Poker Accessories

What you’ll need to organise your own game of Poker

Banker

Poker is not a banking game. Bets are made as contributions to a pool. The “banker” simply supervises the supply of betting chips. He records how many have been issued to each player, including himself and keeps the payments and the unissued stock to one side. Players must not make exchanges or transactions among themselves. A player needing more chips must purchase them from the bankers stock ; a player with surplus chips may sell them back into stock. The banker is either the host ; or any player chosen by lot (e.g. high cut) or agreement.

Kitty
The kitty is a fund for buying ew cards ore refreshments, set up by agreement before play commences. Usually one betting unit is contributed to it from any pot in which there has been more than one raise or, alternatively, where the winner holds a specified hand or better. The banker arranges all this. Any chips in the kitty at the end of the game are divided equally among those still playing ( player who leaves before the end loses the right to any part of the kitty).

Betting chips

These are almost always used rather than cash. Usually different colours represent different values, for example: white one unit; red, five units ; blue, 10 units; yellow 25 units. A game with seven or more players needs about 200 chips. The best value distributions depend on the maximum betting limit.
At the start of play, each player buys chips to the same total value, for example 50 units. A players stock of chips must always be kept in full view of other players, and not taken from the table except for cashing.

Card decks

Two decks of cards with contrasting backs are usually used in club play. At the end of one play, one deck is collected and shuffled by the player who dealt last, while the other is dealt into play by the new dealer.

New Poker decks

May be called for by any player at any time.

Poker Seating
At the start of the session seating is random, unless a player has been chosen but before play begins.

Reseating
On reseating, the first dealer has the first choice of seat. He then shuffles then deck, has it cut by the player to his right, and deals one card face up to each player in rotation, beginning with the player to his left.The player with the lowest ranking card sits to the dealer’s left, the player with the next lowest card sits to that player’s left, and so on. Of two cards with the same denomination, that dealt first ranks higher. The dealer then gathers the cards and has them shuffled and cut for play. After play starts, or after a reseating, no one may demand a reseating for at least an hour, provided no one joins or leaves the game. If a player joins the game after it starts and someone questions the seat he takes, the dealer between plays deals a card to each existing player, and the new player takes his seat to the left of the player with the lowest card. This is done separately for each player joining. If a player replaces another player, he must take the seat vacated provided no one objects. Two players may exchange seats just before any play provided no one objects.

Time limits

The time at which the game will end should be agreed before play starts, and be strictly observed. Any players who wish to continue can do so, but should set a new time limit.

Agreed rules

Rules to be agreed before the start of a game ( and preferable written down) are:
1.    the form of game to be played2. wild cards and their use
2.    any special hands and rulings
3.    the value of chips
4.    betting limits and checking
5.    limits on raises and/or payment for freezing a raise
6.    bonus payments and payments to the kitty