Top Items That Every Poker Lover Must Have

Poker may be one of the few reasons you look forward to the weekend. Locking yourself in a dark room filled with beverages and rich cigars along with a bunch of your close friends is a perfect getaway from the stress you’ve built up during the weekdays. 

Bidding on who will be paying for the pizza, buying drinks, or giving a ride back home to everyone in the game can get boring quickly. Here are a few items you can introduce to your weekend poker games to make them more exciting!

What Supplies Are Required?

Poker does not require a ton of supplies. While there are many variations of the game, the standard rules are essentially the same. You do not need a fancy table or a bunch of chips. All that is required is a set of cards, and for the chips, you can always use a substitute. 

Investing in high-quality poker accessories can significantly elevate the experience for you and your friends. The costs of items will not make you go broke.

Ditch the Cheap Plastic Cards

If you have ever played a game of poker in a high-end casino, the first thing you will notice is the feel of the cards. A cheap deck of cards from your nearby drug store will do the trick if you are a beginner. However, if you have been in the game for a while, you should consider investing in quality cards. 

If you are into novelty items, cards are also available in wood, metal, and carbon fiber. These materials do not hold well and are not made for regular poker games. 

Pro Tip: Cards made out of plastic and paper will end up being damaged after prolonged use. Make sure to have a back deck stored nearby on game nights! 

Set Up A Quality Poker Table

You do not need a poker table, but including one in your game can enhance the experience. Poker tables are manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Before investing in one, you should consider the following factors. 

Available space

It will not make sense to buy a table that occupies the whole area or barely leaves any space for the players to be seated comfortably. Ensure that you measure the dedicated area for the table before buying one.

Number Of Players

If you entertain about three or four people for poker nights, then any small or octagonal table will work. However, any number higher than five requires a large oval table.

So consider your budget as well before splurging and research thoroughly about BBO poker table costs to grab good deals and make an informed decision. Your pocket will thank you for it.

Durable and Versatile Chairs

Make sure to have a stack of foldable chairs in your shed, or you will end up asking your neighbors for extra chairs every single time you host a game night. Invest in heavy-duty chairs that fold. This ensures that they do not break easily and that they can be stored away when not in use. 

Pro Tip:

Buy cushions for your chairs. They provide additional comfort, and they can prove to be extremely valuable in preventing back pain when you are playing poker for an extended period.

Poker Chips 

Poker chips are a necessity during tournaments and can help speed up the game. A set of poker chips made out of plastic can be bought at an extremely low price; however, investing in a set of dice chips can do wonders for the game. 

Get an Automatic Shuffler

Showing off your card tricks is not nearly as fun as owning an automatic shuffler. There are many variations of shufflers online, but they can largely be categorized as either manual or electric. All you need to do is load the card deck into the machine. It will require you to operate it by a hand crank or utilize AA batteries to shuffle the cards automatically. 

Dealer Button

Introducing a dealer button can greatly amplify your poker experience, especially during tournaments. If the host gets knocked out, the dealer button can come in handy to indicate the position of the current deal. Moreover, some buttons will allow you to customize time limits. You can track the time left to close the deal during tournaments.

Compact Refrigerator

You could bet someone to walk all the way to the refrigerator whenever the drinks run out, or you can install a compact refrigerator to save everyone the trouble. It will provide easy access to the beverages and keep them cold.

You do not need to buy all accessories at once, and it would be better if you gradually introduce them into the game. Consider investing in a table before purchasing an automatic card shuffler. If you play occasionally or your budget doesn’t allow for the listed options, look into second-hand equipment for good deals. Be wary of unscrupulous dealers online and ensure you do your research before investing in any product.