Tourney Non-obvious advice for hosting a good home game tournament (single table)? (1 Viewer)

[dparenti13]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

Looking to start hosting a 6-8 player home game with friends & colleagues.

 

[dpeks13]

Snacks. Sounds dumb, but a lot of games don't have any kind of snacks.

And a good playlist.

 

[Moxie Mike]

I don't know what's 'obvious' or not but you should have:

Good table(s)
Good chairs
Good tournament blind timers that are visible to the entire room
Someone running the event that knows the rules
An understanding of etiquette
Decent chips/cards
Dedicated dealer if possible
Food/drinks/snacks
Access to a bathroom
Dealer button(s)

 

[upNdown]

Make sure you know how to color up. There’s a couple of different ways to do it. Pick one and actually practice it. Don’t just read about it - put out the chips and do it a few times.

 

[wahoowa]

Make sure you know how to color up. There’s a couple of different ways to do it. Pick one and actually practice it. Don’t just read about it - put out the chips and do it a few times.

Curious how someone could mess up coloring up, just wrong count or what?

 

[Kentucky]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

All the shit you do that the players don’t notice makes it go smooooth.

Someone running the event that knows the rules
An understanding of etiquette

Someone actually knowing the rules- written and unwritten- as opposed to what they think they are is vastly underrated imo.

Being smooth/practiced with the mechanics- blind progression/timers, color ups, prize structure also gives guests confidence.

When players have confidence in the host/floor the game is great.

 

[springbox]

Curious how someone could mess up coloring up, just wrong count or what?

Mostly just taking too long and not knowing your chosen method well (or not choosing one). Simplest is obviously just rounding up/down which anyone should be able to do. But you could fuck up a chip race if you read about it once and never actually practiced it. Knowing little tips like having the large stack buy up all the small denomination chips before coloring up will help the process go quicker.

 

[upNdown]

Curious how someone could mess up coloring up, just wrong count or what?

Not being snarky here, but have you done it yourself? It’s just not as simple as it sounds.
You need to decide if you’re doing a chip race for odd chips or if you’re rounding up. You need to know exactly which big chips you’re using if you’re doing a race. And since you want to use big chips two denoms higher than the ones you’re taking off the table, you have to be ready to make change. (But if you’re rounding up, you need to have extra chips of the intervening denomination ready to be put in play.) And no matter which method you’re using, you want to make sure you don’t have extra chips in your hand or on the table so you don’t accidentally confuse which chips belong in the bank and which chips belong to a player.
I dunno, maybe some people find the process more intuitive - for me, there’s a lot going on. Especially if guys are sitting there counting their chips, and especially silly if I’ve had a couple of drinks, and especially if there’s other things that want to get done in the alotted break time.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

Looking to start hosting a 6-8 player home game with friends & colleagues.

People that are relatively new to poker? My favorite type of hosting!

- I picked up little hand ranking cards off the poker store, easy to put on the table to prevent people googling whether flush beats straights.

-be strict about certain rules early on; an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, being clear about things like betting out of turn early makes it much easier to enforce later. Pick and choose what you want your game to be, but be stricter then loosen up later.

 

[dpeks13]

crossover from unpopular opinion thread...
F chip races. Round up. Quick and easy

 

[dparenti13]

People that are relatively new to poker? My favorite type of hosting!

- I picked up little hand ranking cards off the poker store, easy to put on the table to prevent people googling whether flush beats straights.

-be strict about certain rules early on; an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, being clear about things like betting out of turn early makes it much easier to enforce later. Pick and choose what you want your game to be, but be stricter then loosen up later.

Yep, definitely will be hosting some people that are quite new to poker. Having hand ranking cards sounds like a really good idea. Anything else you guys do to " brief" newbies on the rules of the game? Just trying to avoid people acting out of turn, or have illegal bet sizing

 

[kaimat]

Make sure you know how to color up. There’s a couple of different ways to do it. Pick one and actually practice it. Don’t just read about it - put out the chips and do it a few times.

I think the different responses to this post demonstrate the importance of having a plan and knowing it well.

 

[dparenti13]

crossover from unpopular opinion thread...
F chip races. Round up. Quick and easy

Yeah, I've looked into both and rounding up seems so much easier, and less likely to piss someone off..

 

[surfik]

Drinks, coffee and no girlfriends....

 

[JStew]

In order to have a game with 6-8 guys you need at least 12-15 on the list. People will always have conflicts. 6-8 guys invited means 3-5 show => not the best tourney.

Start on time. If you don’t people will straggle in at their convenience. Lots of threads on here about how to handle starting stacks for people who show up late (dock chips, give extra for people who show up on time, etc).

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Yep, definitely will be hosting some people that are quite new to poker. Having hand ranking cards sounds like a really good idea. Anything else you guys do to " brief" newbies on the rules of the game? Just trying to avoid people acting out of turn, or have illegal bet sizing

I go over a single open face hand to start the game, and I overexplain certain things first round or so. Dont care if this puts off the better players, if you're losing to brand new players cause I pointed out a flush is possible on a 4-heart board, you suck at poker.

Im also the dealer, and if Im not Im still 'on call' and usually answer whos turn it is or what the bet is. This makes it tiring but the more observant players will catch on to how youre running it and help out.

Lots of people dont host because they dont have poker players but I invite most of my friends to at least one microstakes game and quite a few have stuck around. Need to make it fun and approachable.

 

[Poker Zombie]

• 2 decks Shuffle behind if a rotating deal, or button shuffle if you are dealing all night. I strongly recommend the rotating deal. People learn faster when they are still engaged after folding.
• Chip races are superior to round-ups, but there is more work. Enlist a co-host. I'm lucky because Mrs Zombie also plays, so I have a built-in co-host.
• Invite spouses / girlfriends. Get the girls playing and players wont miss many poker nights.
• Invite more than you have seats for, but have a back-up plan in case they all show. A kitchen table with a blanket and a tablecloth makes for a respectable extra table - and less irritating than telling someone that all seats are full.
• Read the TDA rules. All of them. It's not that hard, and you probably know most the rules anyway. Then you get to an obscure rule and go "I didn't know that", and that rule will stick in your head forever. Then when the rule pops up, you'll look like the most knowledgeable host ever.
• Have a bathroom plan. Towels, soap, toilet paper. Tournaments see a cram of players into the bathroom, where cash games are more evenly spread out. Make sure the breaks are long enough to get 1/3 of your players through.
• When a player breaks a rule, don't judge them harshly. Tell them why string bets, acting out of turn aren't allowed, or why the oversized chip rule exists. If you don't know why a rule is written, ask one of us. No poker rules are frivolous.
• Cheat sheets for new players. I use 4x6 cards with rules on one side, blind structure on the rear. Although I don't use this structure anymore, it was built with non-denominated chips, so I also added a way to tell how much each chip is worth (it still didn't stop people from asking).
• 
  
• Start on time. Many people treat poker like a party, and think it's ok to show up "fashionably late". Stick to your guns. Next time they'll show on time when they realize they are missing out. I serve dinner before hand to encourage early arrivals, but not everyone loves cooking like I do. The same thing goes for when returning from break. Start on time and deal them out. Fold their hand after the last card is dealt if they are not near their seat. Not on their action - right when the last card is dealt, otherwise they may glimpse other players hands.
• Have a clock big enough to be seen. Kitchen timers work, but they suck as there is only one person that can see it. Computers are better. Linked computers are even better, so nobody has to twist around to see what blind level we are on.
• You are going to lose money. Hosting takes a lot of energy, which means less focus on your opponents. Plus, you have to buy everything. Food/snacks, toilet paper, cleanup costs, cards, wear and tear to the house... Just accept that this is going to cost you more than you will ever win, even against poor players.
• Always be improving. See something you like at another game? Start doing that at yours.
• Make the blind structure so that players can rebuy for a good long while. Bad beats suck, dont send them home, send them back to the wallet.
• Ask knocked out players if they'd like to deal or shuffle for the table. It's a nice way to hang out with friends. Also, if their spouse is still in the game, they can't (shouldn't) leave, so keep them entertained!

 

[Nine_high]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

Looking to start hosting a 6-8 player home game with friends & colleagues.

I always allow rebuys for a few levels. Or one per player, or even just one rebuy. I'd hate to have someone drive all the way out and bust in the first round and have to leave.

 

[Mike Wells]

Best way to get everyone there on time is to offer bonus chips. e.g. 20k starting stack plus 5k on time bonus.

 

[Budha]

If you, as well as your crew are new to the game. Play a couple of practice rounds so folks get the hang of dealing, and the general flow of the game - before you start throwing chips in the middle.

Only takes about 10-15 min and it’s a big plus for any first timers or newbs.

 

[Poker Zombie]

We always host a "poker school" for new players. Show them the dealing procedure, and check/bet/raise options, including the rule that raises have to be at least the size of the previous bet/raise. Then help them with the mechanics of the deal behind procedure, which includes controlling your muck, how to shuffle (some people only know the overhand method which flashes a lot of cards), and where to set the deck and cut card for the player to your left to cut.

The first game is about having fun and working out the bugs. Be patient with players that are learning how to shuffle or deal. New players limp a lot, so it is helpful to have more chips of the lowest denomination that you would have with seasoned players.

 

[BGinGA]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

Looking to start hosting a 6-8 player home game with friends & colleagues.

You need somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 expensive and relatively rare compressed clay custom or casino chips.

Or so I've been told by a friend.

 

[dpeks13]

You need somewhere in the neighborhood of 100,000 expensive and relatively rare compressed clay custom or casino chips.

Or so I've been told by a friend.

Don’t get him started if you get a 9th…

 

[Budha]

The first game is about having fun and working out the bugs. Be patient with players that are learning how to shuffle or deal.

 

[Mike Wells]

What are some things you guys have learned that make a home game tournament great, that aren't necessarily obvious?

Looking to start hosting a 6-8 player home game with friends & colleagues.

What part of OH? I've got a really nice tourney set.

 

[dparenti13]

What part of OH? I've got a really nice tourney set.

Just outside of Columbus!

 

[Mike Wells]

Just outside of Columbus!

My avatar says Cincinnati, but I'm really in north Dayton. Only an hour away. Shoot me an invite. Happy to help out with structures, rules, etc.
(...and here's some chip pron

 

[UncleMilty]

Get a hot dog roller

 

[T_Chan]

Start on time. If you start late your first time, you'll have late players every time. Set rules early, don't allow things like string betting because it will become a bad habit. But still try to enforce rules within the spirit of the rules to maintain a fun night. No need to be super strict on everything, but set a precedent.

Most of all, have fun.

 

[MrRossKeys]

One of the biggest things that allows me to feel like I can effectively host and play in a tournament is all about the prep before the game. Things like how many chairs to set out, where I will sit (so I can have easy access to the chips etc..), is the clock and blind levels set correctly…. Etc.

A big element is ensuring there are enough stacks with the proper denominations for players. Trying to count those out when players arrive actually takes a really long time (it seems) and players can get antsy watching all of this happen. Add to that the decks needing to be shuffled, and seat 1 awarded to a player so we know who the dealer is…. I’ve started doing all of that ahead of time so that when players arrive they are registered and given a seat with a stack immediately. When everyone arrives, or when the clock strikes (7pm), the game starts promptly.

Most of the previous comments have already shed light on many good things to consider and focus on, so i’ll just reiterate that anything you expect to do on game night should be considered and practiced beforehand. It’s easy for me to color up, but it’s not so easy for me to calculate a 4 way all-in side pot situation…. so I PRACTICE before everyone arrives, which gives me enough confidence in the heat of the moment to get the results I want (fairness and keep the players happy/having fun). For you, think about what you’re already good at, and start focusing on the things you aren’t good at and make a plan for those things.