Poker Articles

The Home Game

Across America and in countries all over the world, poker players unite on that one night a week to partake in one of history’s greatest traditions: poker night. Immortalized by the famous painting “Dogs Playing Poker,” and in countless sitcoms and movies, poker night has traditionally been thought of as a time for guys to kick back, light up a cigar, throw back a few beers and forget about life for awhile, in the comfort of somebody’s garage or basement. Ante up!

If I had any kind of artistic ability, I think I’d take on the project of painting a politically correct version of “Dogs Playing Poker,” made for the game of poker as we know it today. The new dogs would be equipped with sunglasses and I-pods, baseball hats and hooded sweatshirts. Instead of cigarettes, cigars and pipes between their paws, they’d be navigating a poker chip through them. The beer bottles that formerly filled cupholders have been replaced by bottled water and Red Bull. The table itself would not be circular or octagonal in shape, but oval. And the biggest change? Seats two and seven would be occupied by female dogs.

Sure, the game has changed; but that doesn’t mean we enjoy it any less. Home games have definitely evolved; some for the good, some for the worse, but week after week they arrive by the thousands with one common purpose: to play poker.

Creating a successful home game is more difficult than you might think. There is a lot of grunt work involved, such as finding the right table, cards and chips, creating a favorable structure, spreading the word and acquiring players. Once the game is up and running for a month or so it pretty much manages itself, but before you get to that point you have to build a solid base. Here are some simple steps you can follow to help start your own home game.

Invest in quality apparatus. Though you can definitely make a game out of any old kitchen table, most poker players prefer the real thing. Spending the extra money on a durable table, comfortable chairs, professional quality chips, and plastic playing cards creates an authentic atmosphere for your game and will certainly impress your guests.
Create a player friendly structure. Whether you decide to play a tournament or a cash game, it is important to make sure that players get the most bang for their buck. If you run a tournament, start everyone off with a large chip stack relative to the blinds and try not to increase the blinds too fast; the longer the levels, the better. Rebuys are not a bad idea, because they allow players who go broke the opportunity to stay in action, while simultaneously increasing the size of the pot. If you take the cash game route, set reasonable stakes so that players do not have to worry about losing an amount of money they can’t afford to lose.
Invite a good cast of characters. If you intend to invite a majority of poker buffs who study the game and play more than casually, you should only invite that kind of player. Otherwise, the poor guy who thought he was coming to a fun and friendly poker game is going to feel extremely uncomfortable the first time he makes a “bad” play and catches questioning glares from the sharks you invited, and probably will never come back. The ideal home game should have a mix of both good players and bad, and as many quiet types as socialites.
Set the rules in advance. A predetermined list of house rules is your best defense against an otherwise enjoyable night going sour because of a player dispute that could not be amicably settled. Your list does not have to be so extensive that it is a chore to read. Just make sure to cover the most common issues that arise at the poker table, such as string bets, mucking your hand, table talk, etc. Also, be sure to include somewhere on your list that the house ruling is final, no questions asked.
Have fun! Never forget that the ultimate goal of a home game is to create a pleasant atmosphere for you and your guests to have fun. While winning is also desirable, you should never sacrifice class for a small score at the expense of your home game buddies. The best way to keep them coming back is to make sure they enjoy themselves, and if you’re not, chances are they’re not.

Though we haven’t covered everything, this simple list should get you started. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about your own home games. Good luck!

“For American males under 18, baseball may be said to be the national pastime. When they grow up, it becomes poker.” (Carl Sifakis)

By Garry Gates
Poker Expert