Texas Hold'em Home Games

[Messi]

Anyone here ever play them? If so what's the buy in you use, and is it a cash game or tourney style?

[TruCatzFan]

Depends on who's coming over.

[Mother Grabber]

I've played both cash and tourney style. Keep it at $20 or under if you want things to stay friendly.

[charlottenian]

I play with a group of docs, it's usually a cash game with the blinds usually $1/2. Pots usually get up to about $35 a hand.... It's more cordial than a money making event

[Bob NC]

Tourney, typically $25 or $30.

A cash game usually starts after 3 or 4 are out of the tourney.

[Messi]

Tourney, typically $25 or $30.

A cash game usually starts after 3 or 4 are out of the tourney.

Winner take all?

[Doc Holiday]

Winner take all?

depends on the amount of players, but if there is enough 3rd place gets their money back, 2nd place gets like 1/3 of what first place get's, it's rather a reason for not having 2 guys(or girls) go back and forth forever if they are playing winner takes all it could drag a game way out.

plus it helps cut down on hurt feelings

[Doc Holiday]

also with that said trying to cut down on hurt feeling is more important then you may think, I have two friends that won't talk to each other anymore over a poker game

[Mother Grabber]

also with that said trying to cut down on hurt feeling is more important then you may think, I have two friends that won't talk to each other anymore over a poker game

Agreed. Unless you're intentionally playing competitively, you have to keep the money low enough that people won't get upset.

The $1/$2 cash game mentioned above is way outside the level of most home games. 5c/10c is good for starters, $5-$10 buyins. 25c/50c is good for a stronger home game, with each player putting in $25-$50. People can lose that and get over it with another trip to the snack table. It's also good to put a cap on rebuys, so that someone doesn't get crazy and blow $200.

Tourney games should be on a similar level, I've usually played $20 because it's easy. Everyone throws in a $20 bill and you get started. You want to keep the chip count high 5-10K, so that people get some good play time for their money. Blinds go up quickly in tourney games, so you want to give enough padding. Payouts are based on number of players. A typical 10 player game would be 1st - 6 x buyin, 2nd - 3 x buyin, 3rd - 1 x buyin.

[Skew]

I don't play poker to make friends. But thats me.

[Mother Grabber]

I don't play poker to make friends. But thats me.

Which is why I don't play seriously with friends. Home games are for fun. Putting a little money on the table keeps people from playing every hand. If you want to play seriously, you should go to a card room or casino.

[mush]

I do a $30 buy in for about 15 people. 210 starting chip stack starting at 1/2 blinds moving up every 20 minutes. winner gets half

[MadHatter]

I do a $30 buy in for about 15 people. 210 starting chip stack starting at 1/2 blinds moving up every 20 minutes. winner gets half

that is similar to how I play. Usually get a few cash games going after teh touney starts to thin......that is where it gets interesting. I have seen guys lose and win $400-500 in the cash side-bar cash games.