Home poker night rules for a friendly game

The best home poker nights run on a few clear rules agreed before the first hand. Nobody wants to argue about a misdeal at midnight. Here is a simple set of house rules that works for most friendly Texas Hold'em games, whether you're around a kitchen table or playing online.

Agree these before you start

• The game: no-limit Texas Hold'em is the standard. Decide up front if anyone wants to mix in other games.
• Starting stacks: give everyone the same number of chips. 100 big blinds each is a good, relaxed starting point.
• Rebuys: allowed or not, and until when. A common rule is rebuys only in the first hour.
• Finish time: agree when the last hand will be dealt so nobody feels stuck.
• What counts as a misdeal and what happens next (usually the dealer re-shuffles and deals again).

A simple blind schedule

If you play until one player has all the chips, raise the blinds regularly so the night has an end. With 100 big blinds each and five or six players, this schedule usually finishes in about two to three hours:

For a cash-game style night where people come and go, keep the blinds the same all night instead and let players top up between hands.

Table etiquette that keeps it friendly

• Act in turn. Folding or betting early gives information away and annoys the table.
• Say your bet out loud or put the chips out in one motion, so there is no confusion about the amount.
• Don't talk about a hand that is still being played if you have folded.
• Show both cards if you want to be paid at showdown; the table reads the cards, not the claim.
• Keep phones off the table while you are in a hand.
• Be a good winner. It's a night with friends.

When people can't make it in person

Life gets in the way of a regular game. When half the group can't come over, you can keep the night going online: make a private room on All In, send everyone the 6-letter code and play from your phones. The server shuffles and deals, so nobody has to, and computer players can fill empty seats until people arrive.

It's free, there's nothing to download and the chips are virtual, so there's no money involved and nothing to settle at the end of the night.

Quick answers

Poker on All In is free and uses virtual chips with no cash value. It is for adults 18 and over.