Cash Game First time hosting cash game. In need of advice and opinions (1 Viewer)

[Donttellmywife87]

Hi guys, this will be my first time hosting a cash game. Possibly a month or so. That being said what should I cap my game at $50/$60 unlimited rebuys? .25c/.50c sb/bb? Higher or smaller cap? Cap or no cap? Will have Somewhere between 10 to 20 people. What timer app would you recommend me using? How many chips will I need and what are your chip denomination breakdowns? Also how long should i host it for? What times to start and finish?

 

[MichaelBubly]

The cash games I host and typically play are small, friendly games more about hanging out and playing cards than gambling.

I do a $50 max buy-in with rebuys and add-ons back up to $50. We do 0.25/0.50 or 0.25/0.25 blinds depending on the players (regulars we do 0.25/.50 and if we have beginners or inexperienced poker player we do 0.25/0.25)

I don't have a timer or anything for cash games. Usually people manage themselves and nobody tanks too long other than big pots with tough decisions. Cash games, I like 6-8 people max per table. 9-10 is too many for my preference.

No betting limits. But recently with some players, I am now considering it. Although I usually just won't invite players back who play our small friendly game like a casino 1/3. But that's just to protect my game from devolving into more of a gambling night rather than a fun night of cards and drinking. Preference is to expect to win or lose $50-100 a night, not $200-300.

Starting stacks are:
20x $0.25
20x $1
$5

Rebuys are mostly done in $5 unless I want to use a bunch of $1s for more chips on the table.

For up to 9 people, I typically like a breakdown of:

200x $0.25
200-300x $1
200-300x $5

My game never uses $25s or $100s. I have a high denom rack for my sets just in case, but never plan on using them.

There's a bunch of different preferences and you don't need that many chips, but that's what I prefer. It depends on how you like to run your game and the players.

Games usually run 5pm-10pm. Sometimes 6-7 hours if we start earlier and sometimes shorter.

 

[Beakertwang]

Sounds like a cash game, but the timer suggests that you're thinking about a tournament-style game. Am I missing something?

If cash, I usually set the max at 200 big blinds, but that's up to you. I think 100BB for a friendly game with lots of casual players is fine. But consider what your average player would be willing to lose on a regular basis. This might seem a strange way to think about this, but if you want the game to be sustainable, you have to consider it. You may have a larger group of friends that can lose $200 or more playing poker and not bat an eye. My group of friends, for the most part, would do that once and never come back. I have a fun 5¢/10¢ game with a $20 max that I play with that group. They don't mind losing pizza money, but they don't want to lose rent money.

I have a separate group of degen poker friends (with a little crossover) who I play poker with regularly who can afford that kind of game.

 

[wickedwonka121]

For some reason I have a circle that like doing an open table tourney style. You can buy in and cash out at any time but they want blinds to go up. Almost like speeding up a cash table. It's strange, but they do it from time to time. Normally this leads people to selling off their chips as they win and others are buying more, then they pocket the cash. It's really strange but somehow they make it work.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

The cash games I host and typically play are small, friendly games more about hanging out and playing cards than gambling.

I do a $50 max buy-in with rebuys and add-ons back up to $50. We do 0.25/0.50 or 0.25/0.25 blinds depending on the players (regulars we do 0.25/.50 and if we have beginners or inexperienced poker player we do 0.25/0.25)

I don't have a timer or anything for cash games. Usually people manage themselves and nobody tanks too long other than big pots with tough decisions. Cash games, I like 6-8 people max per table. 9-10 is too many for my preference.

No betting limits. But recently with some players, I am now considering it. Although I usually just won't invite players back who play our small friendly game like a casino 1/3. But that's just to protect my game from devolving into more of a gambling night rather than a fun night of cards and drinking. Preference is to expect to win or lose $50-100 a night, not $200-300.

Starting stacks are:
20x $0.25
20x $1
$5

Rebuys are mostly done in $5 unless I want to use a bunch of $1s for more chips on the table.

For up to 9 people, I typically like a breakdown of:

200x $0.25
200-300x $1
200-300x $5

My game never uses $25s or $100s. I have a high denom rack for my sets just in case, but never plan on using them.

There's a bunch of different preferences and you don't need that many chips, but that's what I prefer. It depends on how you like to run your game and the players.

Games usually run 5pm-10pm. Sometimes 6-7 hours if we start earlier and

That sounds good. So you'd recommend me keeping it under 10 people, especially since it's my first cash game? Thank you for the chip breakdown aswell.

 

[upNdown]

I would recommend one table for your first time hosting. How many people depends on how many people can comfortably fit at the table - and you really don’t want to exceed 9 (assuming you’re playing Holdem - other games max out at 7-8 depending on how many cards are required.)

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Sounds like a cash game, but the timer suggests that you're thinking about a tournament-style game. Am I missing something?

If cash, I usually set the max at 200 big blinds, but that's up to you. I think 100BB for a friendly game with lots of casual players is fine. But consider what your average player would be willing to lose on a regular basis. This might seem a strange way to think about this, but if you want the game to be sustainable, you have to consider it. You may have a larger group of friends that can lose $200 or more playing poker and not bat an eye. My group of friends, for the most part, would do that once and never come back. I have a fun 5¢/10¢ game with a $20 max that I play with that group. They don't mind losing pizza money, but they don't want to lose rent money.

I have a separate group of degen poker friends (with a little crossover) who I play poker with regularly who can afford that kind of

That's my bad about the timer. I just want a friendly/family cash game. Where people don't lose their rent money like you said. I'll probably go for 100bb just to get everyone's vibe then maybe 200bb for the next one. 5/10cent sounds fun aswell. Especially just to drink and chill.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

For some reason I have a circle that like doing an open table tourney style. You can buy in and cash out at any time but they want blinds to go up. Almost like speeding up a cash table. It's strange, but they do it from time to time. Normally this leads people to selling off their chips as they win and others are buying more, then they pocket the cash. It's really strange but somehow they make it work.

Sounds cool, something different to try ou. How long do you wait before the blinds go up? Do you have a spreadsheet for blinds?

 

[Donttellmywife87]

I would recommend one table for your first time hosting. How many people depends on how many people can comfortably fit at the table - and you really don’t want to exceed 9 (assuming you’re playing Holdem - other games max out at 7-8 depending on how many cards are required.)

Yeap, will just be playing hold em.

 

[Beakertwang]

That's my bad about the timer. I just want a friendly/family cash game. Where people don't lose their rent money like you said. I'll probably go for 100bb just to get everyone's vibe then maybe 200bb for the next one. 5/10cent sounds fun aswell. Especially just to drink and chill.

Yeah, we usually play mixed circus games, so it gets wild, especially at those stakes. Poker is always fun for me, but that game is the most I ever have playing, whether I win or lose.

Another option is you could raise the max buy-in to half the big stack after a few hours, but only if everyone still playing agrees.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Have any of you had to deal with someone winning a big hand early on and getting out after? That's what I'm a little worried about.

 

[LowerBama1714]

Have any of you had to deal with someone winning a big hand early on and getting out after? That's what I'm a little worried about.

That’s not cool…anyone, any time, anywhere.

 

[Colquhoun]

Have any of you had to deal with someone winning a big hand early on and getting out after? That's what I'm a little worried about.

Cashing out for the night after winning a big hand? Sounds like something you do if you don’t want to be invited back.
It’s customary to let others know when you are leaving. And it should be no less than a full orbit. If you start playing and know you need to leave at a certain time, let that be known to everyone when you sit down.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

That’s not cool…anyone, any time, anywhere.

I've never seen it done in person but I have heard stories. That person would never be invited again that's for sure

 

[Colquhoun]

Also with a cash game, doing 100bb is fine, and any player should be able to top up their stack to 100bb at any time between hands.
It’s actually smart to top up as needed. You don’t want to hit that monster hand you’ve been waiting for all night, get action from multiple players, and only have $3 in your stack.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Cashing out for the night after winning a big hand? Sounds like something you do if you don’t want to be invited back.
It’s customary to let others know when you are leaving. And it should be no less than a full orbit. If you start playing and know you need to leave at a certain time, let that be known to everyone when you sit down.

Cashing out right after winning early on let's say the first 30min of play for example. Thank you for the info and I will sure be letting everyone know ahead of time about that.

 

[Colquhoun]

Cashing out right after winning early on let's say the first 30min of play for example. Thank you for the info and I will sure be letting everyone know ahead of time about that.

Do you mean cashing out, like taking money off the table, then still playing? That’s called rat-holing, and a big no-no.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Also with a cash game, doing 100bb is fine, and any player should be able to top up their stack to 100bb at any time between hands.
It’s actually smart to top up as needed. You don’t want to hit that monster hand you’ve been waiting for all night, get action from multiple players, and only have $3 in your stack.

That's for sure. Let's say if I cap my game $50 with unlimited rebuys/restocks if someone has $10 left and that person wants to restock, should that person have to restock all the way to $50 or should I allow them to restock however much as long as it doesn't go above the cap?

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Do you mean cashing out, like taking money off the table, then still playing? That’s called rat-holing, and a big no-no.

Taking money and not play anymore

 

[Donttellmywife87]

I'll make sure to mention, no rat-holing

 

[Colquhoun]

That's for sure. Let's say if I cap my game $50 with unlimited rebuys/restocks if someone has $10 left and that person wants to restock, should that person have to restock all the way to $50 or should I allow them to restock however much as long as it doesn't go above the cap?

Yeah, they should be able to add as much as they want, up to the max (which in this case is 100bb). Some people run games where you can add as much as you want up to the person with the largest stack.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Yeah, they should be able to add as much as they want, up to the max (which in this case is 100bb). Some people run games where you can add as much as you want up to the person with the largest stack.

Sounds good brother.

 

[Colquhoun]

Taking money and not play anymore

People leaving early happens, but it’s usually an emergency or an unforeseen event. But if someone hits a big hand early on and says, “ok guys, I’m leaving”, they’re looking for trouble. A big faux pas.

 

[Donttellmywife87]

People leaving early happens, but it’s usually an emergency or an unforeseen event. But if someone hits a big hand early on and says, “ok guys, I’m leaving”, they’re looking for trouble. A big faux pas.

I'm probably just over thinking it but since it's my first time hosting a cash game, I want it to run a smooth as possibly. Trying to avoid any big problems that could ruin the game and experience.

 

[Colquhoun]

Just think of it as a game that just keeps running. You can reload and top off as often as you like, and the blinds always stay where they are. If someone shows up an hour late, no problem, have a seat. It’s very flexible compared to tournament style.

 

[KHarp1]

I'm all for allowing reloads up to max buy in, or, some percentage of largest stack. I want to have max ammo when I'm in a hand. Harder to play from short stack.

 

[wickedwonka121]

Sounds cool, something different to try ou. How long do you wait before the blinds go up? Do you have a spreadsheet for blinds?

We just go up by one small blind each 20 minutes. So if you're doing .25/.50, next is .5/.1, then .75/1.5, and 1/2. Just creeps it up a little to force action.

 

[Nine_high]

I'll probably go for 100bb just to get everyone's vibe then maybe 200bb for the next one. 5/10cent sounds fun aswell. Especially just to drink and chill.

Yeah if you want them to play for $50-$60 for the whole night, then 5c/10c with a $20 cap or 25c/25c with a $25 cap should be good.

If you meant $50-$60 per buy in, then 25c/50c or 25c/25c with a cap somewhere between 100-200 bb might be better. The blinds shouldn't go up at all for the whole night.

Ideally you want people to be alright with making at least 2 or 3 buy ins for the night so the game doesn't break early. This is a judgement call you'll have to make based on your players' appetites for putting money in.

The game will end on its own once enough people cash out or bust out and stop buying in. You can put a hard stop on the game if you want to clear people out at a certain time, just communicate that before the game starts.

 

[yoke386]

I just started hosting cash games. We play .25/.50c with a $20 min, $40 max buy in, and reload to match the biggest stack. I send out an invite and plan on having the game last for about 5 hours (6pm-11pm usually). We order food, drink beer and it’s more of a social event. Usually play 8-9 handed. Most of my players aren’t “poker players” and are there just for fun. We usually have a few people buy back in for $40, but generally our game doesn’t play that big and by 11, some guys are ready to cash out. Anyone that comes late or announces when they have to leave won’t get gripes about cashing out. Usually it’ll be close to 11, and we’ll play a more degen friendly game 5 handed with who is left.

My age group is guys in their 30s-early 40s and some of us have young kids, wives, and families. Just happy to get together once a month and we all get it when someone has to leave early/come late. Like others have said. Capping the buyin, and blinds will help keep the game from playing to big. And if people want to play 1/2 with $200 buy ins they can play in the casino. Or make sure your hosting the right group. I’ve read on the forum it’s easier to make a poker player your friend, than it is to make your friend a poker player. Know your audience and you’ll have a great game !

 

[Donttellmywife87]

Yeah if you want them to play for $50-$60 for the whole night, then 5c/10c with a $20 cap or 25c/25c with a $25 cap should be good.

If you meant $50-$60 per buy in, then 25c/50c or 25c/25c with a cap somewhere between 100-200 bb might be better. The blinds shouldn't go up at all for the whole night.

Ideally you want people to be alright with making at least 2 or 3 buy ins for the night so the game doesn't break early. This is a judgement call you'll have to make based on your players' appetites for putting money in.

The game will end on its own once enough people cash out or bust out and stop buying in. You can put a hard stop on the game if you want to clear people out at a certain time, just communicate that before the game starts.

$50 or $60 per buy in .25/50c for sb/bb seems to be what everyone agrees on here. Will be doing it that way. Thanks for the reply @Nine_high