Beginner guides
Find and join a home poker game
Find local home poker games, compare the stakes and house rules, and introduce yourself to the host before asking to join.
Joining a home poker game starts with a conversation. The listing helps you find a group; the host can explain the game, answer your questions and confirm whether there is room at the next session.
Look for home games in your area
Browse home poker game listings, or open the live home-game finder and enter your city, state or postcode. Add the country where needed and choose the matching location. Start with a distance you can realistically travel.
Read the description and listing type. A host seeking players is different from a player seeking a game. Check that the listing describes an in-person session and gives you a way to contact the organiser.
Decide whether the game fits you
- Experience: ask whether beginners can join or whether the group expects experienced players.
- Poker variant: confirm whether they play Texas Hold’em, Omaha, a mixed game or another format.
- Stakes and payments: ask about the buy-in, blinds, fees, rebuys and how players settle payments.
- Schedule: confirm the next date, how often the group meets and how late the session normally runs.
- House rules: ask how seating, dealing, breaks and leaving the game work.
Choose the game based on its stated format and cost, as well as its distance from you. If the description leaves something unclear, ask before accepting a place.
Send a short introduction
Tell the host your first name, your poker experience and the session you would like to attend. You can give a general area without posting a private address. Ask whether new players are welcome and whether you need to register in advance.
For example: “Hi, I’m Alex and I live nearby. I know the basics of Hold’em but haven’t played many live games. Are you welcoming new players for the next session? What is the buy-in, and what should I bring?”
Wait for the host to confirm
A published listing does not reserve a seat. Confirm the date, arrival time, address and any joining requirements directly with the host. Ask whether you may bring a friend instead of arriving with an extra player.
If the listing has an old schedule or the host has not replied, keep looking rather than assuming the game will take place. Our live-game search guide explains how to broaden your search to other venues.
Prepare for the first session
Review the poker hand rankings and Texas Hold’em basics if those match the game you are joining. Use the first live game checklist for the questions to settle before sitting down.