Alright, I could use some help on this one. Basically I wanted to do a cash game at my place - which is usually no big deal. I figured if I could get a 6-8 handed game going that it would be great. The format is your typical dealer's choice cash game with low stakes to encourage a good time. I sent out invitations to eleven acquaintances two weeks ago over facebook and so far have only received one confirmation with one maybe.

I'm the only person amongst my group of friends who actually puts in the time to organize these tournamenents and yet there still seems to be little response from anyone. I've already received an e-mail from the one friend who has confirmed he's coming to postpone the game because it looks as though nobody else is interested or able to make it. I don't want to cancel the game - and to be honest if this game doesn't go through I think it will be the last time that I'm going to put in the time to set this up.

I'm looking for tips/advise on what I could do to get at least a six handed game going. I don't want to solicit too much those already on the list, but I want a decent game, and I don't want my friend driving for an hour for a heads up session. What should I do? Cancel the game? Get on the phone with friends?

Any suggestions others may have would be greatly appreciated.

Get more friends.

First, are these regular poker players? Or are they just random friends you're trying to get into poker. The answer to this makes a BIG difference as to the approach you take. If they are players, you emphasize the game. If they are just normal people, then you emphasize the social atmosphere (read: BBQ and drinks) In fact, you may not even mention poker til people are there getting drunk.

Let us know who these people are.


Second, you facebook invitation is sort of a weak approach. People like to feel special, so don't just send out a blanket evite. Custom make each message for the person.

Example:

"Hey bob, awesome sales presentation tuesday. Why don't we celebrate with a bbq at my place and do something silly like play poker. PS, Sally from accounts recievable said she might drop by."

Third, it helps to have a "core" of players who will play no matter what. I know I can count on at least four hard-core players who will show up, even if they know no one else will. Find that core and get a short-handed game going. Build from there.

Fourth, socialize. I meet random people at parties and invite them.

Fifth, try looking on the internet.



Make sure people are cool with dealer's choice. Around here, people are all about NLHE-- finding one is easy. Getting a DC or mixed game going is much tougher, especially when there are a lot of aspiring WPT pros.



It's all about momentum. Once people hear Betty and Joe are going to show up, other people want to follow. Sometimes it helps create the impression that people are knocking down your door. Although it may be too late for you to do this.

In your case, though, you need "bodies" to get a short-handed game going that eventually other people will want to get in on.

Be willing to recruit outside your circle.

Try hosting some other event (example: UFC fight) and bust out the chips right afterwards.

Overall practice your social skills. I'm a master at attracting people who like to spend a lot of energy on nonproductive activities (any kind of game, music, arts, etc). I'm not sure how learnable this skill is, but give it a try. Find those people, and meet their friends.


You can't give up this easy. Change your tactics and try again. It's a lesson in life.


Buy him dinner and play heads up. With the right games, it can be a lot of fun. You may even want to have your friend over and both play online (different tables) and talk shop as you play.

Start building a core group that you can count on.


On the assumption most your friends aren't regular poker players, my summary suggestions are:

1. Offer other "attractions" to showing up

2. Invite each person individually, not as a group. Tailor your marketing to that person.

3. Get any size game going, don't wait for a full table.

Those are some solid tips! Thanks for your advise!

Unless these guys are already fairly serious poker players I agree with just picking a game to play. Or pick the mix of games, not "dealer's choice". I play quite a bit and even I would be hesitant to want to show up to a dealer's choice game where some people are going to want to play Guts or some random wild card game. I can only imagine how little people who are very casual players are going to want to worry about learning all these new games then figuring out how to play them.

I also second the "get more friends" and "send specialized invites". When you send out a blanket invite people feel less compelled to RSVP because they figure "oh he invited a bunch of people, whether or not I show up doesn't matter much" and "eh, if I don't RSVP I can still show up if I want and just wait to get in or just hang out". Make them know that you're asking them specifically, not just "hey whoever wants to come let me know". And 11 invitations is generally probably not enough to get enough positive responses to get a good game goin.

This is what did it for me. I was in a similar predicament not too long ago (you can find my whiney posts on this forum if you search for them). And I had bigger probelms given my geography and the low player pool in my country. But nevertheless I did succeed and it was getting the core players that did it for me. Managed to find via the internet people willing to play. Memebers for the game swung back and forth and we shifted from 4-handed poker nights to 8 and 9 handed ones but we managed to get a core of me and 2 others that would come rain or shine. Some weeks we had to really look hard to find a 4th hand (many of which only lasted the one game) but we kept showing up and played even 4 haned to keep the game going regularly. Now we seem to have rebuilt the player pool once again though I think it's still too soon to crown a new core memebr.

Other than that I think dismalstudent99 pretty much summed it up nicely (well done btw ).

I've found that you typically need to put together a "core" group of 4-5 players that you can count on to show up because they really enjoy the game. And then you will need dozens more infrequent players on you invite list to fill the other half of the seats.

Have a decent table. Have decent chips. Have a nice atmosphere, some music that isn't too obnoxious or loud, but definitely not just deathly silence (for me there is nothing worse than a silent poker game; really kills the mood and tightens the game up). Deal yourself to jeep the game and action moving.

Talk poker a lot in your different social circles, and the people that seem interested, invite them. Let them know that it's low stakes and a social atmosphere if they aren't old hands already.

Thank you to everyone - some honest and helpful feedback! I will definately use many of these tips to get this homegame going

it takes friends who like poker, and the proper game, some people only like a strict hold-em setup, others just want tournies, etc..

My group is normally between 7-14, but we've gotten 8-10 before with one days notice, because they are poker degens who are up for any game. It's all in the people, if you've got 1 our of 11 with interest, i'd say your chances of getting a game are slim....you might need to open it up to other people(something we avoid for the sake of good poker and company)

My husband and I played nightly, yes literally almost every nite for a year, in the free bar games around town. There are several huge leagues with nice prizes so the fields can be upwards of nine tables. If was fun and challenging but even cooler was that we met and befriended a chit-ton of fellow poker addicts. And for the most part we were all at the same experience level.

So when we had our fill of time-sink bar poker, we started a home cash game and had plenty of people we knew would be interested.

In the beginning I called folks up the day of or day before to remind them, and I also served alot of free munchies. It wasnt long before the game took off and now I don't have to call anyone- I have over 60 on the email list and usually 12-18 will show up.

Once or twice when the soft players stopped coming back and I felt like I needed more warm bodies, I went and played at a local bar game and recruited. I looked for and befriended guys who I guessed thought they were better than they were ( I was looking for easy targets ) This worked and from those outings I have 3 regulars in addition to the original core.

+1

Pub leagues make for good fishing