Finally! Your significant other is out of town visiting her parents or spending some time with her friends. This of course calls for a Poker night with you and your best buds! We have created a list of 7 essential items to hosting a successful poker night. For your convenience, we have split the 7 items into two time-frames: Pre-Festivities, Poker Night, and Post Party.

Pre-Festivities

1. Invite your friends, set a date.

How often do your nights out go as planned? With conflicting schedules and busy work lives, it’s hard to get all of your boys out together! The first thing you need to do to host a successful poker night is to send out a clear, straightforward invitation. Try sending out electronic invitations a week or two in advance (see our designs). Make sure you get RSVP’s so you know how many people to expect!

2. Set the Ground Rules.

Make sure the ground rules for the night are clear. Commonly enforced protocol include the “No Wives” rule or the “ No Cashing out Early” rule. Feel free to inject laws personalized for your specific group of friends. When our intern, Cliff, hosts Poker Night, he sets a rule that participants have to bring candy to share. They are a bunch of sweet tooths.

Poker Night

3. Have the correct equipment.

Remember when you used to play “Go Fish” with your parents for jelly beans? I’m afraid that’s not going to fly with your friends nowadays. Make sure you have a nice set of poker chips, after all, you’re going to be collecting them all night. Also remember to have a spare deck of playing cards, the first set is liable to become bent and worn within the first couple of hours!

4. Refreshments, Refreshments, Refreshments!

Scotch, Beers, or Capri Sun. Whatever the poison is, remember that one of your main jobs as a host is to keep your guests refreshed! After all, poker’s a stressful game, between parched lips and nervous sweating, it’s important to keep your guests hydrated and refreshed! Depending on your group of friends, you may also want to provide a few cigars.

5. Music/Entertainment

As exciting as poker is, sitting in silence playing the game for countless hours can quickly become dull. Liven up the mood with some background music to get in the groove! Also, if there’s a game on, turn on the TV for your friends who are sitting out a couple turns, or have lost their chips.

6. Collect the Pot!

Every group of friends has that one sore loser, that one friend who accuses people of cheating, or the game being rigged. (Hint: If you can’t think of that friend, chances are it’s you…) So remember to collect buy-ins before you guys begin to play, that way, theres no backing out!

Post Party

7. The Day After

Follow up with your friends! You can shoot them a call or a quick text, or even send them a Greenvelope thank you note.

Remember, poker night is all about spending quality time with your friends. Whether or not you abide by these 7 items, just make sure you guys have a good time! After all, it isn’t everyday that all of your buddies are together, be sure to make the most of it!