Hosting a poker party can be so much fun. But it can also be a giant pain in the neck.
So we’re going to give you a few pointers on things you should know about before you start sending out your invites.
It should turn your next poker party into less stress, more success! We can’t promise how you’ll fair on the felt, but at least you’ll be the host(ess) with the most(est).
1. Figure out the kind of game you’re playing before your poker party
Right, it’s a poker party. You’re going to play poker. Makes sense. But there are so many different types of poker games and formats you could play.
There are cash games and tournaments. You could play Texas Hold’em, Six Plus or PLO. A lot to think about, for sure.
Pick a format and game type that you’re familiar with, and that your guests are likely to know how to play too. And make sure you know the game and rules inside and out.
We’d suggest indulging in a session or two of online poker to get your head around it properly. One of our favourite spots is bet365, and we’ve got this bet365 bonus code for new players too.
You can also check out poker strategy books, to give you a rounded view of the game.
2. Give consideration to buy-ins, blind levels, antes and rebuys
If you’re playing a tournament, the structure is pretty crucial to its success. Decide how many chips each player will have and how much it’ll cost to play. Figure out what are the starting blinds. Then decide how often they’ll increase and to how much.
At some point in the tournament, it might be good to add antes into the mix.
And, of course, think about if rebuys should be allowed. And if they are allowed, will there be a cut off point?
We would suggest that blind levels should increase regularly (set a timer on your phone to remind yourself to raise them) and that rebuys should be banned or have a strict cut off point. Or else your game could go on forever and become quite the drag.
3. You’ve got to have a minimum and maximum attendance limit for your poker party
If too few people attend your poker party, it’s going to be a dud. However, if too many people come, you won’t be able to keep track of the ation at all. So you’re better off deciding on a minimum and maximum number of people to come to your party.
We think four is the minimum to make a decent poker game, while nine is a good maximum number.
4. Check all your equipment is in order
In truth, you don’t need all that much for a poker party. You don’t really need a specifically-designed poker table. But you do need something to play on. So make sure that you have a table big enough to accommodate all your guests comfortably and, of course, chairs for them all to sit on.
After that, you simply need some chips and some cards. Then you are good to go. If you don’t have chips and cards yourself, ask around and see if any guests can provide them. If not, you’re sure to find plenty of options online or even secondhand.
