How to Host the Perfect Poker Night
Playing poker has always been a sociable event. Even when you’re not playing with friends, you still have to be playing against other people. Playing with strangers is fine if you’re playing online, but it’s a lot more fun with friends if you’re playing in person.
Playing online does have its benefits and is still possible with friends if you live far away. And you can always use Bonus Finder Ireland if you’re looking for a good deal.
But if planning an in-person poker night is giving you unnecessary stress, we’ve got all the tips you need to make it a success.
What to get before the poker night.
The most important thing to consider when planning a poker night is food and drinks. Even if you’re not going to go all the way with dinner, there definitely needs to be something to snack on.
You don’t have to provide all the snacks if the budget is tight, you can always get your guests to contribute. Just beware that whenever people are asked to bring snacks, crisps are always the default!
If you are providing dinner, you have to inform your guests that they need to arrive on time. Nothing is worse than having to wait around for someone with lots of hungry guests and dinner going cold.
If it’s a canape or snack situation, the arrival time can be a bit looser – and those who turn up later might just have to miss out on the food! If it’s a super casual event, you can always plan to order some pizzas or other takeaway later in the evening.
Drinks are the next big-ticket item to consider. Even if people are bringing their own, it is always nice to still supply a couple of bottles of wine or a few beers. You might end up drinking them yourself, but it saves the embarrassment of someone going thirsty.
There are also a lot more non-drinkers around now so making sure they’re taken care of is important too. You could even create a fancy mocktail, so they don’t get stuck with a fizzy drink or water. It makes them feel considered rather than an afterthought, and makes you stand out as a stellar host.
How to set the tone for a poker night.
One of the most important ways you can set the tone is through lighting and decorations. Lighting is one of the easier ones as you can utilise things you already have in the house.
Warm lighting is always best, especially for an evening. It’s the softest lighting you can use and makes everyone look their best. But if you want to take things a step further, you could invest in some coloured bulbs for an added effect.
If you don’t want to go the whole hog with bulbs, you could always get some lighting filters that you can take off at the end of the night. You can always reuse them for your next poker night if this one is a success!
When it comes to decorations, less is always more. Even if you want to decorate the place, you don’t want to go overboard. If you’re looking to give the room a party vibe, a disco ball is always a hit.
If you’re going the whole hog, some darkly coloured drapes really add a touch of glamour to the occasion. Think bottle green, a deep crimson, or a deep purple. All of these colours add a sense of grandeur and can add to the occasion.
Should there be a dress code at a poker night?
Whether or not you need a dress code is completely up to you. It depends on what kind of night you want to have.
If you’re having a boys’ night in playing poker around the kitchen table, a dress code might not be necessary. However, if it’s someone’s birthday or another kind of special occasion where poker is involved, a dress code can bring a sense of occasion.
You could go old school and have everyone dressed up to the nines in suits and evening dresses. Or you could have a themed poker night where everyone dresses up as a famous poker player from a film or TV show – or even a real-life poker player.
You can dress it down or up, depending on how you’d like the night to go. Even if it’s just a night in with friends, a dress code can liven the night up a bit and make it more of an occasion. There doesn’t have to be a special reason to get all dressed up, sometimes it just makes the evening that little bit more fun.
Now you’ve got all the inside knowledge, the only thing left to do is set a date!
