Fellow pokermos: When you host home games, how do you handle chip denominations? We're doing NL microstakes .25/.50 with max $50 buy-in (we're all lower middle classmos, no rich lolyers here). I'm thinking .25, .50, $1, $2, and $5 chip amounts. Anybody have any thoughts or tips?

Also interested to see pics of other peoples setups if they've got em.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236536)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236548)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236544)

I'd prefer for people to have 100 BB to start, so it makes sense to do $50 buy-ins for a .25/.50 game. I'm considering allowing one additional buy-in but would be hesitant to do unlimited because I want to avoid people losing too much money and getting upset bc of it. Have you ever had any issues with that?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236563)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236641)

You can easily control game length with blinds.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236581)

(bow chicka wow woooowwww)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236689)

point taken, though. maybe i'll just do 4 denominations. .25, 50, 1, 2

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236746)

if you were playing live 1/3 with a 100bb max buy-in and starting a new table, they're probably going to give you $280 in $5 chips and $20 in $1 or $290/$10.

i'd mirror that kind of set up with .25/50/1 and maybe designate a $5 chip if people rebuy/add-on and you need to conserve the small denoms. PLUS, people want to play with a good amount of chips in front of them.

what kind of cards are you going to use? i'd recommend having 2 decks to save time. unless you don't give a shit.

are you going to take a rake at all?

don't let people play on credit, even if everyone is friends or friends of friends or related or whatever. it will fuck you.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48236993)

Noted about the chips. I figured out the math when I first got the set with the plan to use 5 denominations. I'll look at it again.

I have three new decks of cards- two came with my set of chips and I bought another deck as an extra.

I'm not taking a rake to start. Going to keep it very basic the first few games. I will be buying snacks and drinks for the group and asking everyone to chip in a few bucks for those, that's it. Also not allowing straddles, etc. After a few weekly games I will assess where we're at and potentially make changes.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48237197)

this kind of thing is how i got my start. there were actually a shocking number of friend groups playing; the girls always hated it when an impromptu game would break out.

we played all kinds of games too, i have no idea where people learned them. i vividly remember a friend's dad coming downstairs and watching a couple hands before asking, "what the hell game are you playing?" somebody told him some ridiculous game, and he said, "Aww man, you guys are playing nigger poker..."

agree with no straddles.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5617571&forum_id=2#48237440)