The Hostest With The Mostest
Running a great home game doesn't require a lot of gear — but having the right basics makes the difference between a frustrating night and a memorable one. Here's what you actually need, what things cost, and how many chips to give each player.
The Gear
You can run a solid home game with these five essentials. Links go to our in-depth gear guides.
| Item | What to Look For | Approx. Cost | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing Cards | 100% plastic, poker size (2.5"). Buy two decks per table. | $10–$30 / setup | Cards Guide → |
| Poker Chips | Clay or ceramic, 10g+. Avoid lightweight plastic chips. | $80–$500 / set | Chips Guide → |
| Table / Surface | Rollup felt topper, folding table top, or dedicated table. | $30–$2,000+ | Tables Guide → |
| Dealer Button | Any button or disc will do. Blind buttons are a nice add. | $5–$20 | Accessories → |
| Card Shuffler (optional) | A 2-deck automatic shuffler speeds up the game significantly. | $30–$80 | Accessories → |
Start simple: A pair of KEM or Copag plastic cards ($20–$30) and a 300-chip clay set ($80–$150) will serve you well for years. Don't over-invest before you know how often you'll play.
How Many Card Decks and Chips?
For a 10-player game, you need:
- Cards: 2 decks per table (one in play, one shuffling). Use plastic cards — paper cards deteriorate quickly with frequent use.
- Chips: 300–500 chips for a 10-player game, depending on the style of game. See breakdowns below.
Cash Game — Chip Breakdown
Example: $1/$2 No-Limit Hold'em, 10 players, $100 max buy-in
| Chip Color | Denomination | Per Player | Total (10 players) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | $1 | 10 | 100 |
| Red | $5 | 10 | 100 |
| Green | $25 | 4 | 40 |
| Total per player: $100 | 24 chips | 240 chips | |
Add 80 chips in reserve (extra whites and reds) for rebuys and change-making. Total: ~320 chips for a comfortable 10-player $1/$2 game.
Tournament — Chip Breakdown
Example: 10-player Sit-and-Go, 10,000 chips starting stack per player
| Chip Color | Denomination | Per Player | Total (10 players) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | $25 | 10 | 100 |
| Red | $100 | 10 | 100 |
| Green | $500 | 8 | 80 |
| Black | $1,000 | 8 | 80 |
| Total per player: 10,000 | 36 chips | 360 chips | |
Tournament chips are just for tracking. Real money doesn't need to match chip denominations — agree on buy-in and payouts before you start. You can color-up (exchange small chips for larger ones) as the blinds increase to reduce clutter.
Quick Rules Reference
Before your first game, bookmark these pages:
- Robert's Rules of Poker — the standard rule set for home games
- Hand Rankings — print and post at the table
- Tournament Rules — if you're running a tournament
- Texas Hold'em Rules — the most popular game to start with