What are your "home rules" at your home game ? (1 Viewer)

[CraigT78]

requiring my friends to pay for food and drink when they come to my house

I guess if it costs me $30-$50 a month

take a collection at the time

I was under the same opinion when I started hosting. It started as one game a month, and I'd have 7 to 10 guys show up. We'd play, eat a couple of packs of dogs and drink 1/2 a keg of beer. No problem, it cost me right around $150 for the beer and the dogs. Flash forward 2 years and I host a game easily 2 to 3 times a month, and get 20 guys regularly. Now I'm going through 6 to 8 packs of dogs (the good ones, all beef, no nitrates) and easily a keg and a half of beer (slim kegs). My costs have encroached upwards of $350 a month to host. I only charge the 'rake' on the monthly league nights. $20 a player - and that gets them all they can eat hot dogs, chips and guac, top shelf liquor, and quality local craft beer. It also gets them the other 2-3 cash games I host at no cost to them. On my random weekly cash games, there is no house rake - so effectively the guys are paying for 2-4 games a month. I considered this for over 6 months - as I didn't want to charge - but at the end of the day - $20 to have your fill at the Windy Crest Poker Room is way less than it's going to cost to hit up the local dive bar, and you aren't playing any poker there.

Edit - unlike @justsomedude I also supply premium cigars to enjoy while we play

 

[Poker Zombie]

The disparity in players’ bankrolls led to the elimination of full/unlimited rebuys, and this alternative solution.

I’d say about half the players in our tourney want to invest only the buy-in plus the small add-on; a quarter would do one rebuy, tops; and a quarter would happily rebuy all night.

And the latter is what happened when we tried unlimited rebuys. Several of the best-rolled players just kept taking wild chances and peeling repeatedly, until they doubled or tripled up. It meant a lot more money in the pool, but it also caused real resentment among those players on a tighter budget. They didn’t think it was fair that to get in the money, they might have to beat the same player 3-5 times.

(That actually happened to me in someone else’s tournament recently... I knocked a BINGO player out three times. He was pretty short each time, so I did not amass that huge a stack from it. After the third bust-out, he waited until the break, then took a fourth re-entry “because he didn’t want to go home.” Later, at the final table, he knocked me out on a coinflip hand—my JhTh vs. his 99 on a 7h8h2s board... actually I was a 56% favorite at that point. It felt kind of lousy to have a guy I’d outplayed repeatedly bust me because he was willing to just keep rebuying.)

We too used to have unlimited rebuys. One player abused that privilege, and it was hurting the enjoyment of the other players that had less they were willing to lose. We finally had to implement a 1 rebuy limit, which became quickly known as the Robbie Rule.

Robbie was typically our "winningest" player. It was not unusual for him to finish 1st, and have less profit than the 3rd place finisher. After the Robbie Rule was implemented, he stopped attending, however, "churn" on players leveled out quickly afterwards.

 

[celticnoel]

That's some set up you've got CraigT those guys are lucky! Hope you get some back by means of winning some cash.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I ran my game for 2.5 years on a 'donation only' basis. It started off just fine, but eventually ended up being 6-8 guys short each week. Two months ago I added $20 to the buy-in, and $10 to the prize pool, for a $80 total entry cost. I was transparent, got some grumbling, but it hasn't stopped anyone from coming and now the beer and food are covered. It costs me $300 to $350 a month to host.

I would probably break too if I played on a weekly basis. Since I'm right about every 6 weeks, the food costs are easier to accept as just "entertainment" expenses - and I am happy to spend $50 to play in the best card room in Tennessee. :

 

[CraigT78]

I would probably break too if I played on a weekly basis. Since I'm right about every 6 weeks, the food costs are easier to accept as just "entertainment" expenses - and I am happy to spend $50 to play in the best card room in Tennessee. :

Exactly. If it was a once in 6 week event - it would have taken me MUCH longer to implement a charge over the donation box. You won't hear me knock how anyone runs their game, I'll gladly show up, and follow the house rules :

 

[bsdunbar1]

It costs me $300 to $350 a month to host.

I have never tried to add up what it costs me to host. I would probably be scared to do so. I have always chalked it up as my hobby and i am fortunate to be able to host and spend the money for chips/tables/cards/etc. But I also don't supply free food and drinks regularly.

 

[Poker Zombie]

If I added it up, everything I have spent on food is probably still less than I have spent on tables and chips.

...but I'm not about to add it up, I don't really want to know.

 

[CraigT78]

I have never tried to add up what it costs me to host.

Me either - my wife so kindly did so for me

 

[Jimulacrum]

I used to play in a mixed cash game where you could draw light from the pot if you didn’t have enough chips to cover a bet. This happened on a regular basis during the game. People bought in short knowing if they hit a big hand there was no penalty for the short buy-in. But if your hand was vulnerable, you could just declare all-in!

Although goofy, this was the most profitable game I have ever played in.

Yeah, that's really bad. I've played in games—only limit poker, mind you—where you can play light when you run out of chips. But you are required to go light if you run out of chips. You can't just go light when you have a good hand and go all-in when you're drawing or whatever. Pretty stupid to allow that, IMO, because people will abuse it exactly as you've said. Buying in short and monkeying around with the all-in/light bets becomes a big messy part of the meta-game.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Of course I understand the situation, and I pride myself in being a good host. The fridge is always full of beer, soda, and water. Preztels, chips, snacks, and booze are provided without any ask. But the odd part was that on the same night where the hosting was the most expensive, even the regulars didn't hand over their usual pizza money.

I would never invite people into my house while asking for things. It always struck me as odd. But in this case there's 2 outcomes - either I stop supplying mains and I deal with people who either complain about being hungry or leave the game early to go eat, or I eat the cost.

The ONLY thing I have an issue with is the cost to host vs the buy in amount. If I had enough action for $1/1 or $1/3 game I'd spend even more on hosting. But if I'm paying $150 just to have people over to try to take even more of my money, and when an average win doesn't even break me even on the food costs, then I'd just as soon not provide mains.

If you follow my home game thread you see I host several times a month on provide food, drinks, snacks too. I tried to do it at as a donation the first time and shelled out $85 just in pizza to get $20 from players.

After that I just took $1 per pot that hits $30. I cut it off at midnight when we pay out the HH bonus.

You could collect 50c per hand that hits $20 and would get enough to cover your costs and nobody has to pay anything up front. Nobody is going to miss 50c from a pot. You could stop collecting it once you hit a certain dollar amount even.

Or cut down on the cost of the food provided. I was spending $60 to $70 ordering food from various places every week. My wife saw that and said she could make food in the crock pot for much less. So about 1/2 the time she will make something and it will end up costing about $15 and I can then use the money I collect to stock up the booze supply.

The crock pot meals are a huge hit too. People get tired of pizza all the time.

 

[longflop]

Exactly. If it was a once in 6 week event - it would have taken me MUCH longer to implement a charge over the donation box. You won't hear me knock how anyone runs their game, I'll gladly show up, and follow the house rules :

That's true, $500 per year, I'm ok with to host. $5,000 a year is a different animal! @CraigT78, your game sounds better than most of the wedding receptions I have been to!

 

[CraigT78]

That's true, $500 per year, I'm ok with to host. $5,000 a year is a different animal! @CraigT78, your game sounds better than most of the wedding receptions I have been to!

Two kegs of beer - this week is a Double Dry Hopped IPA and a local Lager. Then I offer the following selection of liquors.

A humidor full of cigars. Add to that a fridge full of sodas, premium all beef hot dogs, and potato buns. Finish it up with tortilla chips and guac or a homemade dip. No one leaves sober or hungry. Except the sober guys, they somehow are able to play all night without drinking. They usually win.

 

[Mesnik44]

I host 1 game per month. Players pay $5 per night for food.
This year, 2018, players contributed $610, while my food costs were $1015.
This is the cost of hosting, and my wife and I really don't mind paying it because of the fact that we love to host.

 

[Venturalvn]

If you follow my home game thread you see I host several times a month on provide food, drinks, snacks too. I tried to do it at as a donation the first time and shelled out $85 just in pizza to get $20 from players.

After that I just took $1 per pot that hits $30. I cut it off at midnight when we pay out the HH bonus.

You could collect 50c per hand that hits $20 and would get enough to cover your costs and nobody has to pay anything up front. Nobody is going to miss 50c from a pot. You could stop collecting it once you hit a certain dollar amount even.

Or cut down on the cost of the food provided. I was spending $60 to $70 ordering food from various places every week. My wife saw that and said she could make food in the crock pot for much less. So about 1/2 the time she will make something and it will end up costing about $15 and I can then use the money I collect to stock up the booze supply.

The crock pot meals are a huge hit too. People get tired of pizza all the time.

I think this might be my next shot. Chili in the pot, chips in the bowls, dogs on the rollers, beers in the fridge. Won't get me for a huge OOP expense, and everyone should still enjoy themselves with what's provided.

 

[Taghkanic]

If I added it up, everything I have spent on food is probably still less than I have spent on tables and chips.

The food you can never get back. But what you spent on chips, you (or your heirs!) someday will.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I think this might be my next shot. Chili in the pot, chips in the bowls, dogs on the rollers, beers in the fridge. Won't get me for a huge OOP expense, and everyone should still enjoy themselves with what's provided.

Pasta also goes a long way on a thin dime. I had a deck-cold year, and at one point had to bring the food costs down to pasta marinara. No meat, but filling and tasty.

In fact, here's the recent menu items, since we started tracking what we were serving...

• Prime Rib
• Stew
• Smoked Turkey
• Burgers
• Spaghetti
• Pesto Chicken
• Pulled Pork
• Pierogi
• Prime Rib
• Beef Stroganoff
• Fried Chicken Sandwiches
• Irish Lamb stew
• Mexican Meatloaf
• Cilantro-lime
• Chicken
• Ham
• Pesto Chicken
• KGB Burgers
• Prime Rib (sous vide)
• Cottage Pie
• Chili
• Sous Vide & Smoked Chicken
• Tilapia (hotdog option)
• Brisket
• Chicken Pesto
• Spaghetti, Maranara from scratch
• Smoked Chicken and Cole Slaw
• Prime Rib (sous vide)

 

[yone]

There is a lot of work on top of expenses when it comes to hosting. If you’re doing a weekly or monthly game, I don’t think you have to feel responsible for the cost of food and drinks. Simply having an enjoyable atmosphere and organizing a good group of people should be enough for players to appreciate being invited. You provide space, clean up after and make sure people have a good time. ‘Raking’ from the pot for food is completely acceptable in my opinion, especially if it is done transparently. What I like most about it is, the winners of the pots contribute so no one feels they pay for anything. For angling players that don’t like that, they could go to the casinos and get raked much more.

 

[Poker Zombie]

The food you can never get back. But what you spent on chips, you (or your heirs!) someday will.

No, I (or they) won't. Tennessee has some pretty lax laws regarding "family graveyards" We were discussing the concept of building a pyramid in the back 40, so we can be buried with all of our stuff - Egyptian style. That way nobody need to sort through all of our shit when we die.

 

[Taghkanic]

[ FWIW, at my game I lay out a growler of beer—which isn't much, but only about half the guys ever drink any, and usually bring their own—popcorn, nuts, plus homemade chips and guacamole (my killer recipe). Sometimes some candies. it’s not a big eating or drinking scene; this is mainly stuff for players to pick at before the game and during the break. All told it comes to $40-$50 per game. If someone needs a soda or juice or whatever from my fridge I don’t sweat it, unless they make it a habit. Sometimes players bring some other booze or snacks of their own. ]

 

[Venturalvn]

Pasta also goes a long way on a thin dime. I had a deck-cold year, and at one point had to bring the food costs down to pasta marinara. No meat, but filling and tasty.

In fact, here's the recent menu items, since we started tracking what we were serving...

• Prime Rib
• Stew
• Smoked Turkey
• Burgers
• Spaghetti
• Pesto Chicken
• Pulled Pork
• Pierogi
• Prime Rib
• Beef Stroganoff
• Fried Chicken Sandwiches
• Irish Lamb stew
• Mexican Meatloaf
• Cilantro-lime
• Chicken
• Ham
• Pesto Chicken
• KGB Burgers
• Prime Rib (sous vide)
• Cottage Pie
• Chili
• Sous Vide & Smoked Chicken
• Tilapia (hotdog option)
• Brisket
• Chicken
• Pesto
• Spaghetti, Maranara from scratch
• Smoked Chicken and Cole Slaw
• Prime Rib (sous vide)

How do I bookmark this post (y) :thumbsup: Gonna keep this menu on file

 

[Darson]

My No.1 house rule is "if you take a dog, replace the dog"

 

[Mesnik44]

Pasta also goes a long way on a thin dime. I had a deck-cold year, and at one point had to bring the food costs down to pasta marinara. No meat, but filling and tasty.

In fact, here's the recent menu items, since we started tracking what we were serving...

• Prime Rib
• Stew
• Smoked Turkey
• Burgers
• Spaghetti
• Pesto Chicken
• Pulled Pork
• Pierogi
• Prime Rib
• Beef Stroganoff
• Fried Chicken Sandwiches
• Irish Lamb stew
• Mexican Meatloaf
• Cilantro-lime
• Chicken
• Ham
• Pesto Chicken
• KGB Burgers
• Prime Rib (sous vide)
• Cottage Pie
• Chili
• Sous Vide & Smoked Chicken
• Tilapia (hotdog option)
• Brisket
• Chicken
• Pesto
• Spaghetti, Maranara from scratch
• Smoked Chicken and Cole Slaw
• Prime Rib (sous vide)

That's quite the menu!

I (we), normally provide Hot Dogs (staple, supplied every game), veggie tray, chips n dips, chili or a soup, sodas, some sort of candy, sometimes order in pizza and what I call left over beer. The left over beer is when a guest brings beer to the game, doesn't drink all of the cans or bottles in the case, and leaves it for me. I share the love. When we do a Main Event or Christmas game we go all out 2 soups or stews, meat platter for sandwiches, veggie tray, fruit tray, spinach dip, hot dogs, taquitos (on the hot dog roller), corn dogs (on the roller), chips n dips, sodas, candy, pizza, donuts, etc.