by Chris Humpherys

Created on: June 11, 2008

Poker, specifically No Limit Texas Hold Em, is a craze that is currently sweeping the nation. With the constant television coverage of the World Series of Poker and its rise in popularity, everyone and their mother has suddenly become a poker player. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson are becoming household names. Poker rooms continue to pop up in casinos, dog tracks and jai alai frontons around Florida and local poker games are becoming easier and easier to find.

But hosting a poker night is not as easy as it sounds. Establishing a well thought out poker night, requires dedication, commitment, the proper equipment, a good core of friends and a variety of other intangibles. Any one can have people over to play some cards, but in order to set up a steady batch of players, it is crucial to do it right if you want it to become a regular gig.

Accordingly, here's a beginner's guide to setting up a happy and healthy poker night. Oh, and may you always be dealt aces.

Rules: Have you ever played a game of pick-up basketball where one person complains about a foul call or another argues about an out-of-bounds line? Suddenly, conflict ensues and the game goes to muck. Similarly, a poker game without well-established rules and guidelines can easily go astray. While posting the rules on the wall might be a bit excessive, standard poker and house rules should always take precedent. For example, what happens if a dealer turns over the wrong card or someone places an improper, string bet. Rules should be established at the outset and agreed upon and all players should respect those rules. Additionally, all players should be aware that all verbal bets are binding and act accordingly.

Etiquette: Respect needs to be paid to the both the game and the host. If the owner of the household is gracious enough to invite a bunch of card-playing drunks over to his house, the last thing he wants is guys jamming their hands into his unopened jar of pickles. If you're a drinker (and everyone else at the table secretly hopes you are), be a gentleman and B.Y.O.B. Do not rely on the host to be your personal bartender. It is not the homeowner's responsibility to support your bad habits, even if he's making money off you at the poker table. Offer to bring food every so often or even replenish his deck of cards. A gracious guest always brings a brand new, unopened deck or two of cards. Also, be kind enough to clean up after yourself. Even offer to take out the garbage. Your poker buddy

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