Poker tables, is bigger better ? (1 Viewer)

yoke386

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Good evening everyone, new to the site and have done a lot of reading along this thread. I know that when it comes down to table builds, personal preferences and time are what come down to the build. I’m going to be building my first table for home games.

I’m hoping to host between 7-10 players at these games, and plan on the overall dimensions of the table to be 88”x44”. After measuring this out I was thinking this might be a bit to large.

Does anyone have any experience with a table about this size. Is bigger actually better ?

Thank you for any input !

-Yoke386
 
I think that will be a bit snug for 10 people. Would be great for 7, maybe 8, unless they are all 5ft and 85lbs.
 
All depends on your space. I'd never want to host a 10 handed game sounds horrid. I don't even like being 9 handed in a home game, way too tedious to keep things flowing. That being said 88x44 is enough for 10 if needed, Perfect for up to 8, tight for 9 and tighter for 10. Hard to deal, hard to scoop pots etc etc. I have a 96x44, it'll fit 10 no problem. My space is really only good for 8, 9 if absolutely necessary. If you think you will definitely be 10 handed often, I would size up a smidge. My advice is cap to 8 handed and go with the size you posted.
 
I've had 9 at a Barrington table, which is 84x42. It was comfortable, but no one was particularly large.
 
I've squeezed 9 around a 72x36 table (not great). Maybe my friends are just small, but 8 isn't much of a problem. 88x44 seems large enough for 10, assuming your chairs and players aren't huge. If you expect to hit 10 every time you may want larger, but if you're frequently 7-9 I think it's probably the best size. Oversizing isn't ideal because it'll make dragging pots and seeing the cards tougher for people on the edge.
 
Awesome points, and you’re right 10 handed would probably be crazy to handle. I’ve got 3 guys I regularly play with at the casino. And now a days getting friends together is tough, never mind 9 at the same time so realistically 7 will probably be a more consistent number. Thank you for the input, really appreciate it.
 
Bigger is definitely better if you have the space for it. My old table is 96x48. My new table is 100x48. I think 48 wide is way more comfortable than 44, especially for the people sitting on the ends (Players are not as squished together). Just my thought.
 
9-10 is too many for my taste. I use an octagon table. Limits number of players to 8 (duh) and, even more importantly, makes dealing a non pity (self dealt game).
 
I always suggest going as big as you can fit comfortably in the space. It's rare that you're shorthanded and people complain there's too much room, but on the other hand when you have a full table, it's never nice to be crammed in.
 
Mine is 98"x45" and is fine with 10 + dealer. Fine as in not sitting on someone's lap but it is cosy. I cap it at me + 8 players and there's plenty of room then. You can't deal from the corners though so if you don't have a dedicated dealer, you need to come up with a (different) system.
 
We stuck with the standard sheet of plywood and do 10 comfortable. We’ve even seated an 11th when a regular comes staggering in hours after we’ve started.

Good luck.
 
96x44 fits 10 comfortably and eliminates a cut on a sheet of plywood. I don't recommend the full 48" width, if you ever have a dedicated dealer it's uncomfortable reaching that extra distance all night plus the corners are often out of reach.

I had 12 seated one time (11+dealer) which was a squeeze but not as bad as I thought.
 
78" side of side. Too big for a one piece Chanman cloth. No pot could be collected without help from several other players!
IMG_4484.jpg

I didn't design it. I just helped re-felt it...
 
I have a 40x88 that I consider good for 8.
+Another 'baby table': 55" round (advertised as 60" :mad: )
We had a SNAFU at this year's pre-superbowl tournament gathering where 16 promised to show and then it went down to 8.
Then 10 showed up. We used the 40x88: but wider would have been better for the ends.
It worked fine with our 10 out but is also depends on the size of the players.
 
78" side of side. Too big for a one piece Chanman cloth. No pot could be collected without help from several other players!

I didn't design it. I just helped re-felt it...
lol: he needs a casino chip rake
+love the chairs
I had ordered similar but they were too big for my round table and I had to sell them off :(
 
Awesome ! My materials I ordered should be coming FedEx tomorrow. Hoping to start building this weekend.

Pretty much based all my sketches and such from this YouTube video by dirk made. Hands down has the most in depth video I’ve seen for the entire process.

I’ll definitely try taking pictures during the build to share on here. Below is the link for the video, hopefully it works!

Thanks everybody!

 
I have a 40x88 that I consider good for 8.
+Another 'baby table': 55" round (advertised as 60" :mad: )
We had a SNAFU at this year's pre-superbowl tournament gathering where 16 promised to show and then it went down to 8.
Then 10 showed up. We used the 40x88: but wider would have been better for the ends.
It worked fine with our 10 out but is also depends on the size of the players.
I like that 88” length. I’m planing on doing 88”x44”. All in all I think I’ll be about $500 in for the table. I think my game will grow in to needing a second table sooner than later so anything learned on this one will make the next better. I’m definitely a novice “maker” but find the process therapeutic.
 
Awesome ! My materials I ordered should be coming FedEx tomorrow. Hoping to start building this weekend.

Pretty much based all my sketches and such from this YouTube video by dirk made. Hands down has the most in depth video I’ve seen for the entire process.

I’ll definitely try taking pictures during the build to share on here. Below is the link for the video, hopefully it works!

Thanks everybody!

I would really recommend to put foam under the felt as well. Seems like the guy in the video only had some sort of cloth under the felt.
 
Awesome ! My materials I ordered should be coming FedEx tomorrow. Hoping to start building this weekend.

Pretty much based all my sketches and such from this YouTube video by dirk made. Hands down has the most in depth video I’ve seen for the entire process.

I’ll definitely try taking pictures during the build to share on here. Below is the link for the video, hopefully it works!

Thanks everybody!

I just watched this video from start to finish. I love when the builder gives a triumphant yell wen he finishes the vinyl cover for the rail. Big shout out to all our members and vendors capable of building poker tables! Truly an awesome skill.
 
I would really recommend to put foam under the felt as well. Seems like the guy in the video only had some sort of cloth under the felt.
I bought 1/4” closed cell volara foam for under the felt, it was the only thing I could find that was readily available for shipping. I know I’ve seen mixed reviews and that High Density open cell seems to be the favorite. Hopefully I’m going to be happy with this under felt foam.
 
I think you’re fine at 88. I don’t agree that bigger is better, especially if you’re self dealing on an oval. My oval is 66 x 44 - it seats 8 fine and 7 comfortably. But everybody has their own opinion about what’s comfortable. If our arms and legs aren’t touching, I’m fine. Some people would prefer an extra foot per person. And that’s nice, but when your table starts getting so big that you can’t comfortably chat with the guys on the other end, it starts feeling more like a casino than a home game.
Anyway I think 88 is should be fine for your needs, but you’ll let us know. Good luck with it!
 
So I’ve had a couple free days this week and I’m on the home stretch of my table build! Definitely some learning moment but overall enjoying this process. Big thanks to those who have posted on here to help me out along the way! Here are some photos hope to post the finished product tomorrow or this weekend!
 

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Welp, finished the table… minus the folding legs I’m waiting for in the mail, guess it’s just a table topper for now but couldn’t resist seeing it in the space.
Congrats on what looks to be a successful build! I'm in the research phase for building one right now that will be a similar size. For that large of a table, do you feel one sheet of 3/4" plywood is sturdy enough for the main surface? I've seen other people double up the center board with the smaller oval cutout that is left over from cutting out the rail. That seems like a nice idea (the sturdier the better), but man that would be one heavy table. Do you think the one sheet is plenty sturdy?
 
Congrats on what looks to be a successful build! I'm in the research phase for building one right now that will be a similar size. For that large of a table, do you feel one sheet of 3/4" plywood is sturdy enough for the main surface? I've seen other people double up the center board with the smaller oval cutout that is left over from cutting out the rail. That seems like a nice idea (the sturdier the better), but man that would be one heavy table. Do you think the one sheet is plenty sturdy?
In total I used (2) 3/4 inch sheets of birch plywood. I attached the rail to the playing surface in 6 spots- one at each end (ovals) and then two along the long sides. I think it will be strong enough without using that extra oval piece, although that is a good idea if you’re not going to have to move it so weight isn’t a concern. In a video I watch, the guy makes a box out of 3/4 plywood strips to go around the leg mounts and attached them to the table with pocket holes. I’d say that’s the way to go if you need to sturdy it up.

Good luck on your build, I got all my supplies from YAT. If you already have the tools to build this I think with the wood and other materials I spent around $400, that’s including the folding legs that were about $50.

If you have any questions, novice to a novice I’ll try and help you if I can
 

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