So you’ve seen poker on TV and decided you are ready to set up your first home game. You learned how to play online, just bought a case of your favorite beer and are getting ready to throw Aunt Jenny’s secret recipe chicken wings into the pre-heated oven to get ready and play. STOP! You have already made a crucial rookie mistake, but relax and don’t worry because Manroom Online is here to help you set up and run a flawless home tournament.Keep in mind, there are several options available to you and by all means try a few before settling on one. In this article I’m only going to deal with the Cadillac of all poker games called No Limit Hold’em. I’m also only going to discuss tournament style games as these are what you’ve probably seen on TV to inspire you to set up your own game. My last assumption is that most, if not all of your players, have at least a basic understanding of the game and the hand rankings. You should aim to have between 6 and 8 players (10 is a good full table but most of us can’t manage that many players around our dining room table). Larger tournaments will also be covered.
Equipment:
1. Two packs of cards.
I highly recommend quality cards that can be bought off the net, the most popular of which are 100% plastic cards called KEMs or COPAGs. If you’re used to paying $1.99 for a pack of cards, spending between $20 and $30 on one or two packs may seem a bit high but they are really that much better and will last a lifetime.
2. Chips
Now unlike the cards, buy cheap chips at first. The reason I say this is that if your game takes off and becomes regular you may want to invest in a good set of chips, a dealer button, cut cards and various other paraphernalia that’s available. If you do this too early you may end up with chips of the wrong color (according to your taste) or the wrong cards, etc. That’s why I feel its best to get up and running and then treat yourself to good equipment at a later date. I know because I’m on my third set of chips.
3. A timer
This can usually be found at any kitchen supply store for $5-$10 and will be a very important piece to running a smooth game. Otherwise you’ll need a watch, or cell phone with a timer.
4. Tables
While a professional table can certainly make a home game stand out, but any dining table will work fine. A table cloth can add a nice feel, but be sure to tape it underneath, or else you’ll have wrinkles popping up all over and driving the players crazy.
| Random Tips:
OK, now that you have the basics, here are some tips to keep your game ahead of the rest. The first one ties back to my opening paragraph when I told you that you already made a mistake. Any guesses? Well it was the chicken wings, the worst poker food of all time.
Tip #1
Food selection is always important, but also very simple. Avoid messy food like chicken wings that can get on the cards and aim for snacks that can be easily consumed while playing cards. The most popular choice – Pizza!
Tip #2
If you do not plan on having re-buys, try and have something available for the players that get knocked out early. I usually set up a side cash game, or smaller mini tournaments.
Tip #3
Try running a league. This works well with a group of regulars, and each week a small piece comes out and goes into a pool for the seasons champ to take home at Christmas. I like to give points based on payouts, some for example if 2nd place wins $60, then they would win 60 points.
Tip #4
Insert a bad beat prize, where everyone can vote on the player that had the worse out draw of the night and they win a consolation prize.
Tip #5
Bounty hunter! This is my favorite option and works well for a birthday boy or a guest of honor. Put an extra prize on their head, and whoever knocks them out wins the bounty.
Anything goes with this sort of thing but remember, before you introduce one of these house rules make sure you’re happy with it because you’re likely to be stuck with it for a long time. I was once at a home game where the previous weeks runner up had to get beers for the winner all night long, talk about adding insult to injury. |
Rules:
Now that you have the equipment, you should really invest some time covering the basic house rules. Over time the level of play at your game is bound to improve. Not everyone in your game will be dreaming of winning the WSOP but some development is inevitable. So to avoid any arguments in the future it is a must to settle on the rules you will follow up front.
Here are the most common rules to discuss before play begins:
Does the dealer offer a cut (usually to the right) or do it themselves?
I recommend using both decks simultaneously and while one hand is starting, the dealer of the previous hand can shuffle the deck and then hand the prepared deck over the current dealer to the player who will be dealing the next hand, and all they have to do is cut the deck and start dealing when the next hand begins. Then after the hand is finished collect the cards to shuffle and follow the same procedure as before, and notice while you are shuffling the cards you just dealt , the next hand is already underway.
How to select seats?
One common method is to number the seats 1-9 and then using the cards Ace through 9 to represent the seats, simply mix them up and place them face down and allow every player to randomly select a card/seat for the game.
How strict are you going to be on string bets?
“I call your hundred and I raise you one hundred, two hundred, maybe three hundred…”
My advice is to be very strict on this. If any of you ever venture out into a Casino this is the number one “crime” committed by new players. Just say “raise” then say how much and then move your chips in one motion. Always verbalize your action before you do anything to avoid a string bet, you’ll thank me for it one day.
Do you want to allow re-buys or not?
For those who don’t know what a re-buy is, it simply means that for a limited time, a player who is knocked out (or falls below an agreed level) can buy more chips.
If you do allow re-buys there could potentially be more money for prizes and any early “mistakes” that costs someone all their chips wouldn’t mean the end of their night. Re-buys can be limited in number to reduce the “risk” to the players pockets or re-buys could cost less money and get less chips than the buy-in (i.e. 2000 chips for $10 to start with re-buys being 1000 chips for $5).
There is another option (which I use myself and recommend) and that’s to play more than one freeze-out game in a night. That way people still get a second chance if they get knocked out early but it doesn’t put anyone at a disadvantage because of the money in there pocket.
Suggested Blinds and structures?
Blinds (for all options)
Level 1 = 25/50
Level 2 = 50/100
Level 3 = 100/200
Level 4 = 150/300
Level 5 = 200/400
Level 6 = 300/600
Level 7 = 400/800
Level 8 = 600/1200
Level 9 = 800/1600
Level 10 = 1000/2000
Level 11= 1500/3000
Level 12= 2000/4000
Fast game option (3 in a night)
2000 chips
Blinds increasing every 20 minutes.
Slow game option (2 in a night)
3000 chips
Blinds increasing every 30 minutes
Long game option (1 in night)
5000 chips
Blinds increasing every 45 minutes
Re-buy option
2000 chips
What is the Re-Buy period? And what is an add-on?
An agreed amount of time on Level 1 (such as 1 hour) during which a player may re-buy if they fall below an certain level of chips, usually half the starting stack but maybe zero. And a player may take an add-on (an optional extra buy in) whatever their stack size is at the end of the re-buy period. Number of re-buys can be limited or unlimited if desired.
Prizes
I generally aim for paying the top 2 or 3 players in a 1 table game. Or if you can fit two tables of 8 you might want to pay the top 4. I also like to give first place at least half the pot and try to get the last place there money back. For example, 16 players with a $20 buy-in yielding a $320 prize pool should pay out something like this: 1st: $170, 2nd: $90, 3rd: $40, 4th: $20
Most of all, ENJOY YOURSELF! Playing home poker tournaments isn’t as much about the money as the bragging rights, so let the trash talking fly and find out who’s got the nuts???
The Travel Channel’s Top 10 Ways to Win in Vegas attempts to help gamblers beat the house. LiveManly.com recaps this list without the commercial breaks and blatant Vegas promotions.
