Home game question

I want to start a home game but have not played in one for many years. There was always plenty of house rules and the like to keep potential conflicts down. Is there any smart guides to help set up a regular home game?

I love online poker but it misses something you get when you play live.

Getting pool table for Christmas and think I will make me a nice felt cover for it.

Think we will just use piggy bank change rather than deal with chips for now.

Thanks
T

Kcanuck-GREAT site! Glad you replied to the OP!

1) Get real chips.
2) Email everyone that's coming the rules & stakes ahead of time.
3) Make the buy in unlimited (or at least 200bb's deep).

Make sure all the rules are clearly stated. People get very angry when there is gray area that goes against what would win them money. I've seen fights because someone didn't say raise and then tried to after matching the bet. Angry world we live in.

some great info thanks everyone:

I have a home game with some friends and we generally rotate whose home we actually play in. Each home has slightly different rules but there are some things that should clearly be established.

1. What games are you playing? Is it just hold em? If not, is it dealers choice or do you rotate based on a timer? For my game, we have a combo of hold em, omaha hi, and omaha hi/lo. It is dealer's choice about which they play and if they deal omaha, it is omaha hi unless they specify prior to seeing their cards that it is hi/lo.

2. Set a timer for blinds to increase and make sure everyone knows how much time each level is (probably only applicable for a tournament, but even for a cash game, you might want to gradually raise them). We sometimes play that it is based on when people get out, but I don't really like that as much.

3. How many people need to be present before it is time for a 2nd table?

Mostly though, everyone just needs to know the rules. What they actually are isn't really a big deal, as long as their fair and known. Mostly, just have fun. Home games are a blast!

The site kcanuck suggested is definitely a good resource. A few quick rules come to mind though. No bending of cards (some people bend the cards too much when looking at the hole cards), keeping cards on the table (unless it's draw poker), and keeping large denominations of chips visible.

Another one is rabbit hunting. Sometimes people get curious enough that even when it's part of the rules (i.e., no rabbit hunting), they insist on doing so. One rule I've heard of, and I've yet to try this because it's a been a while since I hosted a game, is paying a predetermined amount if you want to rabbit hunt, with the extra cash going into the prize pool. I thought this was interesting.

Also, if your home game allows for new players or players you don't know well to come and play (basically beyond your friends), then another rule that I've seen implemented - just once though - is allowing the deck to be cut if there's suspicion of cheating/collusion.

Just a few quick thoughts that came to me.

Make sure you state rules clearly before you start a game especially if you have newbees playing. Also decide if are going to have limits on buy in size. I reccomend everyone buying in for the same amount( I used to dominate a home game because I would buy in for two to three times everyone elses stack) and also decide whether you are going to play tournaments or ring games.