Unobvious tips to level up your home game (2 Viewers)

[QuantumCards]

Other than the obvious gear-related things (like having a nice table, chips, cards, chairs, etc.) how have you leveled up your home game over the years? What things have you implemented that your players like?

 

[BuckMason]

Good coffee. My guys love the good stuff.

 

[LowerBama1714]

I’m not much of a drinker, but 6000+ kinds of whiskey seems like a good thing.

 

[Tonysquander]

Good background music playing and video/TVs. Comfortable space for players to chill and smoke cigars or other things and take a break. Well stocked bar and good eats. Well run game with people who are fun to be around.

 

[ekricket]

Consistency. Even if it’s just two it’s the same time and place every week.
Rules to get everyone on common ground.
Plastic cards.
Challenging play.

 

[LowerBama1714]

Neon signs.

And scented candles…this cannot be understated.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Everyone’s going to give you the same answers they and everyone else has been giving for a decade+.

Chat gpt or whatever will give you their same answers.

Instead, give some genuine thought to your players, your space, and what specifically would stand out and make an impact at your game. And that, we can’t answer for you.

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.

 

[Bluegrass Poker]

I’m not much of a drinker, but 6000+ kinds of whiskey seems like a good thing.

Damn. I only got 42.

 

[PapaWheelie]

Damn. I only got 42.

Yeah, but if you're in Kentucky, then they're probably all legit

 

[Bluegrass Poker]

Yeah, but if you're in Kentucky, then they're probably all legit

I am. LOL.

 

[Gunnar]

Fun people, the best games I play are with fun people regardless of stakes.

And rules. I think rules that prevent drama are a must, listed House rules. Remember that most people are there for the company and fun rather than winning money each night

 

[CraigT78]

A hot dog roller!

 

[Highli99]

Good music. When the whales are losing, give them Yacht Rock. When the whales are winning, punish them with Dave Matthew’s Band and OAR.

 

[QuantumCards]

Good music. When the whales are losing, give them Yacht Rock. When the whales are winning, punish them with Dave Matthew’s Band and OAR.

LOL. bad beat jackpot = select the playlist for next week!

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Good music. When the whales are losing, give them Yacht Rock. When the whales are winning, punish them with Dave Matthew’s Band and OAR.

Friend of mine searched and played Dave Matthews - Ants Marching at a poker night last year. But it was on Spotify, and he'd searched it and just clicked on it. This means it will just play this song constantly, down a list of all the albums/versions/whatever. Took us 15 minutes to realize it was just looping. Not sure what that says about us, or about Dave's music.

 

[CraigT78]

Good music. When the whales are losing, give them Yacht Rock. When the whales are winning, punish them with Dave Matthew’s Band and OAR.

I could listen to OAR on repeat for a four day meetup.

This is a fantastic idea.....

 

[CraigT78]

Last year someone bitched about my music selection at the meetup. I then played Taylor Swift for an hour.

 

[bruh]

Very important: good lighting
Also, accessible toilets (not always the case in garage games)

 

[QuantumCards]

Fun people, the best games I play are with fun people regardless of stakes.

And rules. I think rules that prevent drama are a must, listed House rules. Remember that most people are there for the company and fun rather than winning money each night

Yeah having a book or printed out rules is king. I discovered this with other games.

 

[BigGrizz]

Weirdly, games other than poker. When I run a tournament I set aside a board game table for those eliminated. They like it better than a cash game. Simple stuff like King of Tokyo, Secret Hitler, or Dominion are easy and keep the party going.

 

[CraigT78]

Weirdly, games other than poker. When I run a tournament I set aside a board game table for those eliminated. They like it better than a cash game. Simple stuff like King of Tokyo, Secret Hitler, or Dominion are easy and keep the party going.

It might be fun, but you aren't going to take their money at connect 4

 

[QuantumCards]

It might be fun, but you aren't going to take their money at connect 4

Unless you wager $20/game, of course

 

[BigGrizz]

Well no. Just their pride...

 

[ekricket]

It might be fun, but you aren't going to take their money at connect 4

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=889620417466365

 

[CraigT78]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=889620417466365

That's not the standard rules.

Disqualified.

 

[inca911]

A hot dog roller!

Came here to post just that! The roller you sponsored, @CraigT78 continues to get rave reviews. Thanks again!

Seconding a good music selection (and not too loud).

 

[ChuckZ55]

And rules. I think rules that prevent drama are a must, listed House rules. Remember that most people are there for the company and fun rather than winning money each night

Yeah having a book or printed out rules is king. I discovered this with other games.

Might be a dumb question, but what are some rules you guys have? And do you write them out or just tell them to the players at the start? I feel like my buddies know the deal pretty well by now, but might be good for new players especially since I’ve got some much nicer chips.

 

[inca911]

…do you write them out or just tell them to the players at the start…?

Posted above the fireplace….

 

[CraigT78]

Came here to post just that! The roller you sponsored, @CraigT78 continues to get rave reviews. Thanks again!

Seconding a good music selection (and not too loud).

If someone would just create a poker meetup playlist, with something for everyone, with nearly 45 hours of music.......wouldn't that be the dream?

 

[Highli99]

I could listen to OAR on repeat for a four day meetup.

This is a fantastic idea.....

This artwork is part of the poker room. Fun pickup from soundwave.