Beginner guides
Find pub poker nights
Find poker nights at pubs, bars and clubs, check the format and registration details, and confirm the next session with the organiser.
A pub poker listing can help you find a night at a local pub, bar or club. Read the organiser’s details before turning up: the venue name alone does not tell you the format, cost or registration process.
Search for a local poker night
Start with the pub, bar and club poker listings. For a location search, open the live poker game finder, enter your city and country, then choose the pub, bar or club venue option available in the filters.
Check the listed location and distance. If there is no suitable result, try a wider search or a different night rather than assuming every pub in the area runs poker. Our live-game search guide covers the location and venue filters.
Check what the listing actually offers
A venue category tells you where the advertised game takes place. Read the description to find out whether it is a tournament, league or cash game and which poker variant is played.
- Cost: confirm the entry price, any additional fees and whether rebuys or add-ons are offered.
- Session: ask for the next date, registration opening time and poker start time.
- League details: if points or prizes are advertised, ask how they work and whether membership is required.
- Venue requirements: check entry conditions and anything the organiser asks players to bring.
Do not infer “free to play” from a pub setting. Ask the organiser to explain the total cost and any optional payments before you join.
Confirm registration and a place
Use the listing’s contact details to check whether the advertised night is still running. Ask if you should book, register online or arrive at the venue, and whether late registration is possible. A listing does not guarantee a seat.
A useful message: “Is the poker night on the next advertised date still running? I’m new to your group. What time should I arrive, what does entry cost and do I need to register beforehand?”
Know who to ask for when you arrive
Confirm the organiser’s name and where registration happens inside the venue. Arrive at the agreed time so you can ask questions before play starts. Let the organiser know if this is your first live game, and ask how seating and breaks work.
Review the first live poker game checklist before the night. If the listed game is Texas Hold’em, refresh the sequence of a hand and hand rankings.