Noob Question
 

I would like to get a home game started, but I'm a super cheap college student who would much rather spend his money on beer, poker books, and buy-ins at the local B&M than on poker tables and chips. I have a 300 chip set of 75 chips each with four colors. I understand that this is an incredibly low amount of chips, as all I have read recomends at least 500-1000 chips to start a home game.

I would like to get a .10/.20 NLHE game going with a $10.00 buy-in. Four out of the five regulars I plan on playing with are far from serious poker players, so I don't think they would mind playing with 50 BB.

I plan on the following buy-in structure per person:

10 Blue @.10/each for total of $1.00
13 Red/Orange @ .50 each for total of $6.50
1 Green @ 2.50 each for total of $2.50

I plan on allowing players to re-buy in $5.00 increments up to $10.00 when they go busto. I will let people re-buy from others at the table but the seller must exchange the cash for green chips to discourage the seller from going south.

What do you guys think about this structure? Should I just stick to tournaments? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Re: Noob Question
 

Cash games are great fun, guys can join late, rebuy at will and leave early if they want. Nobody complains about the blinds going up too fast or the payout structure.

You don't have quite enough chips, so you may find your players have to make a lot of change for each other, but if that's all the chips you can afford, just let it be.

It sounds like a good setup. Enjoy your game.

Re: Noob Question
 

The chip set was $9.98 on sale at Target, and they're really not that bad. I'm fine with people making change, it's not that big of a deal to me, but how much does it bother people?

Re: Noob Question
 

It just slows the game down a little, that's all.

If you can swing it, get enough for everyone to have 20 $0.10 chips and 16 $0.50 chips. Stick a few of the $2.50 chips in your pocket and pull them out for quick rebuys right at the table.

Re: Noob Question
 

Don't let players rebuy out of someone else's stack unless the "seller" leaves the money on the table (available for play). Otherwise the seller is ratholing, a complete violation of the table stakes rule that will get you thrown out of any serious cash game.

Re: Noob Question
 

Agree with fracas, if you buy from someone at the table, the cash must play. Depending on what your friends are like, the cash in the pot will either make the game seem more interesting, or take away some of the friendly nature of the game. I doubt it will be a problem.

Making change doesn't usually slow down the game because 2 guys just do it on the side as the game is going on. Don't worry about it, you're providing the chips for free and if they don't like it they don't have to play! If you play well, maybe you can splurge on a second set of chips with your winnings. You ought to be able to average around $10 in profit per night if they are typical poker players.

Re: Noob Question
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't let players rebuy out of someone else's stack unless the "seller" leaves the money on the table (available for play). Otherwise the seller is ratholing, a complete violation of the table stakes rule that will get you thrown out of any serious cash game.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're going to respond to a post, please read the post. I'll copy and paste the ratholing rule again since you didn't read it the first time:


I will let people re-buy from others at the table but the seller must exchange the cash for green chips to discourage the seller from going south.

Re: Noob Question
 

I'd just do 10c/25c. Or even 25c/25c just makes it easier at the end of the night.