I am trying to get a cash game together but I seem to be having trouble. I don't want to play for hundreds at the casino. I just want a smaller stakes game at my house where we can have a good time and watch some sports as well. But I have found that most people either want to play at the casino for hundreds or not play at all. I figure there has to be players that want to play some slightly lower stakes and have a good time while at it. Any ideas how to promote my game? I also of course don't want any shady people at my game.

MOD EDIT: Topic is fine, but I removed the game location so it doesn't look like a listing and doesn't have to move to Home Game Listings.

If anyone is interested in playing, then let me know.

Likely lots of games , like you want to start up, are already running in your area. Usually these types of social games are by invitation only for the reasons you stated and other reasons. So it might be easier to join one than start up a group. The best way to network is simply to ask around the casino tables when you are there, or at free bar leagues or charity events (If you have these in your area). It is likely you will meet folks who play lower stakes homegames and frequent the casinos only from time to time. So just keep asking till you get a bite. Advertising a new game will not bring in the kind of crew that you will always be comfortable with, and invites trouble of other kinds. Good luck to you.

There are no free games around me. And I am not going to drive 30 minutes to not be able to drink in those silly free games that are just all in fests past the first blind level that you don't win anything anyway in the hopes that maybe I find a non shady player to play in my game. Plus I have a g/f that I hang out with anyway and I have other hobbies. I don't go to the casino because you have to have at least $300 just to start with. And that's just one buy in. I just can't spend that money. And quite frankly some of the people I know I cannot figure out they spend that much all the time. Plus I enjoy more social home games as well. I am also a very good poker player so I tend to win as well. I just have to believe there are ways to get a good game going. There has to be people that live around me that would want to play. But then you have to be careful about inviting strangers into your home with a lot of cash in people's pockets. So I am starting to think this poker game isn't going to happen. But I'll keep trying.

So do you now play in some other social home game where you got good at poker? If that is the situation, then maybe you could talk with the host about sharing hosting duties. I have been hosting a weekly social homegame with most of the same crew for 7 years now. From time to time I get an invite to play at one of their games as just a player. Maybe you could work openly on that with the host without appearing to be raiding the game.

I do not play in any other home game now. I can't find one. I have been trying to find a cheaper home game to play in to no avail. It seems most people go to the casino or want to play for hundreds of dollar for one buy in. I don't have thousands of dollars of disposable income to use playing poker. There used to be a few really good home games I would frequent but those are not in existence any longer. I was just invited randomly and once I figured out I was really good at poker I started reading books and doing research on how to play good poker. I still keep up on the game, watch it on tv and read stuff about it. So I am still a very good player, but just can't afford a lot of money to play.

I just love to play the game and want to play for cheaper stakes. And to be honest on a Saturday night having the game at my place I can have a few beers which I cannot do if I have to drive somewhere else.

Whoops ! I am being leveled. I should have known better, my bad. Good luck Newbie you won't be hearing from me again. Next man up LOL

I assume when you say man up you think I should spend money I can't afford to play at the casino or other games. I love the game of poker, but I am not a gambler with a problem. If I can't afford to gamble I don't. I recognize that some people think I should "man up" (you are not the first to tell me this). But when those people don't have any savings or money in their bank accounts then don't come crying to me. I am also a pool player as well. But I play within my means. If I lose $300 at the casino I can't pay my rent. Are those of you saying to "man up" going to pay it for me if I lose?

You know what I have found in poker and pool world most of the time? 95% of them are always broke.

Hey Troll, my " next man up" comment was for other folks on the forum to take over advising you on what to do and NOT on what you should do. It comes from sports when someone goes out the "next man up' takes on the job. Get it ?

I have wasted some time trying to advise you on things you might do to start up your own game based on my own experience. I see you are just a smart mouth Troll looking for trouble. Well you found it. I am thru ( finally ) feeding the troll.

Sounds like there was some miscommunication here. Thank you for the advice. I can assure you I am not a troll. I apologize as that is not what you meant. Hopefully you can understand how i misunderstood that. I am truly trying to put together a good home game.

Seems so. But honestly I don't think it would be easy for me to start a game from scratch.

I think your best bet is to find a game that's already running. Ask your friends and acquaintances if they know of any poker games. And then you'll still have the problem of suitable stakes and game choice.

I think so too. Let your friends and acquaintances know you're interested in finding a friendly game of poker.

I wouldn't invite strangers into my home.

That's the spirit!

Good luck. Keep us informed of your progress.

Buzz

OK Fair enough, Good luck.

I find that the easiest way to start a home game is with a circle of friends, each of whom can bring one guest. I've started home games based mostly on work friends, with one sports friend and two guys from a free game.

Don't get frustrated that only about half the people who say they'll be there actually show. It's par for the course for a new game. Once you get a track record, you can open it to more guests, and move the current guests to the "core" list and able to bring a guest.

Start the game with 3-4 people and play a quarter game around your kitchen table. Once you’ve done that a few times successfully, then ask each of them to bring someone. If you don’t have 3-4 people to play a game around the kitchen table, then you are probably out of luck. The most important thing you can learn is that you never invite strangers into your house. Develop a core and let them invite people that they have a previous relationship. Good Luck!