What to Buy for Home Poker

How much you want to spend on your game is up to you. You can buy a deck of cards and plastic chips for under $10 at your local Target or Wal-Mart. But if you are going to host a regular game, it’s worth investing in some nice chips, cards, and even a table.

A number of local retailers sell nice chips that are thick, and feel like the chips you use at the casino. The best way to buy chips in my opinion is online. I've checked prices at a number of local retailers, and even the one who claimed to have the lowest prices in town could not beat the deals that are available online. The best can be found on Ebay. Just type in “poker chips” and you can easily find a set to your liking. You should be able to get a great set for around $100 or even less, depending on chip style and quantity.

In terms of cards, the best in my opinion are KEM. I paid $20 for a set of two decks three years ago at a local mall. I still have the set, and while it has been used countless times, the cards seem like new. $20 may sound a bit steep for cards, but the quality is what you pay for. A nice set of cards are more enjoyable to play with as well -- they are the same kind that are used at many casino card rooms, and have a nicer feel than the $.99 deck than you could buy at the gas station. Another very durable set are A-Plus playing cards, which are similarly priced.

If you want to go all out, you can invest in a poker table. These are available online too. Ebay has a wide array to choose from, or simply do a search for “poker tables,” and you’ll find many retailers who carry them. You might also find poker tables at specialty stores in your area. Prices range from about $150 on up to several thousand.

Another option: Buy a felt that you can use to cover the table. This is a great way to create a poor man’s poker table, and substantially cheaper. Either a felt or poker table makes a great investment. You’ll see there is a huge difference between playing on a regular table than playing on a felted table. A felted surface makes it much easier to shuffle cards and chips, and makes for a more enjoyable game.

Additional Etiquette. Finally, a few words on etiquette if you are invited to a game, to increase the likelihood that you will be invited back.

Always offer to bring something. Not doing so is, simply, rude. If someone is hosting a game, offer to bring some beverages or snacks. You don’t have to spend a bundle, it’s just a matter of being courteous to the host.

Don’t take it upon yourself to light up a heater unless you know it’s okay to do so. In theory, poker, beer, and stogies all go together. If it’s your home, that’s one thing, but if you’re going to another’s house (especially if they have a family) it’s not very polite to assume you can light up.

Also, know when to leave. This may sound obvious, but many people just don’t get the hint. The “last hand” becomes “one more go-around” and then “one more hour.” Don’t imagine you can hang around for another hour after the game drinking the last two beers in the cooler, especially if the host has a family or has work in the morning.

Finally, offer to host, if you can. If the host of the game wants to host every week, fine. But it is nice to offer to host a game if you’ve been going to the same game for several weeks.