How to Host a Poker Night: Poker Table Set Up Guide

Whether you're playing Texas Hold'em or seven-card stud, when it's your turn to host poker night at home, you want to get it right. You know what they say - with great power comes great responsibility. And hosting poker night is not something you can take lightly - all your friends are entrusting you to create a night of card game fun for all.

While there is much that goes into setting up a poker table and creating the perfect environment, you don't have to lose any sleep as the big day approaches. We're going to teach you how to host weekly poker nights in this in-depth guide. You'll also learn how to set up a poker game table like the pros.

While you can certainly go about a poker table set up from your existing dining table or a folding table, this leaves much to be desired in the actual gameplay experience. There is a better solution that will help you effortlessly host poker night at home while impressing all your guests. If you want to routinely host guests for poker night - or any other type of game night, for that matter - be sure to read through to the end. We're going to introduce you to the most sophisticated, versatile table for dining, entertaining, studying - you name it. 

First, let's address the topic at hand today - how to host a poker night at home.

How to Host a Poker Night: 5 Steps to Successfully Hosting Poker Night at Home

Hosting poker night at home isn't as daunting as you may have originally anticipated. In fact, it all boils down to 5 simple steps. We'll break them down for you below. First things first is planning the night in advance with your guests.

Step 1) Plan the Night in Advance with Guests

You can't just invite your friends over for poker night without any planning. This is a surefire way to set yourself up for failure as a host. Planning poker night in advance with your guests will give you time to figure out how many people can actually attend, what type of food and drinks you'll serve, what game is being played, the stakes, and how long the game will last. There are so many moving parts in hosting poker night at home that proper planning cannot be overlooked.

If you have a group of friends or family members in mind already, start a group chat with them and gauge interest. You can start off with a one-night trial run to see how things go - but the expectation should be that the group gets together weekly for some fun and memories. If you don't have enough members off the top of your head, you can throw a line out on Facebook or other social media app to see if there are any people you didn't think of originally that could be interested.

Once you have a set date and time - along with a confirmed head count - you can start to get into the preparation stage. 

Step 2) Gather All the Necessary Supplies for Hosting Poker Night

Next on the list is gathering all supplies for hosting poker night at home.  This includes food, drinks, poker chips, and cards. You'll also need a poker table - but we'll get into that in more detail later on.

For food and drinks, it's best to offer a variety of options for your guests. If you're serving alcohol, make sure there are non-alcoholic beverages available as well - not everyone will want to drink alcohol when playing poker. As for food, some light snacks or finger foods are always appreciated. No one wants to play poker on an empty stomach!

Poker chips and cards can be easily sourced from any local department store or online retailer. For an authentic casino feel, try to find clay chips instead of plastic ones. They have a nice weight to them and make a satisfying sound when they hit the table. You'll also want two decks of cards - one for the game, and one as a spare in case something happens to the first deck.

Step 3) Clean the House & Set Up Your Table

One thing that is often overlooked about how to host weekly poker nights at home is the ambiance. Take the time to create some playlists, light a few candles, and set the temperature (or open windows). Make sure the space itself is comfortable and inviting. A good cleaning on the day of your poker night is an important part of being a good host. You don't want to welcome guests into a pigsty.

The most important part of poker night, however, is the poker table itself. This is what will really make or break the gameplay experience - and the night as a whole. Ideally, you'd have an authentic poker table - complete with individual player stations, card holders, drink holders, a felt playing surface - and more. 

However, the reality is that this is just not feasible for most people. You may not have room - or the budget - to justify two large tables in your home. So, you'll probably play on your dining room table.

Thus, you need to take the time to create these individual player stations yourself and set up the table for an efficient, comfortable playing experience. If your dining table just isn't going to cut it, we've got a solution that will blow your mind. You'll have to read to the end to learn more. For now, let's move on to setting the house rules from the start.

Step 4) Establish House Rules Right Away

One of the most important aspects of how to host weekly poker night is setting the house rules right away. This includes things like how long each game will last, how much money can be bet on each hand, the small and large blinds, and what the consequences are for breaking the rules.

It's important to be firm with these rules from the start. If someone breaks a rule, make sure they know that there will be repercussions. This could mean forfeiture of the hand at play, being banned from playing for the night - or being permanently removed from future games. The last thing you want is for someone to ruin everyone else's fun by not following the established rules. 

We know that you don't want to be a buzzkill when everyone's just trying to have fun, but being strict with the rules is beneficial for everyone involved - trust us. This leads us into the fifth and final step - moderating the evening and playing host.

Step 5) Moderate & Be a Good Host! 

Yes - hosting a poker night should be fun for you, the host, as well. After all - why would you take the time and energy to learn how to host a poker night if you didn't get to partake in the fun? Nevertheless, your job, as host, is to moderate and keep everything running smoothly. 

This includes keeping track of the time, making sure people are following the rules, and maintaining a good atmosphere. 

It's also important to be a good sport as the host. If you're winning - don't rub it in everyone's face. Likewise, if you're losing - don't get too upset or angry. This will only make things uncomfortable for everyone involved. The whole point of poker night is to have fun with friends (or family)!

Now - that's how to host a poker night successfully. Not so bad, right? Well, the question most people have about this topic is actually not so much about hosting poker night at home - but rather, how to set up a poker game table correctly. So, we'll dedicate an entire section to this below...

Poker Table Set Up Guide: How do You Prepare the Table?

Now that you know how to host weekly poker nights like a pro, it's time we move on and teach you how to set up your poker game table. The first thing you need to do is consider the type of poker game you'll be playing. 

Consider the Poker Game Type

This will dictate how many players can sit at the table and how much space each player will need. For example, in Texas Hold'em, each player needs enough space for their chips, cards, and drinks. But in stud poker, there is no communal pot so each player doesn't need as much space.

Create Individual Player Stations

Once you've considered the game type, it's time to create individual player stations. This means setting up the table so each player has enough space for their chips, cards, and drinks. If you're using a rectangular table, the best way to set it up is by putting the dealer at one of the short ends of the table. This allows all players to have an equal view of the dealer and makes it easy for everyone to reach the pot in the middle of the table.

We mentioned earlier that this isn't always feasible on a typical dining table. But, the Dresden isn't just a typical dining table. Keep reading to discover the #1 solution for anyone who routinely hosts & entertains a group of people...

Want to Really Impress Your Guests on Poker Night?

If you want to really impress your guests as a host, replace your old dining room table with the Dresden: the ultimate board game dining table.

This sophisticated table converts from a stunning dining room table into a professional gaming table in just seconds. If you have guests over for poker night, you'll never worry about how to set up a poker game table again - this thing makes it effortless. Complete with individual player stations, a felt playing surface, and other intuitive features to elevate the playing experience.

You can customize the Dresden to match your home's existing aesthetic. Choose from an array of wood species, design styles, and other features to make this table truly your own.

Whether you're trying to create the perfect poker table set up or create the perfect dungeons and dragons setup, or even hosting a board game night where you and your friends play the best co-op board games - this table will transform the way you entertain guests. See firsthand what makes it so special by visiting the page linked above.

Final Thoughts on Hosting Poker Night & Setting up a Poker Table at Home

That concludes our in-depth guide on how to host a poker night and how to set up a poker game table. As you can see, hosting poker night and setting up a poker table isn’t all that complicated. With our poker table set up guide, you can feel confident in reaching out to your friends and family - knowing you’re going to pull this event off without a hitch!

Remember - to truly transform your poker table set up, ditch your old dining room table and treat yourself to the most innovative dining-gaming table in the world. You won’t regret it!