I want to start a poker club with my buddy so we can go to the casino and have fun. We want to put in the same amount each then use a portion to go play once or twice a week and hopefully build a bigger bankroll. My question is what parameters should we use? If we put 1k each how much should we use to go play with? Should we set time limits or amount limits? What are some other rules people can recommend? Hopefully we win and go up in levels but we’re planning on starting at 1/2.

I think it is impressive that you've had a 2+2 account for 5 years and this is your first post.

Why not each of you keep your own $1,000 and simply go to the casino together ? You did not mention whether either of you has any experience, keep tabs on each other's results for 6 months and then decide upon rules, etc if you decide to pool funds. Given your posting history, or lack thereof, you clearly have the patience to do a trial like I suggest.

Try that for 6 months or so.

I do recommend playing tournaments.

I would advise against entering into this partnership.

There was a pokersesh podcast about a poker house in baltimore area i think. I would never do this, people and money... But you might wana listen to that, they seemed happy.

It is almost certain that one of you will be better than the other. The better player is going to eventually resent that he is funding the worse play of the other player. Just go together and keep a separate bankroll. Don't loan each other money.

You probably shouldn't pull 100% of your funds. If you're really just trying to make a go of it on short bankroll, make an agreement to stake each other for say 25% (but by all means less than 50%). Try not to sit at the same table. Write down the agreement. You don't necessarily need to hire a lawyer to write a contract if you trust your friend, but you don't want faulty memory or miscommunication to get in the way and wreck a relationship.

If $1000 really is your bankroll, i.e. if you're not willing to replenish from your non-poker income, then you'll face a substantial "risk of ruin" even with staking (just guessing, 20-30% maybe?) even in juicy NLHE games. You can bring that down by buying in for the minimum, but you'll need to adjust by playing a very tight, boring game. So long, calling raises with 33 to set mine. Hello, waiting on TT+, AQs+, AK unless you're very sure it's a limped pot.

Likely, you'll hate the shortstack game and find it not worth your time. This is particularly true if you could get a second job, freelance, etc. Then you'll decide rather than shortstacking to just risk blowing through your "bankroll." As long as you're gainfully employed you can probably take some time off, improve your game, cut your living expenses, replenish with another $1000 in say three months, and start over.


Yeah, if you cross-stake, commit to revisiting the % after a month. You don't have to say you think you're better than the friend at poker. Just say that you are feeling less risk averse so you want to drop the 25% to 15%.

Are you guys planning on playing together at the same table?

We plan on playing at the same time but separate tables. We’re looking at this like a hobby and not as a way of making a run. Just having fun and wanted some input on how to make it more efficient.

So if you guys get seated at the same table because there is nothing else available, whats your game plan

What is the point of combining bankrolls? What does the group plan to get out of it?

It's your business, and it might work out OK ,but there are a lot of things that can complicate or even do worse things to your relationship here. I don't see why you would want to do this instead of just going to the casino and spending your own seperate funds.

Sounds like a great way to lose your friends.

Instead of sharing a bankroll, share knowledge. Sign up for different training sites, read different books, talk through hands.

$1k isn't enough to quit your jobs but it is enough to start grinding in your off hours.

Combining your money together seems to serve no real purpose except to have one person pay for someone else's beats. I've definitely done some fun trips to the table games where a friend and I agree to start with $200 each and split the winnings/losses at the end of the night, but a long term standing agreement? That just sound like a real pain and hassle and has too high a chance of you two not being friends at the end of it.