If you're looking to host a home poker game for the first time, make sure it's a poker-perfect night by setting it up right. There are a few things you'll need to decide before you start sending out emails and making phone calls to invite people to your big poker night:
- What Kind of Poker Night Will it Be?
Do you want to have an informal gathering of friends and play dealer's choice, where each player gets to choose the game played each hand? Or do you want to focus on one game, like Texas Hold'em, all night? Or do you want to imitate the action of the televised poker tournaments at your home? - How Many People Should You Invite?
If you're playing a dealer's choice game, stick to 5-7 people. In any game where seven-card stud is a possibility, you can't have more than 7 players at the table. On the other hand, if you're hosting a Texas Hold'em only night, you should aim for 6-10 players.
- What's the Buy-In and What are the Stakes?
No matter what kind of poker night you've decided to have, you should make it clear how much money your friends should bring to play, or "buy in" to the game with. A good way to set the buy-in for a new game is to choose an amount that you would spend on a night out. Whether it's $10 or $100, it should be enough so the money matters a little, but not so much that anyone is going to miss paying their electric bill if they lose it.
The other thing to consider is what the stakes, or the betting structure, will be. Will it be a spread-limit, fixed-limit, or no limit game? How much will the minimum and maximum bets be?
Next: Stock up on Poker Supplies for Your Home Game
