First time hosting cash game

[Dan87]

I'm posting this asking for advice as to whether the system I am planning to use is good, and how it can improve.

Until now I have only hosted tournament style poker, which has been pretty simple. I was thinking about trying a cash game soon to spice things up, plus since there are no eliminations people don't get bored because they can't get knocked out.

The tournaments I host are usually 10$ buy-in, sometimes up to 20$ depending on how many people come, but mostly it is for entertainment. I'm keeping in mind how much money we regularly play for when coming up with the cash game amounts.

So far this is what I have thought would work best:

Game: NL Hold'em
Blinds: 25cents/50cents
Antes: None
Minimum Buyin: $10
Maximum Buyin: $50
Chip Denominations: 25cents/$1/$5

I have a few questions:

1)Are the Chip Denominations good for this game, or should I add some like 50cents or $2?

2)Should I allow cash to be used on the table, or will it be pointless and just confuse things since the buy-in is so small. It would be kind of funny to see someone slap 2 fives together and throw them on the table like Negreanu does with 50k bricks.

3)Should I allow people to add money to their stack whenever they want, everyone can add at a designated time like once every hour, or only when they bust out? I'm new to hosting cash games so I'm not sure what the best rules on this are.

4)How should I handle the cashouts? Is it good to let people come and go whenever they want (most likely resulting in some people cashing out when they have made a huge profit), or set a time when we all stop playing?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[MTUCache]

First, I'd reconsider the buy-in maximum... the difference between someone who can afford a $10 buyin and a $50 buyin is

[Lottery Larry]

"The tournaments I host are usually 10$ buy-in, sometimes up to 20$ depending on how many people come, but mostly it is for entertainment. I'm keeping in mind how much money we regularly play for when coming up with the cash game amounts.

So far this is what I have thought would work best:

Game: NL Hold'em
Blinds: 25cents/50cents
Antes: None
Minimum Buyin: $10
Maximum Buyin: $50
Chip Denominations: 25cents/$1/$5"

Blinds and chips are fine for the $50 cap (I've never heard of antes for a cash holdem game), but I think your group is going to find this pretty expensive compared to tourney nights.

You might want to go $0.10/$0.20 with a $5 min, $20 cap. That way, 2-3 buyins isn't 3 figures.

"1)Are the Chip Denominations good for this game, or should I add some like 50cents or $2?"

No- stick with 3 chips at most.

"Should I allow cash to be used on the table, or will it be pointless and just confuse things since the buy-in is so small. It would be kind of funny to see someone slap 2 fives together and throw them on the table like Negreanu does with 50k bricks."

No, it wouldn't be funny at all- no thump.

Cash can play, but should be turned into chips when feasible. Do not allow cash to be taken off of the table, and use the table stakes rule of requiring money to be on the table BEFORE you are dealt your hand.

I typically use the "Jim is going $20 behind" to indicate the amount he is bringing in, if the cards are being dealt. That way there is no doubt and you don't have to miss a hand. That $20 better be on the table before the flop.

"Should I allow people to add money to their stack whenever they want, everyone can add at a designated time like once every hour, or only when they bust out? I'm new to hosting cash games so I'm not sure what the best rules on this are."

Always whenever, subject to the table stakes rule procedures above. This isn't a tourney. Whether you want to institute a loss cap to protect your players as they get use to this ("3 buyins and you're done") is up to you

"Is it good to let people come and go whenever they want (most likely resulting in some people cashing out when they have made a huge profit), or set a time when we all stop playing?"

That really depends on your group and how many people are playing (and who will play short-handed). Normally you cash whenever you'd like. If the game would break down too easily, you might institute a half-hour or hour warning before a player departs.

Tell all of your players to bring change for a $20, to cash out with. Make sure you as the host has a few dollars in whatever change you need to match the blinds, for cashing out

[Dan87]

I forgot to mention that we usually play 2 or even up to 4 tournaments a night (It is a small crowd of 6-9 people), and we play for a long time, so I was considering three buyin amounts when coming up with this. Some nights I may lose 40$ if I don't make it into the money in any of the tournaments.

Thanks for all the help so far, I'm trying to make this an easy change from tournament to cash for my friends too since they are used to tourney games like I am.

[MTUCache]

are you still planning on doing a tournament?

That's the way we do it at our game... tournament starts at 8PM, with all three tables. After we consolidate to two tables, and we've got 5+ people interested in a cash game, they start it up at the extra table. Then, as people get busted out of the tournament, they just go buy into the cash game.

For what it's worth, with the loose crowd we have, I love the cash game. The tourney is still a crapshoot for me, but the cash games are a lock on most nights. Most guys don't change strategy at all when they sit down at the cash games, and it costs them a ton of chips.

[flatline]

If people are only used to spending $10-20 for a night of cards, you should play 10c/20c. With people buying in $10 for a 25c/50c, it won't last very long at all. That said, if people are willing to throw down $50-$100, play 25c/50c.

[Annorax]

[ QUOTE ]
If people are only used to spending $10-20 for a night of cards, you should play 10c/20c. With people buying in $10 for a 25c/50c, it won't last very long at all. That said, if people are willing to throw down $50-$100, play 25c/50c.

[/ QUOTE ]

Seconded.

[Dan87]

I originally thought that .10/.20 or .10/.25 blinds would be a good idea too. My problem would be if someone wants to cash out with like $21.35 or something and it would be harder to keep track with all the change. That's why I wanted to keep 25cents as the minimum denomination, but I also realize that is a lot for our low stakes.

Should I do 10cent/25cent/$1 denominations for the chips, with a maximum buy-in of $40?

[Annorax]

Add a $5 chip and raise the max buyin to $50, and you should be good.

[stevea]

[ QUOTE ]
I originally thought that .10/.20 or .10/.25 blinds would be a good idea too. My problem would be if someone wants to cash out with like $21.35 or something and it would be harder to keep track with all the change. That's why I wanted to keep 25cents as the minimum denomination, but I also realize that is a lot for our low stakes.

Should I do 10cent/25cent/$1 denominations for the chips, with a maximum buy-in of $40?

[/ QUOTE ]

How about .25/.25 blinds with a $20 buy in?