Chicago is a city full of life, and there are many ways to enjoy it. One way that has become increasingly popular in recent years is hosting your own poker party at home! However, if you’re not the creative type, this may seem like an intimidating task. Luckily for you, we have put together some ideas for how to create the perfect poker party at home.

Before you crack open your new poker chip set, read on to find out everything you’ll need to throw a terrific poker party!

What Kind of Poker Party Do You Want to Host?

There are many different kinds of poker parties to create, but the first step is deciding which one you want. Some people prefer a low-key game with only close friends and family while others opt for an extravagant one where they have food delivered from all their favourite restaurants. There’s no wrong answer as long as everyone has fun!

To decide what sort of game to play when hosting your own poker party, consider the following factors:

Do you want to have a loose assortment of friends playing dealer’s choice or want everyone focused on only one specific game? Do you want the activity to mimic televised poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker which is primarily Texas Hold’em? One of the most popular poker games right now is Texas Hold ’em, but if you’re interested in variety, try dealer’s choice or a rotation game.

Here are the formats you can go with!

Tournament: create an elimination bracket of all players and play games to the best two out of three rounds until there is one player left standing (usually takes about six hours).Dealers Choice: create a game with the dealer’s choice of what to play. For example, you can make all players ante and then deal three hands for everyone (usually takes about two hours).Rotation Game: create teams that will rotate in playing rounds until there is one remaining team or player left standing (usually takes about six hours).

The next question is what kind of poker game you want to play. There are many different kinds, but some people prefer a fast-paced seven-card stud or five-card draw while others opt for the more strategic Texas Hold’em. If you’re hosting your party with older guests in mind, a game like Omaha or Five-card Draw might be a better choice.

How Many People Should You Invite?

A dealer’s choice game should have 5-7 players tops, while Texas Hold’em night needs 6-10 entrants to be fun and fair for everyone at the table. If you want to play a seven-card stud at the table in any game, there can’t be more than six or seven players.

What’s the Buy-In and What Are the Stakes?

Be clear about how much money your friends should bring to play the game. Setting a “buy-in” for new games is as simple as choosing an amount that you would spend on a night out so that it matters without being excessive. That buy-in can be $10 or $100, depending on what kind of budget you have available.

The stakes of the game, or betting structure, are also important. Fixed limits and spread limits are popular choices for most home poker games.

Essential supplies for the perfect poker party

To create the perfect poker party, you need to stock your home with essentials. These are some basics that will make sure no one is left without a drink or snacks:

Poker chipsA deck of cardsA large table to play atAt least eight chairs, preferably more, ideally with back supportDrinks (alcoholic or non)Chips and dips for snackingSandwiches or a meat platter for dinner

More Tips for a Perfect Poker Party

If you are hosting a home poker party, here are some tips on how to create an atmosphere that will keep your friends coming back for more:

Don’t be afraid to get competitive and don’t hold anything against someone else at the table. You can win or lose money without losing friendships!Don’t be rude to your dealer. Dealers can create good or bad energy in the game, and it’s important for them to enjoy themselves too!Nurse your drink wisely – don’t get so drunk that you become careless with money or sloppy with cards. You’re there to have fun and compete!Dress to impress! No one wants to play with a sloppy player. Dress in your best poker attire and you will create the perfect atmosphere for your game.Always have snacks on hand – nothing is worse than being hungry during an intense game of cards! Be sure that there are plenty of healthy options available, as well as some decadent ones.Play to win! Don’t create the perfect poker party with an ‘everyone wins’ attitude. Make sure you create a competitive atmosphere by rewarding winners and punishing losers accordingly.

Play and have fun while you’re at it!

Now that you have everything set up, all that’s left to do is put on some good music and wait for your friends to show up—then collect the cards, shuffle them well, and get ready for a gorgeous game of poker.