Poker Table

How to choose the right poker table for your home game

Poker Table requirements vary considerably from person to person, but what is the right table for your home poker game?
There are three basic types of poker table available on the market and you should choose your most suitable option based on quality of table, price and the space you have available to play in.

Most tables are generally around 84" x 42" (7ft x 3 1/2ft or 2100mm x 1050mm) and come with place settings for either eight or ten players. The playing surface is usually made of MDF with high density foam, covered with either vinyl, rubber or faux gaming suede.

A good quality table covering is essential for smooth play, the surface needs to be soft enough to allow you to pick up your chips easily but firm enough to stack the chips without the risk of them falling over.

Here is a summary of the three types of poker table available and the good and bad points of each:

Table Top
The "Entry Level" option. This is the cheapest way to get your own poker table. You simply place the table top on an existing table and you're off and running. The main problem with this type of table is stability, unless the surface that it's going on top of is the same size you might have to contend with it tipping up, although some strips of velcro might help with this as well as preventing the table from sliding. Good points about a table top poker table are that it is by far the cheapest option and it can be easily stored away when not in use.

Fold Away
This is the mid-range option of the three and is something of a compromise on all counts. On the plus side it can be stored away easily if space is an issue and it is cheaper than the solid construction models. On the other hand however the folding legs can be a bit unstable. This is a great option for an apartment or somewhere that might have small children running around during the day.

Solid Construction
A poker table that is built to stay where it is. You will need more money and more space for this option but it is by far the best choice for a realistic home poker experience. This type of poker table is usually delivered with the legs detached and then assembled in the place where it is meant to stay and therefore it is the most solid and reliable type of table available. The negatives here are that it will cost you more and the table cannot be stored away unless you want to dismantle it and reassemble it every time you play. As well as the rigidity of construction, a benefit may be that you could make a feature of the table in a spare room or games room.

There you have it then, a poker table for every occasion. Choose the one that best suits your needs and get playing poker!

=====================================================Article by Ian McIntosh of www.Love-Texas-Holdem.com. Check out the site for all the latest information on Texas Holdem tournaments and poker freerolls.Please feel free to use this poker article on your website, newsletter or blog as long as this resource box is left intact and there's a live link to the site.=====================================================