Hosting Poker Night
- Hosting A Poker Night
- Hosting Poker Night Online
- Hosting Poker Night Ideas
- Hosting No Limit Poker Night
- Hosting Poker Night
- Hosting A Virtual Poker Night
- Hosting Poker Night
Hosting A Poker Night
Hosting the Perfect Poker Night. By Shawn Peters; Posted on December 11, 2018 December 13, 2018; Hosting a poker night at home is a great way to spend time with your buddies and (most importantly) maybe win some cash too. All you need is a poker table, two decks of cards, chips and a few pals who either know how to play or are willing to learn. How to Host a Poker Night. Folding Long Poker Table – $219. Certainly, you can use any regular table. There is no requirement to purchasing an actual poker table. Octagon Poker Table – $355. Poker Table Top – $42. 1000 11.5-Gram Dice-Striped Chips in Aluminum Case – $84.
So you’re planning a poker night with your friends and family? That sounds fun! But in order for you to successfully host a poker night you need to have a plan. Luckily we’ve made a to-do for the perfect poker night.
1. Know your rules
First you need to decide what kind of poker you are playing. There are lots of different types of poker games out there so you need to choose which game to play. The most common poker game is Texas Hold’em. Next step is to know all the rules, how big your buy in is and how the hands are ranking.
We’ve made a quick and simle video showing you How to Play Poker.
Hosting Poker Night Online
You should also plan on when you raise the blinds (or if you are doing this at all). When I play poker I normally like to raise the blinds every 15 minutes.
Bonus tip: If you plan on having a cash buy-in, then make sure to collect the money up front. This makes sure that no one forgets about it after the game. It’s also very motivating for players when they have actually seen the potential winnings in the pot.
2. Have the right facilities
You will need (of cause) a full poker set with playing cards and poker chips (or the EasyPoker app). Other than that you should have a big table and chairs to sit all players. If you are a perfectionist the table should be round or oval and have a green tablecloth. Remember to leave enough space for the players chips, cards, beverage or what else they might need while playing.
If you are a cool host you should plan a surprise visit from a massage therapist that can massage players during the poker game. This will truly make you popular among the friends and can help you focus even better during the poker night.
3. Use music to set the tone
Music is an important element of the poker night. It should just be a subtle thing in the background to set the tone. I like to use a mix of jazz, old songs, classic music and some soundtracks from Casino Royale and Rounders.
Feel free to use our Playlist on Spotify.
4. Create an Atmosphere
Music is a great way to set the tone. But you will also have to create a more casino like vibe in your house. Clean up your place, lower the lights and pull out the heavy Chesterfield furniture (if you have those).
Make sure to keep the room darken with a light on the poker table. LED strips and Hue lights are also great for creating an exciting poker night atmosphere with warm tones.
5. Snacks & Beverages
It is important to have finger foods and snacks such as chips with dip, nuts, crackers, popcorn, pigs in a blanket, pretzels etc. Everything that does not require the player to have a plate will work.
It’s a good idea to have both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages when playing. It’s always cool to have a straight up whisky or cognac but if you don’t like that, you could go for a whisky sour (one of my favorites).
Poker Night wherever you are
Hosting a poker night is fun but also a lot of work. You often need to plan your night of playing poker weeks in advance. But what about those spontaneous poker games when you’re just hanging out? Chances are that you are not carrying around a poker set, so you will need to figure out something else (or end up not playing at all…). But don’t worry – we have your back. Just download the free EasyPoker app and you’re ready to go. No need for poker chips, playingcards or a table.
There’s
nothing like Poker Night—playing cards, having a few drinks, and sharing laughs with friends. What if no one in
your life has a regular Poker Night? Maybe it’s time you started one. We have
all the tips you need to host the best
Poker Night!
7 Tips to Planning the Best Poker Night
1) Invitations
Hosting
a Poker Night gives you an opportunity to gather a different mix of people
together—colleagues, old friends, family, and neighbors. It’s important, though,
to be mindful of how the group will mix together, especially if there is
alcohol involved. Discreet invitations by mail, especially for your first poker
night are a nice touch. Creating a Facebook group is also a fantastic way to
connect with everyone ahead of time, share video tutorials, and answer guest
questions easily.
Include in
your invites:
Hosting Poker Night Ideas
- Game
start and ending time - If
you’ll serve dinner - Whether
smoking is allowed - If
guests are allowed to bring anyone - The
buy-in and re-buy - Dress
code. Poker night can be a casual affair, or an excuse to get dressed up.
2) Playing the Game
Prior
to the main game time, have an hour of open play to help new players learn all
the rules while other guests get to know each other. This will help all of your
guests feel more comfortable.
If
you’re newer to Poker, ask one of your friends who plays more frequently to
help you explain the rules efficiently.
To
help keep things civil, set a modest buy-in, around $20. Decide on a re-buy
based on your invitees, maybe a bottle of alcohol or more cash; it’s up to you.
3) Entertainment
The
game itself is the main event, of course, but prior to the game, play some
music while everyone enjoys drinks and gets acquainted. Jazz or cocktail
standards are perfect. Once it’s time for the game, it’s best to turn the music
down or completely off.
Hosting No Limit Poker Night
Another entertainment option is to play a classic action or suspense movie, especially on a projector screen, on low volume. Guests that want to sit out a game can still relax with a drink with some easy entertainment. There are inexpensive projectors that can be purchased for laptops or phones that turn a blank wall into a movie theater.
Other
games, like darts can provide some easy
entertainment between Poker games.
4) Supplies
While you don’t need to completely refurnish your home to host Poker Night, there are a few things that make the game much more enjoyable. At GameTablesOnline.com, we pride ourselves in carrying the best in home game room furniture, at a fraction of the cost. Get your ultimate game room started with a table set or a few comfy chairs.
To
set up for the game, you’ll want to make space for gaming tables by moving
sofas, dining tables, and other large furniture pieces against the wall. If you
have card tables, utilize them. Make sure you have a chair at the card tables
for every player, plus a few extra.
For
the game itself, make sure you have plenty of poker chips
and high-quality playing cards.
If
you’re allowing guests to smoke indoors, be sure to provide stylish ash trays
for each table. If you’re requesting that guests enjoy cigars outdoors, place a
few ash trays outside where guests can easily access them.
Hosting Poker Night
5) Food and Drinks
Every good poker night party has delicious food. You don’t have to cater or spend hours in the kitchen to have Poker Night be a smashing success. A good guideline is to have hot appetizers for the beginning of the party, and provide crunchy, salty snacks in bowls in the middle of the table. If you’re into cocktails, you can whip up some signature drinks at the bar or keep it simple with beer and wine. Always be sure to have some non-alcoholic beverages on hand as well, like iced tea, ginger ale, and water.
Hosting A Virtual Poker Night
Poker Night, the start of a new tradition
With
these tips, your first Poker Night will be one for the books. The best things
about hosting your first Poker Night is that it can become a regular thing.
Gather friends monthly, seasonally, or whenever you feel like a good, old fashioned
card game is in order. For more gaming ideas and supplies visit our full catalogue or contact one of our experts.
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Hosting Poker Night
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