Every six months or so, I host a gentleman's poker night at my home. I've been doing it for the past few years, and it's developed such a following that we've had to move it into my office boardroom to make room for all the new players. Hosting a card game has numerous benefits. Fellowship among like-minded gentlemen.
- Hosting a home poker tournament takes more than a deck of cards and a few beers. You need the right mix of players, a decent playing surface, not to mention a set of chips.
- But poker night is far from just an evening of cards played by guys haphazardly thrown together to laugh, drink and make money. Poker night, particularly for the host, is the absolute test of manhood. Indeed, hosting poker night is a science, but just like string theory, it can be easily explained to the layman.
- A successful poker night at home hinges on so much more than the game itself. Let's lay our cards out on the table here; the difference between a flop and fortune isn't found in the big wins and losses of the evening. It's in the vibe, the atmosphere and the tension of the game. And this is largely created and nurtured by the host.
Our guide on how to host a poker night outlines everything you need to consider, even how to social distance while playing poker.
The current pandemic has forced people to slow down and enjoy being at home more than ever before. Also, with so many events, parties and travel plans canceled or postponed, we've all had to get creative in planning fun activities with our friends.
What better way to have fun with your group of friends than to host a poker night at your house? If you've never hosted your own game night and don't know what to expect, we've outlined a few tips and tricks below to host a poker night successfully.
4 key factors to host a poker night
Strategy and Rules
Since you are the host, you'll get to decide the strategy of what type of game will you play. Will it be a cash game or a tournament? What is the buy-in, and will there be rebuys? You'll also need to think about how to handle disputes. If you set the rules from the beginning, it will help avoid confusion.
The experts at Global Poker explain, 'Unfortunately, if money is involved, arguments can and will happen, no matter how friendly everyone is at the start. Outlining rules such as if there are rebuys, what happens in the event of a draw and what happens to someone's power hand if they are out on smoke break or in the bathroom when the cards are dealt, will ensure it doesn't fall on you as the host to play referee and settle disputes.' Also, if there are disagreements throughout the night, it's best to take a vote and rule that majority wins.
Social Distancing
With being in the middle of a pandemic, social distancing will be important at your poker game night. Plan to have at least two good tables with your players evenly spaced apart – more tables depending on the number of people you invite. Depending on the weather and where you live, you could host the poker night entirely outside. It's important to check with your attendees on what they would feel comfortable doing.
It's also important to remind your attendees if they feel ill or have been around anyone who is sick to kindly not attend. This could affect your numbers and the overall game, but it is important to keep your other guests safe. Plan on being flexible the day of – just like you would with any party you're hosting.
Provide Food and Drink
What's a game night without food and drink for your guests? If you don't want to spend hours cooking, consider ordering take out or pizza to arrive as the party starts. It's a perfect way to minimize a mess in your kitchen or stress over if the food will taste good. Also, if you are inviting a large group, it's easy to feed a crowd with takeout.
You could even go with a theme of a 'Mexican Poker Night' or 'Italian Poker Night' and order accordingly. Also ensure you have enough drinks for you guests. Whether alcoholic or not, you'll need to provide beverages over the course of your game night! You could also ask your guests to bring their favorite beverage with them.
Have Fun!
The most important part of hosting a successful poker night is to have fun. Things will likely stray from what you planned, but just roll with it! If you have any questions or are stuck with the rules of the game, work together to figure it out. Get creative with the prize for the winner (besides the cash they win) – you could even look at getting a trophy made or some other fun keepsake. If you a host a fun party the first go around, your friends will be begging you to host again!
Friendship is an important part of our emotional well-being. It's so powerful that people with strong friendships have a lower risk of depression, high blood pressure and obesity.
If you've been missing the bonds of friendship, it might be time to get your old gang back together. Many groups of friends get together to enjoy a common interest, which is why poker nights are so popular. It's an activity that promotes interaction and discussion among the group without distracting from the game at hand.
You can DIY your own poker night or hire the professionals to throw a blow-out casino party in San Antonio for a large groups of friends. Here are a few ways you can stack the deck so your poker night makes people want to get together again and again.
Get a Head Count
You'll need to know how many people plan to play in advance in order to get everything else ready. Send out invites at least two weeks before the poker night and request that people RSVP by a certain date.
Invest in a Professional Poker Setup
Sure, you can sit around the kitchen table to play a hand of poker. But that doesn't give friends the real poker playing experience. Make the reunion feel like a special event by investing in a professional poker setup. At a minimum get a fresh deck of cards, enough chips for all the players (a set of 500 should be good) and a felt poker tabletop.
If you plan to host poker nights on a regular basis, you may want to go ahead and get an actual poker table. For longevity and ease of play, look for a wooden, eight-sided table. You can earn bonus points if it has cup holders. If you plan to have more than eight players look for an oval poker table that can accommodate 10 players.
Host Virtual Poker Night
Pick a Game Everyone Can Play
There are many different poker games to choose from, but some are more popular than others. Most card players are familiar with five-card and seven-card stud/draw. Texas Hold‘em is a very popular game in many areas of the country today.
You don't want to spend the first part of the evening teaching people how to play. Decide what the game will be and let guests know so they can brush up on the rules before they take a seat at the table.
Decide Between a Tournament and Cash Games
Poker Night Host
Do you want to play tournament-style or cash games? Choosing to play a tournament means that players will need to square away at least several hours and they'll all need to ante up the same amount. Cash games allow for more flexibility.
Generally speaking, tournaments tend to be better for beginners. However, if players will be arriving at different times, a cash game structure may be necessary.
Make Sure Everyone is Comfortable With the Buy-in and Betting
Social Distancing
With being in the middle of a pandemic, social distancing will be important at your poker game night. Plan to have at least two good tables with your players evenly spaced apart – more tables depending on the number of people you invite. Depending on the weather and where you live, you could host the poker night entirely outside. It's important to check with your attendees on what they would feel comfortable doing.
It's also important to remind your attendees if they feel ill or have been around anyone who is sick to kindly not attend. This could affect your numbers and the overall game, but it is important to keep your other guests safe. Plan on being flexible the day of – just like you would with any party you're hosting.
Provide Food and Drink
What's a game night without food and drink for your guests? If you don't want to spend hours cooking, consider ordering take out or pizza to arrive as the party starts. It's a perfect way to minimize a mess in your kitchen or stress over if the food will taste good. Also, if you are inviting a large group, it's easy to feed a crowd with takeout.
You could even go with a theme of a 'Mexican Poker Night' or 'Italian Poker Night' and order accordingly. Also ensure you have enough drinks for you guests. Whether alcoholic or not, you'll need to provide beverages over the course of your game night! You could also ask your guests to bring their favorite beverage with them.
Have Fun!
The most important part of hosting a successful poker night is to have fun. Things will likely stray from what you planned, but just roll with it! If you have any questions or are stuck with the rules of the game, work together to figure it out. Get creative with the prize for the winner (besides the cash they win) – you could even look at getting a trophy made or some other fun keepsake. If you a host a fun party the first go around, your friends will be begging you to host again!
Friendship is an important part of our emotional well-being. It's so powerful that people with strong friendships have a lower risk of depression, high blood pressure and obesity.
If you've been missing the bonds of friendship, it might be time to get your old gang back together. Many groups of friends get together to enjoy a common interest, which is why poker nights are so popular. It's an activity that promotes interaction and discussion among the group without distracting from the game at hand.
You can DIY your own poker night or hire the professionals to throw a blow-out casino party in San Antonio for a large groups of friends. Here are a few ways you can stack the deck so your poker night makes people want to get together again and again.
Get a Head Count
You'll need to know how many people plan to play in advance in order to get everything else ready. Send out invites at least two weeks before the poker night and request that people RSVP by a certain date.
Invest in a Professional Poker Setup
Sure, you can sit around the kitchen table to play a hand of poker. But that doesn't give friends the real poker playing experience. Make the reunion feel like a special event by investing in a professional poker setup. At a minimum get a fresh deck of cards, enough chips for all the players (a set of 500 should be good) and a felt poker tabletop.
If you plan to host poker nights on a regular basis, you may want to go ahead and get an actual poker table. For longevity and ease of play, look for a wooden, eight-sided table. You can earn bonus points if it has cup holders. If you plan to have more than eight players look for an oval poker table that can accommodate 10 players.
Host Virtual Poker Night
Pick a Game Everyone Can Play
There are many different poker games to choose from, but some are more popular than others. Most card players are familiar with five-card and seven-card stud/draw. Texas Hold‘em is a very popular game in many areas of the country today.
You don't want to spend the first part of the evening teaching people how to play. Decide what the game will be and let guests know so they can brush up on the rules before they take a seat at the table.
Decide Between a Tournament and Cash Games
Poker Night Host
Do you want to play tournament-style or cash games? Choosing to play a tournament means that players will need to square away at least several hours and they'll all need to ante up the same amount. Cash games allow for more flexibility.
Generally speaking, tournaments tend to be better for beginners. However, if players will be arriving at different times, a cash game structure may be necessary.
Make Sure Everyone is Comfortable With the Buy-in and Betting
This brings us to the next point. A poker night isn't fun if you're short on cash and surrounded by high rollers. Opt for low buy-ins and minimum bets if players are on a tight budget. If bankrolls are short, a tournament with a reasonable buy-in is usually the best option.
Since it's a friendly get together, you may want to use chips but keep actual money off the table. Bragging rights are usually more important than the cash anyway.
Don't Underestimate the Importance of Food
No matter what type of get together you're throwing, guests will be happy if the food is good. Poker nights can last for hours, especially if you're playing tournament style. Plan to provide a few snacks and one dish that's more substantial. Tex-Mex is always a popular choice in San Antonio, and it allows people to customize their plate. Also, let guests know in advance if the poker party is BYOB.
You may also want to plan a pre-game meal. This will give the gang an opportunity to socialize and catch up before people put their poker faces on.
Host Your Own Poker Night Online
Want to focus on friends instead of all the poker party preparation? Casino Knights Inc. has been throwing private poker parties and poker tournaments in Central Texas for over 35 years. We provide everything you need and offer package deals for groups as small as 10 people. Give us a call to start planning your poker night reunion!
Original Source: https://casinoknightsinc.com/party-themes/host-perfect-poker-night-san-antonio-edition/
