Poker Accessories

Other than the usual cards, chips, and a table, you may also need some accessories to go with your game. The following items are commonly used at a home game — none are expensive, but they make a real difference in how smoothly things run.

Dealer Button

Sometimes called a dealer "puck", this disc denotes the seat acting as the dealer for the hand. Using a dedicated button makes it easier for everyone to track who posts the blinds — especially useful when the person physically dealing the cards isn't actually on the button (which happens whenever someone isn't comfortable handling the cards).

A proper dealer button is a large (typically 2") weighted disc with "DEALER" imprinted. They cost $5–$15 and are worth having if you want your game to feel polished. Some groups use an oversized button (3"+) that's easy to spot across a full table — genuinely useful in a 9 or 10-player game.

Card Protector (Card Guard)

A card protector or "card guard" is used to protect your hole cards during play. If a dealer or other player accidentally scoops up your unprotected hand into the muck, your hand is dead — it is your responsibility to protect your cards at all times. Placing or "capping" your cards with a card protector makes it far less likely someone will mistake your live cards for discards.

Many players simply use a chip from their stack — but resist that temptation. A live chip used as a guard can accidentally make its way into the pot. Use a coin, a small trinket, or a chip from a different set not in play. Find something that represents your personality and have fun with it. Card guard collections are a real hobby — casino chips, medallions, and custom tokens all make great guards and are a simple gift for any poker player.

Other Buttons — Lammers

There are other buttons used in games to signify events or conditions important to game play. These are sometimes called "Lammers" — though strictly speaking, a lammer is a casino button used to represent value while cash is in transit. In home game parlance the term has come to mean any small disc used to track a game state.

A typical set includes:

• Little / Big: Mark the small and big blind positions explicitly. Especially useful in short-handed games where blind positions can get confusing.
• Missed Blind: Given to a player who was absent when their blind came around. They'll need to post the missed blind on return, or wait until the big blind reaches them naturally.
• Reserved: Sometimes used to hold a seat for a player on a short break.
• Kill: In kill pot games, marks the player who must post the kill blind. See our Kill Pot rules page for the full rule set.

Sets of poker buttons are available for $10–$25 and are a worthwhile investment for any serious home game.

All-In and Call Buttons

All-In and Call buttons are used to show that a player has gone all-in and another player has called. This helps eliminate disputes where a player claims they didn't declare all-in, or where noise at the table makes it hard to hear verbal declarations. With a physical marker on the table, intentions are clear for everyone to see — especially useful when multiple all-ins occur on the same hand and side pots need to be tracked.

Mixed Games — Game Signs and Indicators

When playing mixed games or dealer's choice, it helps to have a sign showing which game is currently being dealt. Signs specific to the game are displayed on the table for as long as that game is being played — usually one orbit — and then changed to the next game. This helps players actually remember the game they're supposed to be playing!

Options range from hand-written cards in a plastic sleeve (free) to machined metal or acrylic game signs ($20–$50 for a full set). A visible game sign prevents "I didn't know we were playing Razz" situations and is especially helpful for newer players joining mid-rotation. For dealer's choice, a small whiteboard showing the rotation and upcoming games works perfectly.