How to host a home game
3 min read · Updated 2026-09-26
A week before
- Pick the game and format. Hold'em cash game is the easiest first night. A tournament needs everyone to arrive on time.
- Invite 6 to 9 people. One full table is the most fun; expect one or two to drop out, so invite a couple extra.
- Send the details in one message: start time, game, buy-in size, blinds, how late people can join, and the planned finish time.
- Share the house rules so nobody is surprised at the table.
What you need
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| Table | Round or oval seats everyone within reach of the pot. A felt topper on a dining table works great. |
| Two decks of cards | Different back colours. Shuffle one while the other is dealt. Plastic cards last for years. |
| Chips | 300 chips for up to 6 players, 500 for 8–10. See the chip guide for how to split them. |
| Dealer button | Any distinct object works in a pinch. |
| A phone for the ledger | One person records buy-ins in Poker Night so the settle-up is instant. |
| Timer (for tournaments) | Blind levels need a visible clock. |
Food and drinks
- Finger food that isn’t greasy. Cards and chips hate grease: think skewers, dumplings, sandwiches, fruit. Skip chips-and-dip right next to the felt.
- A side table for plates and glasses keeps the playing surface clear.
- Plan a meal break if you start around dinner time.
- Shared costs like food or a delivery tip can be added as a charge in Poker Night and split among the players who ate.
Seating and the first button
- Let people take any seat, or draw cards for seats if your group likes it formal.
- To decide the first button, deal one card face up to each player. Highest card gets the button. If two players tie on rank, suits break the tie: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs (highest to lowest).
- The deal rotates with the button, or a volunteer deals every hand if your group prefers.
A sample evening
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 18:30 | Arrive, food, buy-ins recorded |
| 19:00 | First hand |
| 20:30 | Short break — refill snacks, stretch |
| 22:30 | “Last orbit” called: everyone plays until the button has gone round once more |
| 22:45 | Count chips, enter them in Poker Night, settle up |
| 23:00 | Share the results, tidy up |
Tip — Announce the end time up front: A fixed finish (“last orbit at 10:30”) prevents the classic argument about who is allowed to leave when they’re up.
Keeping the ledger stress-free
- Record every buy-in and rebuy the moment it happens — not from memory at the end.
- When someone leaves early, count their chips there and then and record them as left table.
- At the end, count every stack twice. If Poker Night shows Off by, recount before anyone leaves.
- Poker Night works out who pays whom in as few transfers as possible. Everyone squares up among themselves — the app never moves money.