With autumn right around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan a fall-themed poker night. Playing the role of host can be difficult though, especially when you consider how much planning and preparation goes into throwing a good party.
If making plans and performing prep work sound too intimidating for your liking, it’s worth considering online casino games as an alternative. But if you’re prepared to put in a little legwork and provide a memorable experience for your guests, take a look at how you can host an unforgettable fall-themed poker night.
Find your inspiration
Before diving into the dozens of ideas that fit a fall theme, take some time to think about what the season of change means to you. What is it about autumn that appeals to you the most? For example, do you enjoy the festive atmosphere of Thanksgiving or does the decor of Halloween interest you more?
Your answer will provide insight into what inspires you. Ultimately, it’s this inspiration that will motivate your party planning, from the choice of casino table games to the types of food and drinks you serve. If you have a solid idea of which direction to go in before you start, the rest of the details become a lot easier to manage.
Create a guestlist
How many people will be attending your poker night? Unlike online poker, there’s no chance of a random player filling an empty seat, so you’ll need to make sure that you invite enough people to play a full game.Â
At the same time, you don’t want to have a table that’s too crowded. The number of people you invite will also depend on the size of your entertainment space. Consider the dimensions of your poker table and the surrounding area, as these dictate your limits in terms of the guest list for the evening.
Choose fitting decor
Once you’ve decided who will be attending, the next step is to work on your decorations. Decor that embodies a fall theme tends to involve warm colors such as red, orange and gold, but there’s no rule that says you have to stick to a specific color palette.
If you’ve ever played online poker with friends, you already know that games with the same theme can come in all shapes and sizes, and the colors you choose don’t matter nearly as much as the style you’re going for.
For instance, if your theme is Halloween, black and orange would be a fitting combination. That same combo wouldn’t really work as part of a harvest-related theme, where you would be better off with something like green and gold.
Create a themed menu
Food and drinks are an integral part of any hosting plan. You don’t have to worry about catering when you’re playing online poker tournaments, but a game at home needs sufficient sustenance to fulfill your guests’ appetites.
When in doubt, buy more than you need. It’s better to have leftovers than to run short on the night, which might leave your guests with doubts as to your hosting ability. The kinds of drinks and delicacies you offer should all be related to your theme and a little creativity goes a long way here.
Let’s say you’re going for a theme about harvest time. Fresh produce and healthy snacks immediately come to mind, and if you could relate them to poker in some way, that would be even better. You could cut up some veggies to resemble poker chips, for example, or make some card-themed crackers with toppings for numbers.
Make poker the star
What do you need to have a perfect poker night? Good cards, a sturdy table and comfortable seating are basic necessities, but you can add a few elements that up the authenticity factor, such as a professional dealer.
One of the main reasons why live dealer casino games are so popular is the presence of an experienced dealer. What’s more, if you hire a professional, your guests might learn a few poker tournament tips in the process, which is something they will definitely appreciate.
A professional dealer can teach your guests about win rates and worthwhile strategies. This is especially useful for new players, who can also use the opportunity to learn about the subtleties of different types of bets, such as underbets, overbets and donk bets.
Paint a picture
Would you play poker online for money if your bets could be stolen? Of course not. You want every player to feel completely comfortable, which requires a secure environment that allows everyone to feel safe enough to let their hair down, never mind putting money on the table.
Depending on how big the game you’re hosting is, you might want to consider foot traffic or entry and exit points. Even though these issues are most relevant to larger groups, they can still affect smaller games when big bets are involved.
Play online with BetMGM
At the end of the day, your main objective is to marry elements of poker with those of autumn. Poker should be the ‘star of the show,’ so the decor, music and everything else should all tie into the variation of poker you plan on playing.
At BetMGM, we have every variation of poker you can think of, many of which have themes based on autumn festivities. If you’re in need of additional inspiration, register now and gain access to an extensive variety of themed games.
