What You Need to Know about Throwing a Poker Game

If you're interested in throwing a poker game for yourself and a few friends, the following are some tips that will teach how to become the perfect poker host that will make everyone come back for a second game.

There are a few decisions you need to make before calling your buds

Pick a Game
Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud and more. There are plenty of poker games out there, all you have to is to pick one. Do you only want to play one game or do you want to switch games?

Who to Invite?
If it's going to be a fun game, you should invite your friends just to have a good laugh as well. You should also invite people who are all pretty much on the same poker level. You don't want some hot shot showing up and taking your money within the first five minutes of the game, right?

How Many Players?
Well if you're playing a game like Seven Card Stud then you can't have more than seven players. If Texas Hold'em is your game then 6 or 7 players would be ideal.

The Bets
Unless you're playing with Tony Soprano, you should set a limit of how much you want to spend. Let's remember, this is a friendly game, so nobody should be sweating their house away. Don't forget, you can always play just for fun! Yes, that means with no money!

Supplies
Poker Chips
Two decks of cards
A poker table (or a regular table, whatever you find)

Food and Drinks
Chips, finger foods, pretzels
Beer, water, sodas
(Alcohol is always fun, but not everyone agrees that it belongs when your gambling with money, so just make sure no one is drinking heavily.)

You should always prepare change at the end of the night. Usually everyone brings dollars bills and everyone ends up needing change. So it's always good to avoid last minute dollar bill breaking.

One Last Thing

You're playing a home game, so put on some good music, your best poker face and have fun.