Bomb pots on the hour.
Dealer button game (Optional) someone starts by placing a bet on the button, accumulates until the Dealer wins.
Music, we try to ensure everyone has contributed to a Playlist , or is offered a genre / band etc to be played during the session.
Always offer a round of drinks to players.

After the hot dog roller (The Group is loving this idea) we will be trying to improve our chairs, currently just our dining room chairs are used. We do have Chanman custom table topper, people appreciate it for sure.
 
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I'll be buying a hit dog roller right after I sell my currently posted NPS chips!

Aside from that could things we do ...

No cash on the table, only chips.
Bomb pots on the hour.
Dealer button game (Optional) someone starts by placing a bet on the button, accumulates until the Dealer wins.
Music, we try to ensure everyone has contributed to a Playlist , or is offered a genre / band etc to be played during the session.
Always offer a round of drinks to players.

After the hot dog roller (The Group is loving this idea) we will be trying to improve our chairs, currently just our dining room chairs are used. We do have Chanman custom table topper, people appreciate it for sure.
We play the Bounty Button Game. Same thing, except it's not when the dealer wins, bc they are in a position advantage. It should be the small blind. When the small blind wins, he wins whatever money has been collected. Everytime someone is the dealer, they place $5 (any determined $) on the button, or underneath it etc.
 
We find we like the action the Dealer winning generates, if it goes a couple orbits around can never be sure of their intentions. Float the Small Blind idea around next game and see what that danger that creates!
 
So, I’ve hosted home games a while back, like a WHILE back, but have recently started up again. Have a decent group of buddies that can sometimes manage to fill 6-8 seats every few weeks. That being said, what are some of y’all’s must do’s for home games. Like, aside from solid poker and good convo, what attracts players and keeps them looking forward to “poker night”? Seems like it’s been hit or miss over the last couple months, with having to reschedule due to people not being able to make it. Preciate y’all!

ABC

Always
Be
reCruiting
 
Keep Religion and Politics away from the poker table.

No one wants to play poker and listen to Jimmy rant for 6 hours on how the election was stolen, nor do we want to hear from Joe that healthcare is a human right and after highschool education should be free. Religion is the same. Don't tell me that the flying spaghetti monster isn't real, I'll fight you outside.

Nothing will kill your game faster.
 
Keep Religion and Politics away from the poker table.

No one wants to play poker and listen to Jimmy rant for 6 hours on how the election was stolen, nor do we want to hear from Joe that healthcare is a human right and after highschool education should be free. Religion is the same. Don't tell me that the flying spaghetti monster isn't real, I'll fight you outside.

Nothing will kill your game faster.

Oh yes. This too. Nothing will get you a ban from my game faster than racist and anti LGBT comments.

rev.jpg



I knew I would like you.
 
Rules and Structure.
I have heard so many comments about players not going back to play at "Game A" because of loosie goosy rules and no structure.
I have heard so many comments about players wanting to go back to play at "Game B" because it is just like playing in the Casino.

As a general rule at my games every rule/protocol is whatever rules apply in the casino's, sometimes people don't like the black & white rulings because it is a "friendly game", but they respect the consistency.
 
On a practical level, I think setting the stakes right is key.

This depends entirely on your group, obv. The problem some of us face is when your player pool has widely different incomes/bankrolls. Finding a sweetspot helps maximize attendance.

But sometimes you just have to face the fact that you’re going to lose either the lower or the higher stakes players, and you just have to focus on whichever part of your player pool is larger.
 
We find we like the action the Dealer winning generates, if it goes a couple orbits around can never be sure of their intentions. Float the Small Blind idea around next game and see what that danger that creates!
It should increase the amount of money raised too :)
 
On a practical level, I think setting the stakes right is key.

Yes this is important for a sustainable game!

My monthly post-COVID game has been running successfully for about a year now. It is designed for my friends and co workers, most of whom are not poker players or gamblers. I send out the invite 3 weeks in advance with some key points:

- switch it up with a feature cocktail & snack each month
- games, stakes and betting structures
- win/loss expectations for the night (e.g expect to win/lose about 1 or 2 buy ins on an average night)
- amount of money to bring for the night (e.g. between X and Y dollars for 3 buy ins).
 
Keep Religion and Politics away from the poker table.

No one wants to play poker and listen to Jimmy rant for 6 hours on how the election was stolen, nor do we want to hear from Joe that healthcare is a human right and after highschool education should be free. Religion is the same. Don't tell me that the flying spaghetti monster isn't real, I'll fight you outside.

Nothing will kill your game faster.
I think most people know better. At least my crew seems to. I have a mix of left right and center people and the only time I can remember people talking any kind of politics shit was when a playoff game ended on the tv and the late night guy came on and started bashing replublicans I’m his monologue. Then one of my right friends started chirping. I turned it off quickly and the political talk faded quickly.
 
I think most people know better. At least my crew seems to. I have a mix of left right and center people and the only time I can remember people talking any kind of politics shit was when a playoff game ended on the tv and the late night guy came on and started bashing replublicans I’m his monologue. Then one of my right friends started chirping. I turned it off quickly and the political talk faded quickly.

My crew has played together for 10+ years and there have only rarely been non-poker arguments.

But recent events have changed things.

People seem more willing to bicker about hot topics like COVID and Ukraine. I had to really tamp things down last game.
 

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