Food at home games
 

I noticed a post further down the thread mentioning a playing a particular way when food arrived, but I'd like to ask those who have home games if you actually serve food to your guest if you don't order out?

I've played in 2 home games. In one, hosted by a man, he never, I mean never had anything to eat, and you had to BYOB, even water. In the other game, hosted by a female couple, they'd have the dry munchies like pretzels, cheetos and liquor even tho people still BYOB'd if they wanted other than that.

A couple of times I brought a crock-pot of cocktail meatballs or chili to the male-hosted game and the players fell on it like starving lions. That made me feel good, but unless everyone contributed to the food pool, I don't think I should be the one to provide if I'm not the host.

I was looking over on that homepoker site and they had ideas and a few nice recipes for feeding your guest, so is having food ready the norm or unusual?

Re: Food at home games
 

At my games, my wife cooks or we order pizzas or wings.

I crockpotted some chili once, that was cool too.

As for beer.. my fridge is always stocked with Pale Ales and the boys are welcome to bring any other beverages they want.

Re: Food at home games
 

if you're raking then yes provide food, soda, beer, water etc.

if you're not, then you aren't expected to provide anything

Re: Food at home games
 

I've been playing with the same group for over three years and it always has been order pizzas and BYOB. Sometimes we do a poltluck and people bring different things, but that its once in a blue moon.

The general rule is that if you're raking you should provide some type of food and beverages. If you're not raking it is not expected.

Re: Food at home games
 

When my bf and I host, we usually have food and drink, but tell people to bring whatever they want. Some do, some don't. We don't mind. We host only a few times a year, so it is like a little party for us. We do not take a rake of any kind.

I play in Mazzinger's once-a-month tourney, too. Always BYOB, but the host keeps leftover beer, etc., on a shelf that is help yourself. Sometimes we bring food; sometimes not. Pizza is always an option, but if you eat, you pay.

At the Friday cash game I play in, it's BYOB and BYOGrub. Nothing is provided. No rake, but the host usually ends up with "tips" when someone wins, say, $112 and takes only $110.

I would never expect anything to be provided unless there is some type of rake, but I probably would not play in a home game with a rake.

Re: Food at home games
 

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if you're raking then yes provide food, soda, beer, water etc.

if you're not, then you aren't expected to provide anything

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Yea I play at and deal a few raked games, food/drink is expected.

In normal home games i like to pool money together either during or before the game to get either pizza or take-out and to get a few six packs.

Re: Food at home games
 

We do it like that: Every Sunday we play a freeze out, normally 8-12 People. Buyin is 5€, Winner takes it all, but has to organize the next sunday, buy beer and cook for everyone..

So we got a very nice evening with all of my friends, beer and food [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Food at home games
 

I do a monthly tournament with a $15 vig that goes to food and plenty of drink for that week. Usually there's some drink left over for the weekly cash games, but those are mainly BYOB (I provide ice and a cooler). Lately we've been sending someone out to pick up burgers during cash games. I used to provide munchies of various types (crisps and fruit, mostly), but hardly anyone really did much with them and most of them cause gross hands which aren't friendly to cards or chips.

Oh, but I do provide hooch. Bottomless jugs of hooch.

Re: Food at home games
 

My wife and I host a monthly freeze out and everyone chips in $2 each month for food. We serve 3-4 different kinds of chips/doritos as well as having cheese & cracker platters and veggies and dip. We also provide all the non-alcoholic drinks. Needless to say, the $2/person doesn't come close to covering what we spend but we don't mind - it's just there to help reduce our cost a bit.

Re: Food at home games
 

I host a monthly 1/2NLHE game. If it's Friday night, I only provide chips/nuts....we order pizza if people need a full dinner. People always BYOB, I set up coolers with ice. But, I always have plenty of beer/water/gatorade in case someone needs some.

If its Saturday night....there will be brats!!!

No rake.

Re: Food at home games
 

My home games are always BYO what ever you want to drink or eat. I do provide the standard pretzels, chips, and dip. We've had pizza delivered and my wife has cooked one time for all of us (which was nice).

We have started taking a $1 per person for each game played to cover the upcoming games for the end of the year push when we finish our league's first year. I plan on having a small keg of refreshment and wings from a local joint that's out of this world.

P [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Food at home games
 

Tournaments - I take about a $5 fee (actual amount varies as it's based on total players but $5 is max) per initial buy in. I provide all food and drink. Food includes snacks (chips, pretzels, m & m's, trail mix, etc.) and some main dish(s) - pizza, deli sandwiches. I've also had chinese, fajita's, Indian cuisine and even ex-Raider Kenny King barbequeing me up some nice hot wings (He also autographed some photos for the winner) Drinks are beer, soda, water, coffee - No hard alcohol. Typical turnout is 24-30 players

Cash game - I supply all food and drink, but it is much more low key, mostly snacks or finger food (wings, eggrolls, etc.) Pizza at the most. I supply all the beverages but if a player wants to bring some wine or hard alcohol thats okay. I take no money from this game but most players will volunteer to help pay.

THis is how I choose to run my games. I want the players to have a great time and feel they get their money's worth. I want my game to be just a bit better (?) than the other guy's. I want players to enjoy my game and to spend their money.

How you choose to handle food / drink at your game is up to you. You've experienced several different types of situations so which did you prefer? I don't think there is a norm, overall? Take a look at the timing of your game and see what the needs of the players might be? Is it during the week and they come straight from work? (dinner?) Is it a weekday where most (all) need to work the next day? (Less alcohol consumption?) Is it a serious game? (Less alcohol?) or one where guys are just having fun and relaxing?(more alcohol?)

One last thing. The more you choose to provide the greater the set up time.

Re: Food at home games
 

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One last thing. The more you choose to provide the greater the set up time.

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and clean up time...

Re: Food at home games
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
One last thing. The more you choose to provide the greater the set up time.

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and clean up time...

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LOL.. so very true. Typically anything home cooked gets put in something disposable, usualy metal tins and kept warm in chafing dishes. Paper plates, bowls, utensils and cups also.

I try not to serve anything too messy on the hands, but I do have wet naps on hand just in case. I have side tables for all the food / drink so nothing, and I mean nothing, ever gets set on the poker tables.

Re: Food at home games
 

I have a game with my friends at my home about once a month (usually $20 buyin tourney with rebuys for first hour - no vig). I always provide liquor, beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Always have chips and munchies, some sort of dip, and usually have something like hot wings or sausages - have even done burgers and dogs. People often bring beer or a bottle. I look at it like I am entertaining my friends at my house for the evening, and we happen to play poker - noone is there for the money, and we always have a good time.

Re: Food at home games
 

I've hosted a couple of poker nights, and what I found is that providing drinks and snacks can get a bit expensive if you don't watch what you spend.

The first time I had poker night, I provided everything. Beer, drinks and chips. People then went to the nearby Jack in the Box to get burgers so there was a lot of trash.

Second time I provided beer, chips and pizza. Seemed like no one wanted to eat the pizza (which was good, by the way) and no one pitched in for the drinks.

The last time out, I bought beer for me, and chips and homemade salsa and guacamole. People brought their own beer, and gave me a rake at the end of night to help defray the costs.