Host A Fantastic Poker Night (1 Viewer)

[valleychips]

I def agree with having the buy ins and/or reloads prestacked. Made things way faster for my game to get started and keep the flow going mid game after ppl got felted. We also have a dedicated dealer (sometimes me as host because no one else wanted to do it, other times a non-player who got tips in lieu of pay). So much faster and easier than a rotating dealer (with people forgetting to deal, or not tracking the pot or actions, or constantly having cards flip when dealing across a table). You get in way more hands with a dedicated dealer, and people can just enjoy the game. I play much worse when I'm dealer, but I care about hosting well. The tips I get aren't worth playing poorly. I always opt for non-player dealer if possible.

 

[Drosoph]

Thanks for all the great input! Inreally appreciate it!

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I play much worse when I'm dealer, but I care about hosting well. The tips I get aren't worth playing poorly. I always opt for non-player dealer if possible.

Huh! I've found the opposite, I play my best poker when I'm dealing, especially for tournaments. I think it keeps me focused and helps me pick up patterns rather than getting distracted or bored.

 

[valleychips]

Huh! I've found the opposite, I play my best poker when I'm dealing, especially for tournaments. I think it keeps me focused and helps me pick up patterns rather than getting distracted or bored.

I wish that were the case for me. When dealing I'm so fixated on getting things right for everyone else, and of the mindset to keep the game moving, that I don't dedicate the brain space or time to thinking through a hand I'm in. I also lose the ability to pick up on certain tells. Plus I have to run the room too. These are cash games and not tournaments FWIW. I def have won enough times when dealing but I track my results and it's clear I commit boneheaded errors way more frequently when dealing and playing ha.

 

[Vic]

I've ran and played in home poker games for a few decades now. You're on the right track:

The equipment is most important:

• Cards (professional setup from KEM or COPAQ with a cut card)
• Chips (unique designs that deter players from introducing chips into the game)
• Table (padded felt, padded rails, dealer well, no cup holders)
• Chairs (about any chair will do)
• Side Tables (small tables that can be shared to hold drinks/snacks).
• Buttons (Dealer and Missed Blind buttons)

Often overlooked is having a dedicated dealer to run the game. This allows players to relax and converse while not having to worry about inexperienced players trying to shuffle and pitch cards the length of the table without exposing them or experienced players stacking or manipulating the deck. When I first advertised my home game the first responses were from dealers interested in a position. There are probably dealer in your area who would love to deal your game. They all work on tips, and players who've played poker in casinos or card rooms instinctively toss a chip to the dealer once they drag a pot. It costs the host nothing and the games runs MUCH smoother. The player will appreciate it.

Food/drinks are really not very important. Poker players want to play poker, especially if it's a cash game and not a tournament. I provide soft drinks, bottled water, chips, pretzels, snack cakes, cheese crackers, hard candies, and assorted chocolates. At the end of the night very little has been touched and an initial supply may last me 5-6 games before I need to refill. I do allow players to bring their own beer/liquor as long as it doesn't get out of hand. Smoking/vaping is done outside. No smartphones at the table either as poker is a social game and smartphone users are either slowing down the action or may use it for cheating. As the host you're responsible for game integrity and player safety.

Have change on hand. Go to the bank and load up in plenty of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills so you can cash players out at the end of the game. Players shouldn't be expected to bring change. Recently, I've offered both PayPal and CashApp for re-buys. Players must bring cash for the initial buy-in, but if they run low and don't want to quit or run to an ATM, offering these services is a welcomed convenience.

Unless the game is rotating between players' homes where everyone is sharing the cost/effort to host a game, don't be shy about taking a rake to cover these expenses. The standard rake in the Florida panhandle where I've played is 10% up to $3. This means that the dealer is raking $1 when the pot reached $10, $20, and $30. It's MUCH LESS than any casino or card room charges and players appreciate not having to make the drive to a casino. They also appreciate playing with a group of players week after week as it builds camaraderie.

Good luck.

 

[Drosoph]

I've ran and played in home poker games for a few decades now. You're on the right track:

The equipment is most important:

• Cards (professional setup from KEM or COPAQ with a cut card)
• Chips (unique designs that deter players from introducing chips into the game)
• Table (padded felt, padded rails, dealer well, no cup holders)
• Chairs (about any chair will do)
• Side Tables (small tables that can be shared to hold drinks/snacks).
• Buttons (Dealer and Missed Blind buttons)

Often overlooked is having a dedicated dealer to run the game. This allows players to relax and converse while not having to worry about inexperienced players trying to shuffle and pitch cards the length of the table without exposing them or experienced players stacking or manipulating the deck. When I first advertised my home game the first responses were from dealers interested in a position. There are probably dealer in your area who would love to deal your game. They all work on tips, and players who've played poker in casinos or card rooms instinctively toss a chip to the dealer once they drag a pot. It costs the host nothing and the games runs MUCH smoother. The player will appreciate it.

Food/drinks are really not very important. Poker players want to play poker, especially if it's a cash game and not a tournament. I provide soft drinks, bottled water, chips, pretzels, snack cakes, cheese crackers, hard candies, and assorted chocolates. At the end of the night very little has been touched and an initial supply may last me 5-6 games before I need to refill. I do allow players to bring their own beer/liquor as long as it doesn't get out of hand. Smoking/vaping is done outside. No smartphones at the table either as poker is a social game and smartphone users are either slowing down the action or may use it for cheating. As the host you're responsible for game integrity and player safety.

Have change on hand. Go to the bank and load up in plenty of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills so you can cash players out at the end of the game. Players shouldn't be expected to bring change. Recently, I've offered both PayPal and CashApp for re-buys. Players must bring cash for the initial buy-in, but if they run low and don't want to quit or run to an ATM, offering these services is a welcomed convenience.

Unless the game is rotating between players' homes where everyone is sharing the cost/effort to host a game, don't be shy about taking a rake to cover these expenses. The standard rake in the Florida panhandle where I've played is 10% up to $3. This means that the dealer is raking $1 when the pot reached $10, $20, and $30. It's MUCH LESS than any casino or card room charges and players appreciate not having to make the drive to a casino. They also appreciate playing with a group of players week after week as it builds camaraderie.

Good luck.

View attachment 1587002

Great post and tips, thank you very much!

 

[BleedingChips]

This place is like Wikipedia or Reddit for poker chips. Awesome info, search for threads on this topic.

All the answers you’re gonna get here have already been said, and they’ll all be on setup, comfort, processes, yadda yadda yadda.

Instead, I present to you, make it fun! Enjoy hosting and do something MEMORABLE. No one is going home telling their wife that “wow, he had nice chairs” or “wow you should see how they run 2 decks and shuffle behind” (but uh, yeah you do need comfy chairs and 2 decks and shuffle behind ).

Go print off a Willy wonka golden ticket (can customize it to be meaningful to your group) and tape it under a chair. Draw for seats so it’s random, and then at some point in the evening pull out a $25 chip and say this goes to our golden ticket winner, making them look under their chairs to see who gets it.

For the love of g*d have solid tv or music t’d up ready to go. Don’t have anything good for music? I just nab some Sonos speakers - can’t go wrong with 2 of these for $200 a pop.

Replace the lights where you’re doing poker with smart lights. Set up a sequence on your app where when you press a button the lights all go deep dark red and the music plays the whole wants to be a millionaire dramatic sound. When someone goes all in the first time use your phone to kick off the sequence.

Go buy money guns online. Go buy awesome money/bankroll bags online and give them as a high hand/bad beat for the night bonus.

I have a couple thousand more ideas, but again all your generic “how to run a poker game” suggestions already exist here.

Edit - I didn’t even read the first comments when posting. Hilarious. People say those because they’re true - comfort first, 2 decks, etc. If it’s your first time hosting, when you search, if you see the same thing said on repeat take it as gospel.

These are some great ideas! I am very curious what the other ones you have are - I love the concept of creating something memorable!

 

[Sparty]

Apparently the key is a hotdog roller. Its the one thing here people obsess about as much as poker chips. I'm afraid to ask for details.

This. Get the hot dog roller!

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/hot-dog-roller-pron.26761/

 

[Sparkynutz]

https://www.facebook.com/share/18CCBisEpu/
Heres one pretty cheap

 

[SixSeven]

Here is something fun. Not sure if others have heard of it -

It's called the "Suits game"

It's a side game and 4 players can participate. Each of the four players choses a suit - spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. And when the flop comes out with 2 of the suit, say diamonds, the person that has diamonds calls out "diamonds" and the other 3 have to pay him a predetermined amount. Sa a frac or $1, what ever is small but significant. If the board is monotone (all diamonds for example) they call out diamonds and the others give the player double the amount - so 2 fracs, or two $1's! If they don't call it out, and it goes to the turn, then the diamonds player misses their chance to win from the other three. The game adds fun and suspense to the players in the game, and forces them to watch the board more carefully. And when the one person misses calling out the board, the other 3 can cajole him.