HOME POKER TOURNAMENT GUIDE
PLANNING & HOSTING a HOME POKER TOURNAMENT
A home poker tournament is great fun and provides an enjoyable change of pace to your home poker game experience. Organizing and playing a home poker tournament is not difficult, but a successful home poker tournament requires some advanced organization, planning and preparation. We provide a home poker tournament checklist to summarize what you need to do and when to do it. The classic and most widely played poker tournament game is Texas Hold'em, but that is by no means the only choice. 7 Card Stud and Omaha are familiar and popular alternatives, but you can choose whatever game or games you wish. Hold'em tournaments are played with up to 9 or 10 players at a table. For 7 Card Stud, or a multiple game tournament that includes any variation of 7 Card Stud, limit the number of players to 8 per table. Also included are descriptions of poker tournament variations such as time limit tournaments, hand limit tournaments, multi-game, double-or-nothing, heads-up and bounty tournaments. |
HOME POKER TOURNAMENT GUIDE If you want to host a home poker tournament, HomePokerEdge.com has all the information, tips and advice you will need to plan and hold a great home poker tournament. This step-by-step guide makes it easy. In addition to the enjoyment factor, tournaments can also be used for a special purpose, like an unofficial satellite to a higher buy-in tournament or to fund a gaming trip. For example, a home poker tournament with a $50 buy-in and 10 players could enter the winner in a $500 buy-in tournament, send them on a weekend poker trip to a nearby casino or purchase airline tickets to Las Vegas or some other poker destination. This should go without saying, but, before hosting or engaging in any poker tournament or game, it is each individual's responsibility to understand and accept the risks involved and to make certain it is legal to do so. |
MANAGING the TOURNAMENT: THE POKER TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Every poker tournament, including home poker tournaments, needs a "Poker Tournament Director" to oversee and run the event. When you are hosting a home poker tournament, you've committed yourself to being the tournament director. Besides planning and organizing the tournament, the tournament director oversees the entire operation and makes sure things run smoothly. The tournament director collects buy-ins and re-buys and makes payouts. They must keep track of time and announce when the re-buy period is over, when the blinds or antes increase and when it is time for a break. They oversee table and seat assignments and determine when and how to breakdown tables and move players from one table to another. They inform players of rules and enforce them and resolve any disagreement. Keep in mind that the tasks of the tournament director multiply and become more complicated the larger the number of players and the higher the prize pool being played for. It is not an easy task and it can be very distracting. If your tournament is small (1 or 2 tables) you should be able to handle those tasks and play as well. If your tournament is larger, it is best if you devote your time and attention entirely to director duties.
When the Tournament Director is also a player, a process must be in place for a third person to make rulings in any dispute that the player/director is involved in. When planning a multiple table tournament, consider having a "deputy" tournament director for each table to provide additional oversight and assistance. Make sure to select and orient your deputies to their responsibilities in advance.
Every poker tournament, including home poker tournaments, needs a "Poker Tournament Director" to oversee and run the event. When you are hosting a home poker tournament, you've committed yourself to being the tournament director. Besides planning and organizing the tournament, the tournament director oversees the entire operation and makes sure things run smoothly. The tournament director collects buy-ins and re-buys and makes payouts. They must keep track of time and announce when the re-buy period is over, when the blinds or antes increase and when it is time for a break. They oversee table and seat assignments and determine when and how to breakdown tables and move players from one table to another. They inform players of rules and enforce them and resolve any disagreement. Keep in mind that the tasks of the tournament director multiply and become more complicated the larger the number of players and the higher the prize pool being played for. It is not an easy task and it can be very distracting. If your tournament is small (1 or 2 tables) you should be able to handle those tasks and play as well. If your tournament is larger, it is best if you devote your time and attention entirely to director duties.
When the Tournament Director is also a player, a process must be in place for a third person to make rulings in any dispute that the player/director is involved in. When planning a multiple table tournament, consider having a "deputy" tournament director for each table to provide additional oversight and assistance. Make sure to select and orient your deputies to their responsibilities in advance.