Questions about hosting home games (1 Viewer)

[MisterKoshka]

Hi everybody! I’m new to the community and I have been learning a lot the first few days. As evidence: I’m interested in the CPC rounders chips and the BRPro ceramics … and I ordered samples! Look at me. I’m also thinking about a hot dog roller but I don’t get that in joke yet …

Anyways, I was wondering what some of you had to say about some general questions I had about spreading a home game. I think the general thread through all this is my laziness and wish to have things moving smoothly.

+ Thinking about a $1/2 game. I’ve looked at some of the recommended chip distributions and for 500 chips folks seem to agree on 100 $1 and 200 $5 chips. I get the idea of the workhorse chip, too many $1 and you’ll struggle to have enough bank for the game. But my question is, with only $10 in singles per player, are people having to constantly make change with one another to be able to pay blinds? Is it an annoyance? If you went from 500 to 600 chips would you get more workhorse, high denom or singles?

+ How do you all handle shuffling? Former dealer shuffles? Running multiple decks? Any issues with integrity or just trust friends?

+ Does anyone have experience with automatic shufflers? Something you have to run the deck through multiple times seems dumb. Are there any shufflers out there that randomize the deck? Anyone have experience with something like this?

+ I hate having to deal while I’m in a hand, which of course happens a lot as you’re more active on the button. Does anyone do anything different with dealing like have first person left of the dealer not in the hand deal? Anyone ever do something like have one person just be dealer every orbit? If it were reasonably easy to swing I would gladly pay for a dealer, splitting the cost among everyone playing. Obviously not going to beat that implied rake, but for me the game is more about fun anyways. And I hate dealing

+ Any tips or tricks to keep things moving along efficiently?

 

[CraigT78]

I’m also thinking about a hot dog roller but I don’t get that in joke yet …

It is no joke. If you roll them, they will come.

Poker players gotta eat.

 

[ChipTalker]

I host a 1/2.
I prefer 100 1s, 300 5s, 80 25s, 20 100s.
I used to start with 400 5s but then decided I wanted more chip color on the table so went to 300 5s.
Me and another usually sit in middle across from each other and deal (2 decks) it keeps the game moving much faster than passing the deal.. Everyone helps shuffle as needed and often I just shuffle if not in hand.
I have no experience with auto shufflers but from what I hear they are mostly more trouble then they are worth unless you go very high end and use very specific cards. YMMV
I do not do anything special while dealing in any position, if I am in the hand then so be it.
I never pay for a dealer because that turns my legal game into an illegal game per NJ state laws.

Tips & Tricks,
First off have rules and stick by them, do not make exceptions it will only cause issues in the end.
I do not get crazy and tell people they cannot have cell phones but if they are on it and slow the game down I just say knock it off.
I am lucky to have a big enough player pool that an annoying slow player will just not be invited back.
Be consistent and your players will start enforcing the rules for you.

Lastly as stated Hot Dog Roller is not a joke. Where else can you have food ready for 10 people over 8 hours with almost no effort, it is a great addition.


GL in your game.

 

[cgpilot]

After the hand, shuffle the cards you dealt and pass them. I’m not a fan of dealing but we generally have 8 people so it’s really not that bad.

Trust friends. If you have to worry about integrity it’s probably not worth the game (to me).

 

[MisterKoshka]

Thanks for the replies and advice!

 

[Machine]

+ Thinking about a $1/2 game. I’ve looked at some of the recommended chip distributions and for 500 chips folks seem to agree on 100 $1 and 200 $5 chips. I get the idea of the workhorse chip, too many $1 and you’ll struggle to have enough bank for the game. But my question is, with only $10 in singles per player, are people having to constantly make change with one another to be able to pay blinds? Is it an annoyance? If you went from 500 to 600 chips would you get more workhorse, high denom or singles?

Your question is a moot point, you should first have a realist breakdown, where did you get the 500 chip count for the game? (It won't really be enough to run a 1/2 game) I'm guessing it is
1x 100
5x 200
25x 100
100x 100
This won't get it done - Here please consume New Members Start Here and then cash break down ugh
EDIT: ugh, I didn't realize this was what the link had for this denom, this would be significantly better:
1 x 160
5 x 300
20 x 140
100 x 100

+ How do you all handle shuffling? Former dealer shuffles? Running multiple decks? Any issues with integrity or just trust friends?

+ Does anyone have experience with automatic shufflers? Something you have to run the deck through multiple times seems dumb. Are there any shufflers out there that randomize the deck? Anyone have experience with something like this?

Some hand shuffle and leap frog, the dealer pulls in the cards at the end of the hand and shuffles it, then passes 2 to the left. The new dealer (1 to left of the previous dealer) has a second deck, rinse repeat.
Some have a shuffler in the table and a dedicated dealer, like a casino. Some have a shuffler in a cabinet that holds chips and pass 2 decks to the shuffler and then back out.
Yes there is an 'affordable' shuffled for the home market, its about ~800 USD with the mount, toss it in push the button and it almost is perfect, in that link you'll read more about it and randomization.

You can typically find someone to deal for tips, as long as everyone is tipping.

 

[Dugthefish]

100 blinds chips is enough, although for a 1-2 game I would rather have 200. Making change has never been a big deal for my group.

2 decks, shuffle behind is fastest and easiest. Dealer finishes the hand, gathers the cards (since most of them are in front of him anyway), shuffles, passes to current dealer, who cuts and passes to SB for the next hand. Literally no down time once everyone gets the hang of it.

No experience with automatic shuffles other than I wouldn't use anything cheaper than a $700 shuffletech.

If you can afford to hire a dealer, or have a couple of players who would deal all night, more power to you. I find myself too busy between playing and hosting to also deal every other hand, so we just pass the deck.

Best way to keep the game running smoothly is to keep the table clean. Sit in the middle, and encourage another caring player to sit in middle across from you. Push folded cards into a clear muck, chips into a tidy pot, etc. Once players become accustomed to how you run the game, many will chip in and help. A clean table is an efficient table.

 

[MisterKoshka]

Your question is a moot point, you should first have a realist breakdown, where did you get the 500 chip count for the game? (It won't really be enough to run a 1/2 game) I'm guessing it is
1x 100
5x 200
25x 100
100x 100
This won't get it done - Here please consume New Members Start Here and then cash break down ugh
EDIT: ugh, I didn't realize this was what the link had for this denom, this would be significantly better:
1 x 160
5 x 300
20 x 140
100 x 100


Some hand shuffle and leap frog, the dealer pulls in the cards at the end of the hand and shuffles it, then passes 2 to the left. The new dealer (1 to left of the previous dealer) has a second deck, rinse repeat.
Some have a shuffler in the table and a dedicated dealer, like a casino. Some have a shuffler in a cabinet that holds chips and pass 2 decks to the shuffler and then back out.
Yes there is an 'affordable' shuffled for the home market, its about ~800 USD with the mount, toss it in push the button and it almost is perfect, in that link you'll read more about it and randomization.

You can typically find someone to deal for tips, as long as everyone is tipping.

First of all - thank you for not only your response but your fantastic thread for new members. Someone had pointed me to it before and it was so invaluable. I followed the links there including the amazing breakdown of plastic/China clay/ceramic/casino (plastic/clay) chips which was also a godsend in terms of sorting out all the different options I’ve seen over the years and helping to cut through the exact questions I had about quality, companies to trust, etc.

Lol, you are right about where I got the breakdown from. I suppose what I missed is that is an optimal breakdown for an absolute bare-bones better-than-nothing bank of chips, rather than an optimal set by itself.

Thanks again everyone for the feedback!

Sitting in the middle and taking control of game flow is such a good idea.