Planning to host a poker night? You’re in good company. With poker more popular than ever, keen enthusiasts are looking to mix up their online play by hosting a poker evening in their homes.
And, happily, this couldn’t be easier. The magic of home poker nights is that you really don’t need all that much to get started. With a few supplies, a few friends, and some motivation, you are well on your way toward hosting a poker night that’s successful, regardless of what happens at the table. And once you’ve got the first one out of the way, you’ll likely find that it becomes a regular thing.
Grab the Supplies
You’ll absolutely need at least two things for your poker evening: a deck of cards and some poker chips. If you don’t already have them in your inventory, then ask around — if your friends are also keen poker players, then it’s probable that at least one of them will have them already.
While not essential, it’s best to have a poker tablecloth. This will ensure you have a smooth surface for your cards and chips, plus it’ll just add a touch of class and sophistication. It’s always recommended to incorporate as many elements of a real-world casino as you can. Throw in a few snacks, and you’re good to go!
Invite the Right Number of People
Depending on the type of poker you’re playing, you might be able to get away with inviting thirteen guests to play. However, just because you can, that doesn’t mean that you should. You’ll find that gameplay — and the evening in general — runs much more smoothly if you limit the guestlist to around 5 – 7 people.
Remember that it’s not just the number of guests that counts, though. Ideally, you’ll invite people who are of a similar/superior level to you. Beginners who are enthusiastic about learning how to play are also fine. The only people who shouldn’t be on the guestlist are those who are just coming to socialise — while there’s a social element to these evenings, first and foremost it’s about the game!
Home Rules
First of all: it can be handy to make sure everyone knows the poker rules and gameplay before you start playing. It’s easier to do it then rather than having to stop the game every few minutes when someone needs to clarify something.
You’ll also want to establish “House Rules” before you start playing. It’s much less complicated to determine whether one player can buy chips from another when you’re not already in the middle of a game.
The final factor to keep in mind is your own performance. Some hosts get so preoccupied with hosting that they fail to perform to their highest standard. Reading up on handy poker strategies for home games or playing a few hands online before the guests arrive can help ensure that hosts deliver their best. While hosts do need to ‘moderate’ the evening, that shouldn’t have a detrimental impact on their performance.
Setting the Tone
Creating a ‘poker-friendly’ atmosphere can help set the tone for the evening. This isn’t a usual home-gathering; it’s a poker night! The goal should be to try to mimic the conditions of a real-world casino as best you can.
There are two easy ways to do this: turn the lights down low (except for above the table at which you’re playing) and play some music. Note that it’s best to play music that does not have lyrics; for instance, jazz music. That’ll help to create a nice ambiance without being overly disturbing to the players.
Learn and Improve
Finally, remember that the more you host poker evenings, the better they’ll be. After you’ve finished up, spend some time reflecting on what went well, what could have been better, and what you didn’t do at all but wish you did. You can put all of your ideas into practice the next time you host a poker evening.
