The ideal home poker table! (1 Viewer)

[AdamAAAA]

Hi guys,

I've been speaking with a table builder for a few months now and going to treat myself to a table. I play a monthly game with some friends, usually 8 or so of us. Occasionally up to 10 but normally around 8.

What I'm struggling with, having never played on a proper table outside of a casino, is what I want or will need from a table. So for those of you who have built or ordered your own home table, could you let me know a list of what you'd consider essential, and is there anything you wish you did or didn't order/do when you got yours?

Things I'm conflicted about at the moment are things like whether to have a wooden racetrack, whether to have LED lights running around it. Whether to build in a shuffler.

I think I know I don't want cup holders anywhere near the table, they'll go on trays. But happy to hear views on these too. Ideally what I'd like to do is build up a spec of what I'd want/need based on your advice so I can get some costings.

Thanks!

Check List:

- No wooden racetrack
- Custom felt with betting line
- No in-built card shuffler
- Needs to be portable, but not necessarily with ease as will be moved away in the same room
- Size 44x96
- Leather padded rail
- No wooden racetrack

 

[manamongkids]

One major thing to consider, will this table be permanently up all year in your home or will it be taken down every time you play?

That will decide if you should have a solid base or folding legs

 

[AdamAAAA]

Good point. It will in all likelyhood be a fold away table. Given my games are monthly at the moment I can't dedicate a room to it just yet.

 

[Rhodeman77]

There are several important questions to answer. Will there be a dedicated dealer? How much space do you have for the table?

For a self dealt game with 8 people around table works best. But they take up more total space.

If you will have 10 or a dealer then an oval table is best.

No matter what you decide, NO to the wooden race track!!!!!

I prefer to use slide under cup holders or even bettter, separate side tables for drinks, snacks.

 

[upNdown]

If it's a self-dealt home game, maybe consider a round table or even an octagon (though that definitely limits you to 8) instead of the more common oval.
Wood racetrack? Please somebody tell me if I'm wrong, but these things have no purpose at all - some people like how they look. Personally, the sound and even sight of chips on wood drives me a little nuts, so I'd vote no.

 

[mummel]

@T_Chan !!!

 

[AdamAAAA]

There are several important questions to answer. Will there be a dedicated dealer? How much space do you have for the table?

For a self dealt game with 8 people around table works best. But they take up more total space.

If you will have 10 or a dealer then an oval table is best.

No matter what you decide, NO to the wooden race track!!!!!

I prefer to use slide under cup holders or even bettter, separate side tables for drinks, snacks.

NO dedicated dealer. I have a big space for the table. Slide under cupholders is a good idea. I like that idea with perhaps a phone charger port, too.

 

[Wils]

Whatever you do, DON'T get a wooden racetrack. If you do, I will come to your home game and jeer through the window.

 

[Psypher1000]

whether to have a wooden racetrack

No.

whether to have LED lights running around it.

For most home situations I find this to be more bling than function. Your call if you want to spend the cash. I personally wouldn't/didn't.

Whether to build in a shuffler.

Nooo. For any thoughts to the contrary, see @Mr Tree.

whether to have a wooden racetrack

In case I wasn't clear earlier, no.

Size and shape are informed by space available, normal amount of players, etc. I echo what others have already said.

Since I don't recall it being mentioned yet, I want to make sure to do so just in case it's not already been taken into consideration - have a padded railing.

Something else to consider is if you want a betting line. I generally recommend having one, or at least a graphic who's border constitutes a betting line/region. It's absolutely not necessary, but it can be useful sometimes. That being said, if you want a betting line, that *almost* always means custom felt - something I also recommend. And if you're going to get custom felt, I always recommend the gaming suede from @T_Chan if you can swing the expense/shipping.

I typically recommend black vinyl for the rail material. Suede feels nice, but it's also more easily stained & more costly to replace if discolored/torn.

While I don't mind the in-rail cup holders, I prefer slide-under cup holders. This lets people put their drink on their preferred side, as well as allows your players to spread out more evenly around an oval if they want to (and if you have an oval). Some folks feel that drinks on the table clutter it up too much & far prefer the carts. There's an arguement to be made for that, but I've always found drink carts more annoying than useful, particularly if your playing space is somewhat tight. YMMV, there.

If you do go w/carts and want to go with a little bling, consider having your cart tops upholstered to match the gaming surface?

Also, just for good measure...

whether to have a wooden racetrack

No.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Definitely no wooden racetrack. It's an extra cost, and unless it's perfectly level with the play surface you will have a bump (or cliff) to drive large stacks of all-in chips over - that's topple city.

Card shufflers are a hassle. Mr Tree had one and went through the time and expense to remove it. Consider how bad something has to be to pay that much money for the shuffler, then to get rid of it (meaning a totally new custom cloth).

I like slide-under cup-holders because they can be repositioned easily for lefties, righties, or those players that like their drink centered in front of them. Rolling carts are fine if you have the room, but make sure they are stable/low center of gravity. They will get bumped.

I prefer a suede rail. Only use black or a really dark color. If your players are dirty sweaty types you might opt for vinyl. My suede has held up for years and is still in great shape.

I like the idea of lights, but if the table is temporary, I'd skip that feature. Lights require power (battery or wired to a plug), and that starts to become a hassle for a fold-up table.

 

[Wils]

A

No.

Wooden

NO

Racetrack

N O

- just in case Psypher1000 wasn't clear

 

[mummel]

I've never used sliding cup holders, but I highly recommend in rail cup holders vs no cup holders. It makes the table look pro and is very functional. I've never had a beer spill because my cup holders are narrow and deep. I love em!

 

[Wils]

Seconding this. Wasn't a big fan of them but my newest table has them and they help a lot.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Most casinos use slide under cup holders. They have a tab that slides under the rail to hold it in place. The benefits are several. The rail isn't broken up by cup holders, so it looks nicer (IMO), not everyone needs a cup holder all the time so you won't have a bunch of unused ones collecting dirt, dust all the time. They are adjustable. That is very nice when you have less than a full table and players spread out a little more. With built ins they may not have one of front of them now.

 

[Trihonda]

Shape - Oval (round is nice for less people, but a table big enough for 10 will be unplayable unless you're inspector gadget)
Size - 92/94 x 42/44
Lights - Not for a portable table
Racetrack - Hell-to-the-NO
Cupholders - Drink carts FTW if space permits. In rail is limiting. Slide unders are ok, but hard on upholstery (where you don't see it).

 

[Poker Zombie]

Edited this post. I said something stupid and I retract my statement.

 

[Mr Tree]

?????????????????

In what world does any pro ever play on a table with in rail cupholders? Name one casino (casinos are where professionals play) that has in the rail cupholders.

I'll wait.

Only the biggest casino in Georgia.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Only the biggest casino in Georgia.

That casino also used to have a shuffle-tech in the table.

It got better.

 

[Trihonda]

?????????????????

In what world does any pro ever play on a table with in rail cupholders? Name one casino (casinos are where professionals play) that has in the rail cupholders.

I'll wait.

Now don't get me wrong PZ, I agree with you on in-rail cup holders... But....

 

[Psypher1000]

It got better.

I feel like there's a joke about bringing out your dead in there somewhere, but I'm either not clever or tired enough to see it.

Alternatively, I'm wrong (which is known to happen from time to time).

 

[Poker Zombie]

I feel like there's a joke about bringing out your dead in there somewhere, but I'm either not clever or tired enough to see it.

Alternatively, I'm wrong (which is known to happen from time to time).

 

[manamongkids]

Maybe just my idiot group, but I've had more spills from side tables than I have had from slide under cup holders

 

[Rhodeman77]

Maybe just my idiot group, but I've had more spills from side tables than I have had from slide under cup holders

Even with side tables, I like it when they have cup holders in them. It is very easy to forget about a drink behind you, back up your chair and knock it over when you bump the side table.

 

[manamongkids]

Even with side tables, I like it when they have cup holders in them. It is very easy to forget about a drink behind you, back up your chair and knock it over when you bump the side table.

Still, even with a cup holder built into the side table, it doesn't guarantee anything. If the table is knocked over the drinks are going down with it

 

[T_Chan]

From what I've read, it sounds like you want/need a nice basic table without too much fancy stuff especially since it's going to be portable.

I would suggest:

44"x96" if you can spare the space. This can accommodate your 10 player games without being squished at all. Go as big as you can is my opinion, up to 44"x96" max. Always better to have too much space than not enough.

Cup holders in the rail are my preference. It's hard to spill a drink unless you're using a long stemmed glass. Drink carts are also a good alternative, again if you have the space. I would go with drink carts over cup holders in the rail but most don't have that kind of room.

A custom felt to simulate a racetrack without the drawbacks of an actual racetrack. I've never heard anyone say "I wish this table had a racetrack" whereas I have heard on many occasions "I wish this table didn't have a racetrack". I have heard "I wish this table had a betting line", and also never heard "I wish this table didn't have a betting line". Thus, custom felt & no racetrack.

Folding legs sound like they'll fit the bill. If you want something nicer, you can get legs which are removable with bolts or clips so that they can be put away but still look nice when setup.

Otherwise, there's not much else you would need for your table. Lights are a very nice bonus. Not necessary, but they are functional. They can help view cards better, and even be crucial if there's ever a power outage and you haven't degen'd enough yet. We played for hours after a power outage once with the lights under the rail. Adding lights usually makes a table much heavier though which makes it hard to be portable.

If you don't have the dedicated space for a poker table, you can consider getting a dining table cover if you do have the space for a regular table. It's more expensive, but then you can get everything you want in the table since you won't be moving it around.

And no to the shuffler, purely on what I have heard from others about the terrible customer support if the machine ever needs to be repaired or maintained. Shuffling is part of the game as well, 2 decks on the table and you have a nice flow to the game as it rotates around the table. If you had a dedicated dealer, then you might want one to help them out not having to shuffle all night long.

my 3 cents...

 

[AdamAAAA]

Thanks for the many replies. I think this helps narrow down what I need. I've updated the OP so far with what I think I should get.

I agree about the betting line. I do want one of these as I'm not getting a racetrack. I'll also want a custom felt but need to think of a theme for the table so will try come up with something for that. So jealous of all the great tables and chips you guys have.

As for being able to move the table, we have converted the loft (attic) into a huge area with bathroom etc. so it'll be going up in there. My partner uses it as a treatment room (she's a masseuse) but I'll also use it as a poker room. So for me I just need to bring the table out from behind a partition once in a while. Screw legs would be fine for this.

I like slide-under cup-holders because they can be repositioned easily for lefties, righties, or those players that like their drink centered in front of them. Rolling carts are fine if you have the room, but make sure they are stable/low center of gravity. They will get bumped.

I thought I knew what you meant about cup holders that slide under but now with you saying they can be repositioned I'm not so sure. Can you post a picture of what you mean?

 

[abby99]

I use slide-under drink holders for players who are not within reach of a side table. They work well if the rail is not fastened down (like mine) or is loose enough to accommodate the tab easily. However, if a player has to jam it under the rail, it will probably result in the damage that @Trihonda referred to.

 

[slisk250]

Maybe just my idiot group, but I've had more spills from side tables than I have had from slide under cup holders

...and those spills are on the wood, tile, concrete, or carpet floor. Who gives a shit.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I thought I knew what you meant about cup holders that slide under but now with you saying they can be repositioned I'm not so sure. Can you post a picture of what you mean?

The metal cup-holder that abby posted is the kind I'm talking about. It is super thin and has done zero damage to the underside of the rail over the years. That said, my rail isn't screwed down -- it's held in place by gravity and fits in the table snugly. I could see if someone used a plastic cupholder (they have a thicker base) it would require more force and could damage the rail underneath. Likewise if the rail is screwed tightly down to the point you couldn't slide in a cupholder very easily, or if you had 2 sumo wrestlers on either side of you leaning on the rail when you repositioned the cupholder.

Because my table is taken down after each event, I do check for damage (and brush off any dirt/crumbs that may get under there), but so far, it's as good as day one.

 

[upNdown]

View attachment 72706

The metal cup-holder that abby posted is the kind I'm talking about. It is super thin and has done zero damage to the underside of the rail over the years. That said, my rail isn't screwed down -- it's held in place by gravity and fits in the table snugly. I could see if someone used a plastic cupholder (they have a thicker base) it would require more force and could damage the rail underneath. Likewise if the rail is screwed tightly down to the point you couldn't slide in a cupholder very easily, or if you had 2 sumo wrestlers on either side of you leaning on the rail when you repositioned the cupholder.

Because my table is taken down after each event, I do check for damage (and brush off any dirt/crumbs that may get under there), but so far, it's as good as day one.

Nice to see your cup holders properly positioned on your octagon table. It drives me crazy when I see an octagon with cup holders built into the rail in the middle of each side - so awkward, having your drink centered in front of you.