Many new to the game of poker will have come to it after seeing the excitement of televised poker games played at large casinos, and will realise there is more to the game than simply playing cards.

This guide is aimed at those new to poker and features ideas that you may like to incorporate into your home poker game.

Get the right mix

Some people will instantly fit in, both as poker players and friends and will settle at an appropriate skill level within your group. Others may not find it as easy to slot in, so it is those that you should encourage to feel welcome.

A mix of skill levels is a good thing as long as the gap between skilled and novice is not too extreme. You could make some time to coach a new player privately; it should not take you too long, just an evening or two of one-on-one play.

I would recommend when giving a new player guidance, you play a few hands with the cards face up and explain some of your thinking as a hand develops. Also you could each play three hands at a time so the new player gets to see what cards others may be holding.

If your home game has a number of players that want to play ‘seriously’ and other that are more interested in the fun, you may think to accommodate both by hosting a serious night and a fun night.

A fun night may just be more beer and less poker or introducing other poker games like Omaha Hi/Lo and Razz, so that new players may enjoy more of the luck that is intrinsic in those formats. Dealer’s choice is also a good way to ensure everyone has a good time.

Find the right location

Whether it is played at a fixed location or you take turns in hosting the game, make sure there are enough chairs for everyone and that the table is large enough. Confirm that someone has remembered to bring the chips and cards, and during the rowdy times you’ll not be upsetting the neighbours.

Form a league

It is easy to run a league points system if playing weekly home tournaments and still possible when playing cash games.

The league will encourage regular participation. You should think to run the league over a three or four month period; any new players joining will not be waiting too long for a new season to begin.

You could suggest keeping a 5% rake for an end of the season freeroll game open to all who have played say, half of the league games.

Players will take pleasure from seeing where they stand amongst their peers and will know that missing a few games may mean missing out on the freeroll.

If you only host home cash games and want to run a league, log the buy-ins and cash-out amounts. League points could be awarded to players with the larger percentage increases on their weekly buy-in. This system rewards the play and not the bankroll. To calculate the percentage gain: divide the profit by the buy-in and multiply by 100.

Chip counts

Make a considered choice as to the starting stacks and blind increments when playing home tournaments; this will help your game run at a good pace. If the starting stacks are too large and blinds too slow you may find the game drags; conversely, if the stacks are small and the blinds fast, strategy may go out of the window.

For a home game 25 to 50 poker chips of differing values for each player should be enough, you do not want the table too crowded with chips. Players will think they have a good amount of chips, but not so many that one or two players become too dominant as soon as a few players are eliminated.

Your blind schedule will determine the values of your chips. In a friendly passive game, players should have 50 big blinds at the start, with slow and small blind increments. For a more aggressive game, begin with 25 big blinds or make the blind increments faster and larger.

Speed up the game by using two decks

Have one set each of red and blue backed cards; the player to the left of the dealer can shuffle the cards of the previous hand while the next is being dealt.

Supplies

To organise your home game, as a guide I would suggest a custom built poker table with a set of 13 gram clay poker chips are great tools to add to the comfort and atmosphere; however you do not need them to begin with. When you are ready, a good poker chip set should not break the bank and there are plenty of good deals to be found on the Internet.

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Snacks and beer

Treats always make the night go with a swing, but if only you supply them every time the group meets, you may ask the others to take turns at bringing the goodies, or encourage them to donate into the kitty.

Etiquette

Trash talk that often makes its way to the poker table can add fun and laughter amongst friends, but there are still a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

Players should not talk about a hand unless they are involved in it and should not mention their pocket cards.

Teaming up is a total no go area, your group should try to beat each other as individual players. Players may joke about having to take out another player or look out for a player prone to bluffing in a certain way, however during a hand no one should be talking to a fellow player about strategy or ways to beat another.

Verbal bets are binding. A bet is made with one move of the amount of chips a player wants to bet or announces in their turn.

Do not put up with the ‘cowboy movie’ phrase. "I see you and I raise..." This is a sneaky way to gauge how an opponent reacts before completing the action.

If a player acts out of turn, for instance declaring a raise before a player whose turn it was has made their action, the player who’d errantly raised out of turn must raise when it is their proper turn to act. It’s the same with betting, calling and folding - there should not be any exceptions.

Don’t crash and run, stay for the fun

Try to encourage those who have been knocked out of a home game to stay and enjoy the banter and company of others, if the evening is young other exiting players may hold a side game.

Shuffle up and deal

With a small degree of foresight it is easy to purchase a set of poker chips. As a loose guide for your home game, the heavier chips are better. In sampling a few chips before you decide to buy, you may learn that a 9 gram composite chip set is perfect for you, or that a 13 gram Clay set (my favourite) is what you want, saving you money in the long run.

Casinos use various brands and weights of chips, most will be a clay composite chip weighing between 9 to 11.5 grams.

I suggest you purchase a poker chip set suited to your taste and budget.

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Often what is termed as a plastic chip is just that. While a composite chip has a metal disc moulded into it to add weight. A Clay composite chip and a Clay chip will still have an amount of plastic in its structure (to a lesser degree) otherwise they would be too brittle for common use.

Plastic: Cheap plastic chips for beginners that weigh as little a 2.5 to 3 grams are fine for the occasional player's home game. They are poor quality and rarely attractive; for the minimal cost, they can be considered as 'betting tokens' that will serve the purpose.

Composite: A Composite poker chip set will often cost more than a plastic chip set. They will be a cheaper alterative to a clay chip set. Be wary of poor quality printed sets which may look good until viewed closely. These are usually in the weight range of 4.5 to 9 grams.

Clay Composite: Clay composite chips are the next step and can range in price according to the quality from the low end, akin to the price of a composite set, to the high end price of a clay chip set. The quality can vary greatly, you may think to have a sample sent before buying a full set. They may give off a feint clay odour. The Clay composite and Clay chips tend to be the heavier chips, ranging from 9 to 15 grams, with the majority being in the 11 to 13.5 gram area.

Clay: Clay chips are the bees knees, they look cool and will have a comfortable feel that players appreciate. They should also have a full clay smell as you open the case. This quality comes at a price as they are often the most expensive chip. However you won't be disappointed with your purchase. Many manufacturers and suppliers will usually send out samples.

You may want to try composite, clay composite and clay chips side by side, as they have an individual look, feel and sound. Clay for me gives the best chink.