Proposed "Underground" Fees

beign · #1 08-17-2007, 01:04 PM

Hey Guys,

My friends and I are starting up an underground game in our college town that'll be going on fairly often during the week. I was just wondering what is a fair rake/entry fee setup.

I figure having a rake free game would be the way to go. 1) to keep it less complex and keep the hands coming and 2) more people would come to it.

Because of no rake, my roommate and I think that having an entry fee is needed to 1) pay for the paulson chips we're buying 2) pay for the table we're building and 3) after chips/table are paid for, it'll help go towards food/drinks/whatever.

We'll have a full ring table running .5/1NL when the night starts off and then 1/2NL when it kicks up or whenever people come in. 200 max buy in.

So which of the fee structures is best?
.5/1NL
- $5 to buy in, $3 to rebuy/addon
1/2NL
- $10 to buy in, $5 to rebuy/addon

or

.5/1NL
- 10% of Buy In (Flat Fee, includes rebuy/addon)
1/2NL
- 10% of Buy In (Flat Fee, includes rebuy/addon)

Do any of you have any other suggestions?

psandman · #2 08-17-2007, 01:11 PM

The fair fee for a home game is $0 or 0%.

If I invite you over to watch a DVD I don't charge you to pay for the TV, DVD or DVD player.

If you want to run an underground game thats fine, don't pretend its a home game though.

beign · #3 08-17-2007, 01:17 PM

ok, title changed to reflect intentions.

we're making this a basically "Underground" cardroom style.

Taso · #4 08-17-2007, 01:29 PM

If you and your friend will be playing in the game, I think it would be very poor etiquette, and maybe even unethical to charge any sort of fee/rake.

Also, charging it to pay for paulson chips and a table seems poor ethics as well. YOU are keeping this table, the players who come will not be able to use it/the chips after you stop running the game, why should they pay to help you own it? I've spent around $850 on getting my game to be the way I like it (chips/tables), and never charge any fees, etc because they're my tables, and my chips, not anyone elses.

All that said I don't think you should charge for rebuys, and maybe just make it $5 at the door for whatever game, 100nl or 200nl.

psandman · #5 08-17-2007, 01:29 PM

well then wwhat are you providing in exchange for for the fees.

I don't know whats fair if I don' t know what you provide?

a professional dealer?
Food/drinks?
are you going to lend money to players to keep the game going? (this is crucial for any underground room to survive).

Lottery Larry · #6 08-17-2007, 01:43 PM

psandman, can a home game be a home game if it has more than one table?

How much in costs (as in, "personal rake") should you be required to eat in a home game, when you don't benefit from multi-table nights? Meaning, the other tables are not involved with your table.

psandman · #7 08-17-2007, 02:40 PM

To me a home game is a bunch of friends/getting together to play poker. And while I don't object to a host asking for people to bring food/drinks (like a pot luck dinner) or even asking everyone to chip in for a pizza, I think when you apply a fee to play you are leaving the realm of home game host and moving towards a business model.

So in my mind if your spending $60 on pizza and beer and ask your players to chip in towards the $60 or take turns paying if its a regular group thats Okay with me, but when the fee is associated with something else such as pot size or buy in and/or isn't capped at your actual expense for food and beverage then I don't think your running a home game.

The whole idea of recoupping your costs for equipment which you own and will continue to own privately is bothersome.

As to the multi-table situation. I think home game can be multiple tables, but I think as you get more tables running it may be less likely to maintain the home game atmosphere and move towards a more underground feel.

Lottery Larry · #8 08-17-2007, 01:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If I invite you over to watch a DVD I don't charge you to pay for the TV, DVD or DVD player.

[/ QUOTE ]

You also don't risk paying ME to come and watch, so why are we comparing apples and oranges again?

psandman · #9 08-17-2007, 01:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If I invite you over to watch a DVD I don't charge you to pay for the TV, DVD or DVD player.

[/ QUOTE ]

You also don't risk paying ME to come and watch, so why are we comparing apples and oranges again?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't risk paying you to come and play poker either.

beign · #10 08-17-2007, 01:56 PM

the entire appeal of the underground game is no rake, isn't it? i've already said what the fee will get the players that come to the game: casino quality chips, a genuine poker table, and food and drinks. i think being able to play in a game where no rake is involved is worth such a minor entry fee.