1. Hosting A Poker Night Tips For Beginners
2. Hosting A Poker Night Tips 1x2
3. Hosting A Poker Night Tips For Real
4. Hosting A Poker Night Tips Free

Hosting A Poker Night Tips For Beginners

“The goal is to host a poker night as fun as the game itself,” says von Gootkin. “A lot of guys treat poker night like football night, in a basement with beer and chips. Well, cooperative until there’s a dispute about the rules of the game – a staple of any poker night. That’s why it’s important that who’s ever hosting to create a set of house rules and print out whatever stuff can be found online that is valuable information.

Poker night with the guys. Cards, food, music, maybe even some cigars to go along with your beverage of choice? Many great memories have been made over games of cards, but those games don’t come together by accident. They take smart planning. If you’re tired of waiting for one of your buddies to organize one, you can take the initiative and host a few of your own. In this article we’ll talk about the key things you will want to keep in mind to have an awesome poker night with your fellow Gents.

Who, When, and Where

Who

Keep in mind that not everyone you invite is going to be able to make it any given week. Also keep in mind that at a certain number, a game becomes more difficult to manage. Consider having an invite list of up to 12-15, while limiting attendance to 6-8 to start. After you’ve hosted a few you’ll have a better sense of RSVP dynamics and how to plan. Don’t go for a weekly game to start. Try monthly and see how it goes from there.

When

You can’t pick a day and time that will work for everyone all the time, but it should work for everyone at least some of the time. Rather than torture yourself with a giant email chain, consider using a tool like Doodle that is purpose built for finding a common meeting time.

Where

You don’t have to have a specialized poker table, but wherever you have the game should have enough room for everyone to sit around the table comfortably, and if cigars are involved, where you can smoke.

What Version of Poker?

The most popular variation, popularized by all those World Series of Poker tournaments, is Texas Hold'em. Make sure you know your audience’s range and plan accordingly. Newbies might want to study up and hard-core enthusiasts who can name a dozen professional players without hesitating should know not to be too hard on newer players. Remember the goal isn’t to crush your opponents, but to have a good night with the guys.

Supplies

Game Gear

You’re going to want two decks of cards; make sure the second deck is always shuffled and ready to go so you can seamlessly move on when you run through the first deck.

You will also want a 500-chip set and possibly a table-topper to give your game an authentic look and feel without shelling out for a genuine poker table.

Rules

A buy-in game is pretty common but payouts vary: some prefer a winner-takes-all settlement at the end of the night, others split out the pot in descending order. Again, your buy-in doesn’t need to be $1000 per person: it could be as simple as $25 or $50. If you have any house rules you should all agree to them ahead of time and on an ongoing basis.

Food

While it’s fun to eat at the table, we’ve learned the hard way that for some reason green felt attracts spilled alcohol or dropped chicken wings. Have a designated snack table away from the action, but not so far away that those out of the hand and taking a break can’t follow along. Keep the food simple: things like chips and dip, nuts, and wings.

Drinks

The easiest way to handle drinks is always a six pack of someone’s favorite beverage, but if you want to step things up a notch you can also ask for one ingredient of a classic cocktail so that those who want to make one can do so.

Music

Those of you who’ve been inside our clubs know that we prefer our music classic and mellow: think Frank Sinatra or a long Miles Davis set. This keeps the aspiring karaoke singers quiet and the the mood perfect for conversations, which is half the reason to get together in the first place.

When done well, poker nights are a perfect time to bond with your band of brothers without waiting for a special occasion. That’s something worth putting in some effort to make happen.

Hosting A Poker Night Tips 1x2

Anything else you’d add to our list for poker game beginners? Share in the comments below.

About Ben Davis

A serial entrepreneur, Ben Davis is founder of The Gents Place and a leading investor in gentlemen's refinement and confidence.

Family poker night is a great way to break up night after night of sitting in front of the TV. Teaching your kids (or your partner) how to play poker is a great way to introduce some screen-free family friendly fun. In addition to teaching counting, it’s a great way to show your children basic negotiation and sportsmanship skills. It’s an activity that everyone can enjoy!

Looking for help hosting your next poker night? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at our best tips below.

Catering
First things first, we always recommend starting with the food. You can really turn poker night into an event with the right menu. Heavy hors devours are excellent for this kind of event, so think hot dips or guacamole and chips. Wings are a fun way to make everyone feel like it’s a party, as are make-your-own pizzas. Bon Appetit has a list of the best recipes for poker nights, so take a look for some culinary inspiration.

Hosting A Poker Night Tips For Real

Players
For small families, one table of poker players is plenty. However, if you have more than nine potential players, Global Poker recommends starting a second table. Children and poker novices should be paired with a more experienced ‘buddy’, at least for the first few hands. More experienced players, this is the time for patience – you weren’t always a card shark, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while to get things moving!

The Rules
Rules are very important for poker. Each game has betting rules, an ‘ante’ and the winner of the game gets the pot.

Hosting A Poker Night Tips Free

Poker wouldn’t be the same without betting something. However, as you’re playing family poker, you’re unlikely to have chips (and good luck trying to get those $50 off your eight year old). You can choose to play for fun (always a great choice) or give your children chocolate chips or cereal to bet with. For older kids, you could try wagering other things, such as chores. If the money is really important, try playing with pennies. It’s almost impossible to get in trouble with a penny buy-in!

The Game

If you’re hosting a poker night with your family, odds are that at least one person won’t know the rules. However, not all poker games are difficult. Start off with one of these classics, and then work your way up until things get more complicated.

• 5 Card Stud: In this simple game, the dealer shuffles and deals each player five cards. The player with the best hand wins.
• 5 Card Draw: In this game, the dealer shuffles and deals each player five cards. Each player has the option to exchange up to three of their cards for three new cards, drawn randomly from the deck by the dealer. The person with the best hand wins.
• Texas Hold’Em: Once you’re comfortable with five card stud and five card draw, it’s time to make things a bit more complicated. Texas Hold’Em begins with the dealer giving each player two cards, and deals five cards, face down, in the middle of the playing table. Three of the cards are turned over (called a flop), and the betting begins. A fourth card is turned over, more bets, and then the fifth. A final round of betting sees the players turn their cards over. The player who can make the best hand with the cards available wins.

Mastered these? Beginner’s Poker Guide has more games that are perfect for the novice poker player. After your family masters a few simple rules, you’re ready to get started. Family Poker Night could become the highlight of your quarantine routine! Happy playing.