Hosting a poker party is one of the best ways to bring your friends together to have fun. It’s a simple game to play and it doesn’t require much in terms of outlay to get it up and running. Of course, you can spend a little bit more to make it more enjoyable, but for just the basics, it won’t cost much at all. Take a look at our guide to get an idea of exactly how you can host your own party.
Get some poker equipment
This is a really simple task. There are two ways to do it. The first way is relatively simple. Just buy some cards and some chips. Once you have those, then you can get your friends around a table and start playing right away. You don’t have to play for real money, although you can if you want. You can just play for chips and see who is the winner at the end of the night. If you want to take things to the next level, then you could always use technology to boost things up a little.
A great way to make things a little more modern is to make sure that everyone turns up with a tablet or laptop. Once assembled, you can all sign up to an online casino, such as Mr Green Casino, and join the same poker table. This will allow you to play for real money without having to worry about large piles of cash being in your house or about breaking any gambling laws.
This means that you can enjoy the benefits of playing poker for real money, but without the hassle of setting up the cards and chips. It’s especially beneficial if none of you are competent at shuffling cards, which is more common than you might think. Poker is one of the great barroom games, so it’s always a good way to get people engaged and having fun in your own home.
Set the mood
People don’t want a bright spotlight shining on them and loud, pulsing music when they play poker. It’s important to note this and take it under consideration when you set up your room. Make sure that it’s bright enough to see the cards, but not so bright that everyone feels like they are in an operating room. This way you won’t have people blaming the light shining off their cards or screens as a reason for their loss.
By the same token, make sure that if you have any music playing it’s at a low enough volume that you can talk over it without raising your voice. There’s nothing worse than someone complaining they can’t concentrate because the music is drowning out their thoughts. With poker being a hugely popular casino game, it’s important to get the atmosphere right or it will take people out of the moment.
The best way to do this is to talk the arrangements through with your guests before you start playing. Make sure that everyone is happy before starting, that way there are likely to be fewer complaints as you play. Once you’ve done all of this, then you will be able to get the cards dealt out and the game started.
Get the food right
Food at a poker party can be tricky to get right. This is why it should be split into two distinct sections. Your first section should be snacks that are available all through the time you are playing. These should be easy to get hold of without looking up from the game and you should try to avoid greasy foods. The main reason for this is that greasy food will require players to clean their hands between eating, which in turn will take them out of the game. Simple foods, such as nuts and chips, are perfect for snacking on during the game. They don’t require much attention to eat and there is minimal need for hands to be washed after eating them. It makes it very easy to get a little snack without worrying about the game.
The second section of food should be planned for a break in play. This is where you can push the boat out a little bit more. People will be having a rest, so they will have time to clean up after eating. At this point, you can lay out wings, pizza, fries or anything else that your guests like to eat. Get a list of what people enjoy so that you can put on the best spread for your guests and make the night a hit.
