Poker Night – The Ultimate Hosting Guide

Poker night— the time-honored tradition of gathering with the gang to enjoy a taste of Vegas, is a must on any gentleman’s calendar.

But putting together the ideal evening of bets and cigars presents a few challenges. Even if you are the unquestioned shark in your poker squad, you’ll need to do prep to host a memorable night.

If it’s your turn to host, we’ve curated a few tips to help you host the ultimate guy’s poker night…

Plan the Party

Any event planner worth their salt will tell you that the first step to hosting is to come up with a plan for the evening’s festivites.

Start by setting up a date, well in advance. And be sure to consider a date that everyone is most likely to attend. Send a few texts to determine availability from your guest list, but be flexible enough to move the date around.

Friday nights are generally the preferred timeslot, so that all of your players can wind down without worrying about having to work the next day. 

Once you have secured the date, set the format in advance so the players can prepare for it. Will it be Texas Hold’em or a dealer’s choice? Cash or tournament? And be sure to let everyone know what the buy-in and worth of each chip is.

It’s also best practice to ensure everyone buys into responsible play. According to industry experts at Beastsofpoker.com, the optimal evening is one where everyone at the table has fun, while playing responsibly with money they can afford to lose.

Who To Invite

Standard poker tables in casinos usually host around 8-10 players. When hosting at home, you want to keep close to this number, with 8 as the maximum.

However, the number of invitees also depends on your carrying capacity. Invite just enough people that can comfortably accomodate, without overcrowding the space. Make sure everyone invited knows in advance, while taking into consideration all the needs of the players.

Another aspect of a great Poker night is the storytelling and conversations your players will enjoy. The evening is an experience, not just a game. Thus, it is vital to invite people that get along. Nobody wants to spend a Poker game arguing or being bored. Include a variety of personalities, and be sure to invite that gregarious guy who always has amusing and interesting anecdotes to share.

And avoid asking strangers to take part. They might take time to blend in with others.

Poker Accessories: Essentials

Luckily, poker is a simple sport that doesn’t need much equipment or safety gear like hockey or fishing. In fact, all you need to pull off a standard game is a table, a deck of cards, and chips.

However, you want to have at least one extra set of cards just in case. This will ensure that the game continues if the cards are somehow damaged in the process.

A sharp set of poker chips is essential. In this case, a 500 chipset will do just fine. Do not cheap out! There are a plethora of affordable options you can get that don’t feel like cheap plastic or Dollar store bargains.

By the same token, it’s advisable to have an extra set of chips for when someone wants to buy in after going out. And it’s best to not invest in pre-denominated chips. Instead, collect different colored chips and then assign them any value you want.

Poker Night – The Ultimate Hosting Guide

Setting Up The Game Spot 

Now that you have all the chips in place, it’s time to focus on the ambiance. The goal here is to make gameplay as convenient as possible.

From the chairs to the lighting to the table, make it so that the players can access and view their cards with ease.

A good place to start is by setting your table in a spot with plenty of overhead lighting. Many times, hosts don’t consider comfort while sitting, so be sure to have chairs that are supportive. Games can go for hours! If all you have are card table chairs, add some flat cushions for more comfort and elevation.

Snacks & Sips

They say a hungry man is an angry man. And the last thing you need is a gang of angry men seated around a table losing money. Have a hefty quota of snacks and drinks (both alcoholic and soft) on hand to avoid that circumstance.

A staple of tasty food and bevys will only add to the overall experience.

Poker Night, Takeways

In summary, hosting a poker night might seem a bit intimidating at first, but it’s not complicated. The key is to be prepared!

And remember, the intention of the game is to provide a pleasant experience for your friends.

Therefore, it is crucial that you keep the game friendly. Set the buy-ins high enough, to make the game interesting, but not too high. You don’t want anyone losing excessive amounts of money. If you know your players and the gameplay, you can never go wrong.

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