I generally run a .10 small blind .25 big blind with a .05 ante. cash game Cause we be poor. Been running sine 2007 though. Once in a while we run a 0.50/1.00 with a .25c ante.
We typically play 5¢/10¢ cash games. $5 min buy-in, most buy-in for $10. Or $10 tourney, with one re-buy. Most max out at $20, and it works great for our crowd. I'd play 1¢/2¢ with a fun crowd. Or even a freeroll, just for fun. I like playing poker.
.25/.25 if were short handed (2 to 3 players). Tourney. I'll play any buy in as long as its a turbo'ish tourney. I don't want to play in a 5, 10, or even 20 dollar tourney that takes all fricken night to finish.
I play whatever usually.. better to have a night out playing cards than sitting at home on my computer or watching tv.
Ideally though 25c - 1/2 cash, $20-40 tournaments
I’m personally such a hyper competitive person I could easily play for play chips. That said $.25/.50 NL is the lowest cash stakes I feel that most people will play “real poker”.
My childhood friend once told me that his grandmother tought him and his cousins how to play poker. They played for pennies and nickels but she would keep the money if she won. She told them they would never be good poker players unless they had a fear of loss.
For tournaments $10-20 if it’s a night hanging out with friends and I plan on drinking a lot. I really don’t like single table tournaments as most in this range are. I would prefer a higher buy in or better yet...multiple tables with 20+ players.
If it is is with friends that I really enjoy their company and cards is just something to do while we hang out:
$20 tournament or 25c/25c $40+ buy-in cash game.
If I am going out to play poker for Poker:
Tournament: not going, but I could play a $100 single table game, possibly.
Cash game: prefer a min buy in of $200 game. Blinds don’t matter, stacks size does.
Very first game I remember hosting was .02/.05 with 5 buy in, 4-handed with the Michael Graves chips from Target in 2004. (White pennies, red nickels, blue quarters black dollars.)
5c/10c ..... I have a great time hosting that type of game. Big winners leave with an extra $7 while losers go home $5 poorer for 4 hrs of fun and socializing