New Bar Poker Idea

[tjholdem]

Hey all, I am looking into possibly buying into a bar up north. If not buying the entire bar, at least buying into it in some way. Hence the question. What will it take to make the best bar poker game available.

All thoughts would be appreciated.

Ideas on giveaways; starting chips stacks; length of blind levels; bounties;...ect.

All help would be appreciated.

Would love to have DP.com give aways if possible (RICK?!?!?! lol)

Give me your thoughts on the ideal bar poker game.

TJHoldem.

[dexman1349]

Ban lemonade making players. :D

Having a dealer is preferred, although you'd end up attracting better players if the deal rotated (not too many donks like to deal let alone, know how to).

1500 (or even 2500 if you wish) starting chips Blinds at 25-50 until the waitlist is done, then blinds go up every 20-30 minutes there after.

Give away bar tabs/cash for top 2 or 3 finishers, an additional bar tab for eliminating a "bounty" player that only the dealer (or waitress/bartender knows if no dealer).

I would also offer some kind of food or drink specials on game nights (half price apetizers, $5 pitchers, $1 corona's, etc).

Those types of giveaways/specials will account for +/-95% of all the players I've ever sat down with.

[Wetdog]

Bones, remember when Denver Poker Parties had games at the Fox & Hound? There were prizes for the winners of the consolation tables, like hats and t-shirts. I don't see that any more.


DPT has 50 big blind starting stacks. That's a big plus in that you get more play in drawing to straights and flushes without crippling yourself early on.

[dexman1349]

Bones, remember when Denver Poker Parties had games at the Fox & Hound? There were prizes for the winners of the consolation tables, like hats and t-shirts. I don't see that any more.


TJ's Wash Park Lounge was doing it last time I played there a few months back. Not sure if they still do it now that they've switched to DPT events.

But I agree, hats and t-shirts are a plus.

[Mondogarage]

Starting stacks of 2000, with an extra 500 if you're seated on time.

Blind levels of 25/50, 50/100 (40 minutes each), 100/200, 200/400, 300/600 (30 minutes each), 500/1000, 1000/2000, 2000/4000, etc. (15 or 20 minutes each).

Have four tables, but do not allow phone signups. If you're buying into this place, you don't need a tour.

Prizes should include a small premium for first full house, first flush, first quads, whatev, like a beer distributor's t-shirt or hat given to the bar, or even a free drink. Give 1st-3rd gift certificates or bar tabs. Run a points system and have a quarterly or semi-annual, where you can give away reasonable cash prizes.

Specials on game nights can work, too.

[tjholdem]

I prefer the big stack poker games, so I am thinking starting with 2500 or even 3000 in chips. I like the idea of hats and tee shirt give aways for consolation tables also. Great ideas folks...keep them coming.

[adaugust]

I like all those ideas as well. Denver Poker Parties also gave trophies away for both the main game and the conso. I know that could get expensive being you are not going to be a tour, but it is something else nice to give away if you can find them cheap. Also if you run a quarterly or semi-annual tourney consider giving a braclet to the grand champion. Another good idea would be to have a "North Series of Poker" Have several different events over a one month time frame or so. Have several small events and have a big main event on a Saturday with everyone starting with 10K in chips. I would consider driving from down south for something like that!

[takeittothehouse]

There have been a lot of great suggestions here and I’m going to reiterate some and add some things to the mix.

The best opportunity to separate your game from other free bar poker games is the starting chip stacks. Players seem to like the idea of starting out with more chips (as seen by the popularity of tourneys at The Gilpin even though the house keeps 20-25% of the buy in). You can have shorter blind rounds so your game doesn’t run too late during the week. Most players will like having more chips and may not realize that game time will be about the same if rounds are shorter. Start everyone out with 5,000 in chips, with blinds starting at 25/50 and have rounds be 20 minutes (after your wait is done). You can always make the weekend games have 25 or 30 minute rounds if you and your players would rather have a longer game. Another idea is to throw in an extra blind round so you don’t go into desperation mode at one blind increase (say 400/800 or 800/1,600).

Some other things that I’ve seen that players have liked and/or would be good for your business (and some of these have been listed previously):


Have dealers
If the flop comes with 3 of a kind or first full house, bad beat etc. the table gets shots (schnapps or something cheap)
Have a bad beat jackpot where you (the venue) put in $10 per night to be paid out when it hits
You can get bonus chips by spending XX amount at the venue (if this is legal)
Bar tabs for top 3
Bar tab (or something) for winner of the consolation table
Timed drink specials (ie $2 kami’s for the next 20 minutes)
Bottled water
Monthly or quarterly big stack tourneys. For prizes you can do something like gift certificates to a casino up the hill or a weekend at a bed and breakfast (something affordable for a small game)
A frequent player card where you can start with bonus chips if you play a lot (I’m not too fond of this, but there’s a tour that does this and it’s very popular for regulars)
Varying amounts of chips for the monthly (or whatever) tourney depending on when you finish with no starting chip limits (again… I’m not too fond of this, but there’s a tour that does this and it’s very popular for regulars)



Some things I’ve seen that players don’t like:


If you play your own game don’t play in the monthly or annual (or whatever) tourneys. You don’t want to knock out your “bread and butter”. Your dealers shouldn’t play in these games either.



You have a great opportunity to take all the great ideas that have been done and roll them into one game – I hope you take advantage of this! :D

[tjholdem]

You have a great opportunity to take all the great ideas that have been done and roll them into one game – I hope you take advantage of this! :D


That is why I asked th questions big guy. Thanks for all the help. It is greatly appreciated.

TJHoldem