Favorite Thing a Guest Brought to a Home Game?? (3 Viewers)

[theedegen]

As a Poker Host, what's your favorite thing one of your guests has brought to the game?

For context on the question: I got invited to a home game this Friday and was excited because I've been struggling to find anything reliable. I wanted to bring drinks or some snacks so I get invited back but the host says he's got drinks and food covered.

Is there anything outside of brews and chips that people have brought and you were pumped about it? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

(not going to bring marijuana or coke before those get suggested lol)

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Gambling not enough? Want to actually shock your guests? Look no further. Last person to push the button gets shocked, OR only the first presser avoids the shock. Took my apes 50 seconds to realize they could just slap their friends' hands to shock them. Brutal stuff.

Shocking Game

 

[Rhodeman77]

A positive attitude (and lots of cash)!!!

 

[Nightowl]

Some people bring food (which i dont particularly like home made food, but guest do) and cigars aside from the usual above you mentioned.

 

[Tonystark137]

Good action. Good attitude. Good vibes. Pays attention to the game.
Try to join the conversation.
If it is a chipper's game, maybe a capper so yall can talk about chips.

 

[CraigT78]

@SixSeven brought me a setup and a magnet for my beer fridge - that was awesome.

I've had people bring sample sets of their chips, dealer buttons, cut cards etc and that's always nice.

If you and your friend aren't "chippers" a setup of nice plastic cards would be my go-to recommendation, or if he's a drinker, a nice bottle of bourbon.

But showing up with a positive attitude and good behavior is what hosts appreciate the most.

 

[ekricket]

Bring flowers. Not for the game, but for the day after so the wife of the host has something nice to remember the game by.

Alternatively a nice bottle of wine with the understanding it’s for the host and his wife later, when they have a quiet moment.

 

[SixSeven]

I have always thought a setup (but make sure to find out if they like bridge size or poker sized first - I learned that the hard way), or a cut card (same, find out right size), was a good way to go. But recently, I got given a couple poker books, and one of them I really love and am still reading (t's a classic from the 90's by Dan Harrington (Thx @EVGoblin)), but any poker book or movie DVD could be a good idea (I still have a DVD player). Also a cool chip from a poker room, or something personal to you that you think they would like - a chatzke from your area.

 

[Labrat]

As a Poker Host, what's your favorite thing one of your guests has brought to the game?

Their money and a good attitude.

 

[bergs]

I usually bring my D- game and an inordinate amount of cash.

 

[SixSeven]

I agree with @bergs. You don’t want to be a NIT.

 

[Jaxen]

Dead money.

 

[MrBoosh]

Gambling not enough? Want to actually shock your guests? Look no further. Last person to push the button gets shocked, OR only the first presser avoids the shock. Took my apes 50 seconds to realize they could just slap their friends' hands to shock them. Brutal stuff.

Shocking Game

View attachment 1650562

This shock game was a staple in our early poker nights before we started our league. So much fun! It was always hilarious to see people shock themselves but place a hand on someone's shoulder so they would get shocked as well. So many fun memories of that game!

 

[Highli99]

A box of tacos like @ChipFinderSK . He’s the hero of every game

 

[ChippinUp]

Brought to my last game from a buddy I’ve been playing with for 20 years.

 

[SteveEH]

As a Poker Host, what's your favorite thing one of your guests has brought to the game?

For context on the question: I got invited to a home game this Friday and was excited because I've been struggling to find anything reliable. I wanted to bring drinks or some snacks so I get invited back but the host says he's got drinks and food covered.

Is there anything outside of brews and chips that people have brought and you were pumped about it? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

(not going to bring marijuana or coke before those get suggested lol)

As a host that receives the occasional bottle, leftover beers, pastries, and bags of chips, it would be extra thoughtful if someone brought some nice plastic cards. Broken Arrow would do.

But honestly I'd prefer an 8 ball of pure blow

 

[merkong]

Our game has been gifted more deck setups than I’ve ever bought. It’s very nice to have almost 30 setups to rotate. Gifting the game > Gifting the host every time.

 

[BKisback]

Depends on the game/host; some would appreciate a bottle of wine while others would prefer a cool collector chip. Cash never hurts. Here's twenty bucks for opening your home to us, setting up a table and chairs, feeding me, etc.

 

[jamesjkim]

Cash for buy-ins. My apes are all digital.

 

[Munchies11]

Brought to my last game from a buddy I’ve been playing with for 20 years.

View attachment 1651154

Tell him he’s welcome to my game anytime lol

 

[BarrieJ3]

Not even MY own game, but a game I drove to. Someone I enjoy playing with gave me 3d printed busts of my head and shoulders.

Another time, someone built and brought custom card boxes that were my game’s theme, with cool design and Easter eggs on it. Something every custom set is missing.

There’s around 5+ folks that brought a custom sample, but like full samples otherwise never available that were pretty cool customs, highly personal to them and potentially otherwise unobtainable.

Gift for the kid(s) specific to their interest, puppy treats, a DB created from a shared LV trip keepsake, etc.

It's much less about the gift or the cost, and the thoughtfulness of the surprises.

 

[Munchies11]

Cash for buy-ins. My apes are all digital.

Those days are numbering ! We are trying to enforce cash too like it way much better. However there’s always one that ruins it for everyone lol

 

[Irish]

When going to a game for the first time, unless you *really* know the host or a bunch of players in the game, I usually focus more on what many have noted above - being a grateful, attentive and interactive guest, then overthinking a gift to bring. My default is bringing a decent bottle of bourbon, something for me, but that can be shared and then left behind for the house/future games. And when I respond to the invite, that's usually what I'll ask - "hey I was planning on bringing a bottle of Rare Breed to share, that OK?" IMHO the last thing you want to do is bring a bottle of booze/wine to a recovering alcoholic, a cigar to a guy who doesn't smoke, donuts to a group of fitness nuts, etc etc etc. The gesture will be appreciated, but it just won't be that useful for the host/group. Sometimes even a nice deck of cards will never get used, because maybe his players always use a certain brand.

The second time you go, that's when you can get more creative and impactful. You've gotten a feel for what the host provides, the game vibe, the players, etc, and can adjust accordingly. As a host, I find the best player contributions are alternative snacks, desserts and drinks. I don't supply dinner, but I have the hot dog roller, a few chips, nachos and cheese, coffee/soda/water, some beer and whiskey. Guys will supplement that with a pizza, brats, Philly pretzels, a box of donuts/cookies, etc - and that helps to offer some more variety, which my players and I and my family appreciate. Brownie points if you can figure out something that the host's wife and kids really likes, and say "hey make sure your family knows this is here and comes gets some" And double bonus points if you bring something "custom". Donuts from your favorite local bakery vs dunkin, pizza from your special pizza joint vs Papa John's, a single barrel bourbon pick from you local liquor store. I remember a player once brought this giant eclair from Harold's, a local deli famous for their giant food. The guys still talk about it years later lol.

 

[SixSeven]

I got invited to a home game this Friday

How did it go? What did you end up bringing?

 

[HiveKueen]

I'm late to the party here but speaking as a weekly host...

- a 6 pack of craft beer or a 750ml bottle of whiskey/gin/rum/etc., that you offer to the other players and leave the "leftovers"
- popular with my players are pretzels, peanut M&Ms, salty snacks
- occasionally a setup of the various brands of cards we use
- a case of toilet paper!!!
- similar consumables
- breath mints to use/share as may be needed
- slippers or indoor shoes so you can leave your shoes/boots on the welcome mat


Cool things players have brought to the game:
- a bag of 3D printed Buffalo Bills logo'd card markers (very popular)
- league themed room decorations
- your favorite poker table chair (some hosts might not like this!)

Other behaviors that are always noticed, appreciated and build trust with the host:
- good hygiene
- put your phone away
- help people get to know you
- pull your cards in close to your stack and cap them
- don't talk about the hand during the hand if you are not in it
- ask for permission before you give any advice to another player
- don't come to the game if you are sick
- respect the cards - don't tap them to check, don't bend them more than needed, speak up if you see a marking on a card
- be on the look out for mistakes during the deal, or the play of the hand and kindly act to correct them or call the Floor to address
- if you are seated in the middle of the table, help manage the movement of the cards and chips to speed up play
- encourage people to not splash the pot, to clarify confusing actions/verbalizations,
- be trustworthy - so many examples such as tell another player if you can see their cards when they look at them
- offer to help such as with setup before hand, chip ups, cleanup afterwards,
- know the house rules and help teach them to the lesser informed players
- improve your dealing technique (especially the flop)
- cut the deck carefully with the cards and cut card both on the table
- shuffle the way real dealers do
- deal the flop out as far into the middle of the table as possible - everyone wants to be able to see it
- volunteer to deal the championship game you don't qualify for it
- foster and participate in table conversation
- during the break, go to the restroom well BEFORE the break is over rather than in the last few seconds!
- and, in my league, we appreciate if people refrain from gratuitous swearing

Enough already!

HiveKueen

 

[theedegen]

-

How did it go? What did you end up bringing?

I ended up just bringing an extra two six packs of beer and some energy drinks to share w/ people since he said they play really late sometimes. It went well!

Although they had plenty of drinks already so I don't think* mine were much of a value add. The most value I was able to add was letting a guy Zelle me for a re-buy and giving the host cash for him since I was the only one with Zelle.

I was invited back so I say it was a success lol. And it was mostly a nice group of guys.

Appreciate all the ideas, got a lot of good ones for the future.

 

[theedegen]

-

I ended up just bringing an extra two six packs of beer and some energy drinks to share w/ people since he said they play really late sometimes. It went well!

Although they had plenty of drinks already so I don't think* mine were much of a value add. The most value I was able to add was letting a guy Zelle me for a re-buy and giving the host cash for him since I was the only one with Zelle.

I was invited back so I say it was a success lol. And it was mostly a nice group of guys.

Appreciate all the ideas, got a lot of good ones for the future. And still would love to hear more!

 

[BleedingChips]

Bring flowers. Not for the game, but for the day after so the wife of the host has something nice to remember the game by.

Alternatively a nice bottle of wine with the understanding it’s for the host and his wife later, when they have a quiet moment.

That’s a next level gift to help the host leave a positive impression of hosting to the wife.

 

[upNdown]

Sometimes even a nice deck of cards will never get used, because maybe his players always use a certain brand.

Yup. I brought a deck of Piatniks to a PCFers game. They opened them, realized they were bridge and set them aside, because they only had poker size cut cards because they only use poker size cards. I really wanted to ask for them back, when I was leaving.

 

[ThrowBack]

An extra buy in

Good action.