To a first timer, a game of poker can be confusing because of all the terms players and dealers use. What does ‘Buy-In’ mean, and how much does it cost? Before you play with the big boys, master poker and buying in at home with your foldable poker table.
How Much are You Willing to Spend
In essence, buy-in means the amount you need to add to a pool of money before you can play a round of poker, and the amount usually depends on whether the game has a limit or not. One of the vital things you should remember is that all the money players use to buy-in in a poker game table will be used as part of the winnings, so there’s a likelihood that you can get your money back and more than what you originally put in.
Be strategic with how much you'd want to put as buy-in during your first game. If you don't want to bet a lot and lose a lot, consider joining a game that has a buy-in limit. This way, you can minimize your loss in case the unexpected happens. If it doesn't have a limit, you're better off looking for a game that has one, especially if you're new to poker.
The Safe Amount for a Buy-In
The logical thing to do before you buy-in is to set a limit on how much money you're willing to spend. If you put all your money in, you'll end up being short in the middle of the game. Always remember that don't put all your money in one basket all at once. Even if you think you're ‘on a roll,' you'd want to keep it safe by setting a limit.
The next thing you should consider is how long are you playing. If you have a lot of time to play a game of poker, spend less and reserve your remaining money for the next games. Doing this ensures that you don't leave the game empty-handed, and you have some left for the following games. When you place all your money in one small game, you'll have to work harder and put unnecessary pressure on yourself because of the money you stand to lose when things go south.
When you're ready to start playing poker, consider getting yourself a poker table set to learn the ins and outs of poker. Check out our list of the 9 Best Poker & Card Tables of this year. Have a trusted friend who’s good at playing the game teach you, and you’ll be all set.
