Poker Home Game Tips
Poker is a social game that is especially enjoyable when played with friends in a casual environment, where players can cut loose and have some laughs. Having a home game is a great excuse to get your friends together and can also be a good way to learn poker or experiment with new strategies. Pulling off a successful home poker game can be a bit tricky, but there are several steps you can take to ensure it will be a success.
Invite Friendly Players
The right mix of people is essential to having a fun poker game. If the game is compiled of all experienced semi-pros and one poor novice, things will be off balance and the poor shmuck who is just learning will likely lose all his money quickly, and possibly feel alienated or out of place. Inviting players from all different skill levels will ensure a more balanced, enjoyable game for everyone involved.
Manage the Game
In order to prevent mayhem, and keep your home game running smoothly, someone needs to be keeping an eye on things. Poker games certainly do not run themselves and require a good deal of organization. There needs to be at least one person who is fluent in the rules of the game you are playing so that disputes can be avoided. Additionally, someone should be in charge of the "bank," meaning they are responsible for providing players with chips and cashing them out when they leave.
Cater to Your Players
Keep in mind who is playing in your home game. If you are inviting regular Joes who have families and mortgages, remember that they may not have unlimited funds to spend. Create a game with reasonable stakes so that everyone can have a fun time without sweating their losses too much. The last thing you want to do is take your friends grocery money for the week. Also, think about inviting players who will get along socially, rather than those who might rub each other the wrong way or get too competitive with one another. Poker games can get heated and emotional sometimes, and you don't want to have to referee.
Have the Proper Supplies
A few things are essential to have on hand to make a poker home game run smoothly. You'll certainly need a table and chairs for your players, as well as a deck of cards, poker chips and a dealer button (although a bottle cap or homemade button will certainly do the trick). Some optional, but helpful supplies to have on hand include drink tables, snacks, music, chip racks, missed blind buttons, and a board for waiting players or table changes (depending on the size of your game).
If you don't have access to the basic supplies needed to run a home poker game, another good option is to create an online poker club, like those currently offered at PokerStars. This way, you can play with your friends in a virtual poker room without having to leave your houses or clean up afterwards.
