Cash Game First time hosting cash game. In need of advice and opinions (1 Viewer)

[Donttellmywife87]

I just started hosting cash games. We play .25/.50c with a $20 min, $40 max buy in, and reload to match the biggest stack. I send out an invite and plan on having the game last for about 5 hours (6pm-11pm usually). We order food, drink beer and it’s more of a social event. Usually play 8-9 handed. Most of my players aren’t “poker players” and are there just for fun. We usually have a few people buy back in for $40, but generally our game doesn’t play that big and by 11, some guys are ready to cash out. Anyone that comes late or announces when they have to leave won’t get gripes about cashing out. Usually it’ll be close to 11, and we’ll play a more degen friendly game 5 handed with who is left.

My age group is guys in their 30s-early 40s and some of us have young kids, wives, and families. Just happy to get together once a month and we all get it when someone has to leave early/come late. Like others have said. Capping the buyin, and blinds will help keep the game from playing to big. And if people want to play 1/2 with $200 buy ins they can play in the casino. Or make sure your hosting the right group. I’ve read on the forum it’s easier to make a poker player your friend, than it is to make your friend a poker player. Know your audience and you’ll have a great game !

Good info to keep in mind. Thank you for the reply @yoke386

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Will be choosing a $50 or $60 per person cap, unlimited rebuys, .25c/.50c sb/bb and keep game under 10 people since it's my first time hosting a cash game. Thank you all who replied for all the info it helped me a ton.

 

[TheYeti]

I've been hosting for many years, but only recently (last 1.5-2 years) have gotten a large enough player pool to have a monthly game everyone can count on actually happening.

I won't play with less than 6 players, and cap it at 10. Personally, I enjoy it most with 8-9 players ... any less and it can be a bit boring to me, any more and it gets a little to loud and people can't keep their attention on the game.

We mostly play .25/.50 stakes with a 50bb ($25) min 200bb ($100) max buyin. Seems to be the sweet spot for our group. If you want to see what I've done for house rules, check out this post (and that thread is full of some good advice as well).

 

[Machine]

Have any of you had to deal with someone winning a big hand early on and getting out after? That's what I'm a little worried about.

I have a suggestion, and I'm sure you're guys might not like it at first.

If you are worried about it, play Pot Limit Holdem, this will further prevent people from hit and run, because it requires multiple people to pounding it to get stacks in.

.25/.5 PLO (or PLH) opens for a raise to $2 preflop and a reraise to $7 - $22, this is quite large for a .25/.5 game. It also forces better play after the flop, rather than someone hitting and then pushing $120 into a $4 pot and finding a fish calling off with rags. It also prevents someone from pushing the first hand, busting and leaving.

The money will / can go in, but it takes at least 2.

 

[OfficerLovejoy]

I have a suggestion, and I'm sure you're guys might not like it at first.

If you are worried about it, play Pot Limit Holdem, this will further prevent people from hit and run, because it requires multiple people to pounding it to get stacks in.

.25/.5 PLO (or PLH) opens for a raise to $2 preflop and a reraise to $7 - $22, this is quite large for a .25/.5 game. It also forces better play after the flop, rather than someone hitting and then pushing $120 into a $4 pot and finding a fish calling off with rags. It also prevents someone from pushing the first hand, busting and leaving.

The money will / can go in, but it takes at least 2.

PLO plays much bigger at the same stakes than NLHE in my experience.
The option to say "pot" and the closer equities entice players to bet bigger when they think they're ahead.

 

[Machine]

I would agree, my suggestion is to play pot limit holdem. It should give a little protection for newer players over a NLH game.

 

[mayster91]

Hi guys, this will be my first time hosting a cash game. Possibly a month or so. That being said what should I cap my game at $50/$60 unlimited rebuys? .25c/.50c sb/bb? Higher or smaller cap? Cap or no cap? Will have Somewhere between 10 to 20 people. What timer app would you recommend me using? How many chips will I need and what are your chip denomination breakdowns? Also how long should i host it for? What times to start and finish?

I usually run my cash game with no timer and cap at 100BB with unlimited rebuys. Once we get pretty deep into the night, I will allow rebuys up to whoever is chip-lead. I run a $1/$1 cash game so max to start is usually $100 with a minimum of $40. we play 11PM-3AM so come 130-2, people are buying in for $200-$300.

I use $1, $5, $10, and $25 chips.

For someone buying in at $100 my stacks are:

$15-1
$25-25
$30-10
$30-5

 

[digirati]

Starting stacks are:
20x $0.25
20x $1
$5

Does this mean your minimum buy-in is $30, or is it $50 and that would mean 5x $5?