By: Jennifer Campbell. www.thatstheSPIRIT.com
Poker has long been a stronghold of guys night in, complete with pizza, beer, and a kitchen full of cigar smoke. The game, however, is gaining a wider audience, thanks, in part, to shows like Celebrity Poker Showdown and the World Poker Tour.
More people are hosting home games and with a little planning and you too can throw a winner-takes-all tournament. But it doesn’t have to be the stereotypical guys-only event. If your idea of a good time is more martinis and less cigar haze, turn your pad into a vintage poker palace for a night of Vegas-inspired glamour.
The Basics
Poker is a game where bets are placed based on the group of cards you hold in your hand. The person with the best hand wins the pot. It’s never that simple, of course, and there’s more than one way to play. Draw, Stud, and Hold ‘Em are a few styles (with dozens of variations). Then you add blinds, bluffs, antes, flops, and a host of other terms. Confused yet? There are several Web sites that explain the different games and teach you the basics. If there are rookies coming to the party, send them to those sites as well so they’re not totally lost.
Think about what kind of tournament you’ll have. Hardened veterans of the game will love a night of Texas Hold’Em, the wildly popular style featured on several poker shows, but since you’ve likely got a group with varying skills, a night of “Dealer’s Choice” is probably in order. For this, whoever is dealing the deck chooses the game, so there’s more variety.
If you’re playing for money (check your local laws first to make sure it’s legal!), determine a set buy-in amount. Everyone starts with the same number of chips, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. After all, the real fun of poker is trying to win the pot, but you don’t want anyone losing his shirt. Keep the buy-in at a comfortable level – enough to make the stakes exciting, but no more than your friends would spend on a night out.
Create your casino
For the mood, think kitschy casino glitter. Check your local party supply store for casino-themed decorations. You can probably rustle up some poker-chip plates, dice balloons or even a playing-card garland. Let your friends know to arrive in their casino best (if not tuxedos, then insist, at the very least, on tuxedo T-shirts). Set the musical tone with Vegas mainstays like the Rat Pack (or Wayne Newton, in a pinch).
For the game itself, there are loads of accessories available, from special tabletops to card shufflers, but you really only need a few basics.
Cards – Have a couple of decks per table – one in play and another shuffled and ready for the next hand.
Poker chips – If you play on a regular basis, you can buy professional grade clay or clay composite poker chips. For a home game, plastic chips are more than adequate. Plan for about 50 to 100 chips per player. Depending on how complicated you want to make the betting, get a two or three colours for different denominations.
Dealer button – In casinos, the dealer sits out the hand and while this isn’t a rule you need to follow at home, a dealer marker helps keep track of who holds the deck.
Poker night is perfect for a small group, but if you’ve got lots of friends (and lots of room), you could have a tournament with multiple tables on the go. A good rule is five to nine players per table. You could also have an extra table so those who tap out early can still play, sans betting. Better yet, set up a roulette wheel (available from most party rental companies) where they can try their luck.
Mix some casino-inspired cocktails
For a Frankie-and-Dino-at-the-Sands kind of night, you’ll need to do better than beer. Shake up these tasty drinks between hands, add casino-correct swizzle sticks, and get everyone in the gambling mood.