How to Design a Poker Room
The onset of televised poker tournaments and Internet poker sites has brought an unprecedented new level of popularity for the game of poker. Poker players around the world are getting in on the action, dreaming of hitting it big. Hosting a home game in your own poker room is one of the best ways you can sharpen your poker skills, not to mention have a lot of fun. You just need a few important but easy-to-obtain items to design the perfect poker room.
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Instructions
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Choose the right poker table. The dimensions and layout of your poker room will determine what type of poker table you should choose. Octagonal and circular poker tables are typically the smallest and least expensive but usually seat only eight players. Oval-shaped poker tables are long and large, making them more difficult to fit into every space, yet they accommodate up to 10 players.
All three table shapes are available in fold-up tabletop versions, which convert any normal table into a poker table, or with folding legs, so you can store the poker table when not in use. A premium poker room will have a fixed-leg oval-shaped table, which can be made from beautiful hardwood, steel or even stone. Fine tables will include features such as chip trays, padded armrests, dealer positions, rich felt tops and metal cup holders.
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Make sure your poker room has plenty of light. Though conveniently movable, standing lamps may not provide enough illumination for your players to properly see the cards on the table. If your poker table will always be in the same place, a hanging poker light is the best choice. Hang the light directly over your table for the best illumination. Poker lights typically come in 16-inch round or 40-inch oval shapes. Choose a 16-inch light for small tables and the 40-inch light for large tables. You can also add a dash of class and panache to your poker room by choosing Tiffany-style glass hanging lamps with poker themes.
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Decorate and accessorize your poker room. Add poker-themed signs, prints, clocks, posters and memorabilia to give your poker room the look of a professional gaming den. Install a dart board or a novelty slot machine to give busted-out players something to do while they wait for the next game. Put a mini-fridge or snack cabinet in your poker room to allow players to get refreshments without missing any of the action.
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Buy your playing cards and poker chips. The quality of playing card is important to running a smooth game. Playing cards made from cardboard are inexpensive and available everywhere, but they wear, bend and soil easily and can accidentally flip over when dealt. Plastic cards are more durable, resistant to bending, water damage and dirt and don't flip as easily when dealt. The best brands of plastic playing cards are made from 100 percent cellulose acetate and are washable. Though they cost significantly more, they will last for years.
High-quality poker chips are made from a clay composite, giving them impressive durability and a satisfying heft. You can also customize your chips, which allows you to denominate them (i.e. $50, $100, etc.) and to choose your own color scheme or personalized logo. When deciding how many chips and what denominations, keep in mind how large your games will be. Figure that you'll need between 200 and 300 chips for each table that you play and, at minimum, five different denominations.
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Tips & Warnings
Know the people at your games. Meet them beforehand, or have someone you know well vouch for newcomers. Tempers can rise when money is on the line, and you will want to know whom you're inviting into your home.
Make sure you know the laws of your state regarding hosting poker games. Usually, as long as you aren't taking a "rake" (keeping a portion of the bets for the house), you will be OK.
References
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Comments
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