First Time Hosting w/ Pics (1 Viewer)

SSTB2213

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The gear has finally all come in, and I'll be hosting my first home game this weekend. We'll be playing $1/$1 NLHE cash game in the basement and wanted to share my setup and ask for any pointers with the equipment or running a home game. Here are the details:

-$1/$1 blinds, NLHE cash game
-8 players on a 60" round table
-self-dealing game
-multiple decks of KEM cards with the large print (not sure I love these as you have to lift the corners of the hole cards up really high to see what you've got)
-custom table and chips
-chairs direct from the manufacturer (found them thanks to this forum and got w/ wheels and no arm rests)
-going to have the tv's going, making a Spotify playlist, firing up the popcorn machine and getting pizza/snacks

Thanks to the many recommendations and vendors on this forum I have finally put together a game. The original plan was to have the poker table where air hockey is, but it felt too cramped. With the current placement, an oval would have been better for the space, but I still like the idea of a circle for self-dealt games. The only other things worth mentioning is that I have a dry-erase board that I'll be writing the house rules on, and will have a bunch of small bills on hand to make cash outs easier. BYOB, but I'm providing everything else this time. I might charge a $10 food fee in the future if the game takes off and runs regularly. Finally, organized over email, but it seems a lot of people like using Signal to organize? I decided not to do a waitlist, and keep it simple this time around. 8 players rsvp'd to make a full table. Hopefully, it doesn't break too early.

Tips/critiques for a noob are all welcome!
 

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Great looking set-up. What time should I be there?
Thanks! I’m more of a lurker, but once I meet the requirements I’ll most likely post the game in the forum.

Very tidy setup and I love the name of your game!
Thank you!

Very nice! Love the inlay design and poker room. Good luck!
Thanks! @Colquhoun knocked it out of the park

Congrats on getting the room together! The table and chips came out great! :tup:
Thanks for your help with the image!
 
Very Nice set up indeed. Is that a home made table? I see the players sit opposite the drink holders, which I just changed my table drink holders to the rail, and we also sit opposite the drink holder. When my drink holders were on the race track, we had to sit on the side so as to have room for the stack of chips. I also made and added snack trays with sliders that sit under the drink holders. This keeps the snack bowls off the table for more elbow room. Even with the bowl full of snacks in the tray, it can slide under the table when not being used. The guys really love the snack trays. Easy to make using 10" sliders.
table snack.jpg
 
Very Nice set up indeed. Is that a home made table? I see the players sit opposite the drink holders, which I just changed my table drink holders to the rail, and we also sit opposite the drink holder. When my drink holders were on the race track, we had to sit on the side so as to have room for the stack of chips. I also made and added snack trays with sliders that sit under the drink holders. This keeps the snack bowls off the table for more elbow room. Even with the bowl full of snacks in the tray, it can slide under the table when not being used. The guys really love the snack trays. Easy to make using 10" sliders.
View attachment 1441442
I like the snack trays!

Yes, homemade, but not by me. I had a couple DMs asking about it as well, so shoutout to Jim over at https://www.herringbonecustompokertables.com/ in PA for making it.
 
This all looks great! Definitely gives me some inspiration for what I am hoping to achieve with my home game. I am just dipping my toes into hosting monthly cash games for 6-8 regulars.

Excited to see how your game continues to develop!
 
This all looks great! Definitely gives me some inspiration for what I am hoping to achieve with my home game. I am just dipping my toes into hosting monthly cash games for 6-8 regulars.

Excited to see how your game continues to develop!
Thanks, man! First game is in the books. We played $1/$1 NLHE, and the game was smooth. No issues at all. The table comfortably fits 8, got a bunch of compliments on the set up, and I won about $150 at the end of the night. We played from 8-12:30ish. The plan was to cover the food myself for the first game, but at the end of the night the big winner voluntarily threw me $50, which was greatly appreciated. Pic attached.
 

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Thanks, man! First game is in the books. We played $1/$1 NLHE, and the game was smooth. No issues at all. The table comfortably fits 8, got a bunch of compliments on the set up, and I won about $150 at the end of the night. We played from 8-12:30ish. The plan was to cover the food myself for the first game, but at the end of the night the big winner voluntarily threw me $50, which was greatly appreciated. Pic attached.
Off and running. Hosting is a labor of love and as it gets easier it's because it's getting easier. When the players realize what they have and how hard a host works, that is the perfect intersection of the hosting universe. Good luck.
 
Off and running. Hosting is a labor of love and as it gets easier it's because it's getting easier. When the players realize what they have and how hard a host works, that is the perfect intersection of the hosting universe. Good luck.
Thanks! The Feb game already filled with a waitlist of 3. I must have done something right!
 
Better keep this thread up now I'm invested lol, nice setup! Everything looks great you are certainly doing things right!
 

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