Monday, December 7, 2009

Octagon Poker Tables - 4 Deciding Factors

An octagon poker table or table top adds a remarkable change to your home poker games. The richly colored poker felt and padding can really add to the enjoyment and excitement. The design also fits better with a bar or game room's decor than egg-shaped tables.

One problem numerous people have with the oval tables and tops, is the room they want to set them. A normal oval table is seven or 8 feet from end to end, so unless you have a big recreation room or comparable space to set up, they just won't do for a large group people. Unless you have a dealer, dealing cards to the other end of the table can be a bother, and the pot is unreachable by the people at the ends.

This is not a problem on octagon poker tables. They accommodate as many eight players surrounding an octagonal shaped game area that is about 48 inches across. The pot is easily accessible by everyone and dealing is much more efficient.

An additional great benefit is that they possess a more classy feel. They just look more attractive in a more old-fashioned setting like a bar or recreation room. You can also find them in maple and other hardwoods adding a genuine touch of class.

Third, there is the problem of space. They are perfect when your regular game is played in a kitchen or small area. You can pick the octagon table tops if you possess no extra room at all, since you just put them on top of a current table. On the other hand, if you have space available, an octagon poker table is a good choice. When you are through with them you can also fold their legs up and store them away.

Best of all is that octagon poker tables are not as expensive as the ovals. The table tops are even a great deal less than that. So if cash is an issue, they are your top option. For a sport room or if you don't have a suitable table to use a top on, the octagon tables are your best choice. The tables are likewise a great upgrade if you already own a table top and are interested in the oak frames and other top end options.

Whether you decide on an octagon poker table or table top, your holdem games will definitely be the better for it. It will make all the difference in the world to your home-based poker parties or your recreation room.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Poker Gift Ideas For Your Poker Fan

Require something different for someone who is into poker? There are a large assortment of poker gifts that are certain to delight. These tend to be exceptional gifts that are a pleasant substitute to the ordinary things they might be used to getting like shoes, wallets, and clothes. You will get hold of a satisfactory poker gift in just about any cost range.

Folding Poker Tables: If you can pay for it, this is the best gift for a poker fan. Offered in different colored felt they are marvelous for changing those dull poker games into a night of casino excitement. They can be stored effortlessly as well because the legs fold up. There are also bi-folding, or fold up poker tables, where the top of the table itself folds in half reducing the storage space necessary yet further. These also have a good deal smaller price tag than the one piece tops given that the lesser size lowers the transport cost a great deal. Folding poker tables are in general obtainable for around 160 to 300 dollars with delivery making them a great poker gift at a very affordable cost.

Poker Table Tops: If you want to pay out under $100, these are an alternative option. Table tops do not contain their own legs but are positioned right on top of your current dining room or kitchen table, with the equivalent impressive features like colorful felt, soft armrests on some models, poker chip trays, and beverage holders. There is such a wide array and cost range, depending on options, that you can without doubt get one to go well with every poker fan.

Poker Chips: You might be accustomed to those slim synthetic poker chips you pick up at dollar stores. If you really plan to make an impression on an important person with a sincerely distinctive poker gift, think about authentic poker chip sets. Creating a casino environment to your game, these sets are significantly better than those chips. With fantastic poker themed graphics and labels and genuine size and weight analogous to casino chips. You can obtain a set of these for as little as $60 with delivery and case.

Playing Cards: You are doubtless familiar with the standard cardboard poker cards. There are also plastic poker cards gift sets obtainable that are washable, cannot be folded, crimped, or marked, and endure for life. They can be had in their own hard logoed case and make a great poker gift for lower than 30 or 40 dollars.

Poker Supplies: This is a broader category and encompasses significantly lesser cost items that poker fans are thrilled to have. Poker chip cases, dealer buttons and other things you have to have for a Texas Hold'em game are fantastic gift ideas. A good number of these things can be purchased for under $20 - $30.

Poker Accessories: There are many a broad selection of frills that are poker themed and become excellent poker gifts such as t-shirts, jewelry, and poker strategy dvd's. They are usually the lesser priced products that you will buy.

The majority of these products are not sold in offline stores, but you can find them readily on the internet. The time you spend will be greatly worth it once you see your poker fans' expression when you hand him one of these great poker gifts.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

A Folding Poker Table Top - 3 Factors Before You Purchase

If you and your poker friends and family are currently playing on your dining room table and are looking to add some casino style fun to the game, then a folding poker table top is a great idea. I doubt you would play chess on a chessboard drawn on a piece of cardboard with bottle caps for pawns. It's just missing something.

Poker felts are available you can get but they need to be stapled on a piece of plywood or taped to your table. Again they are lacking something.

Poker table tops bring a Vegas quality to your games. You need to select a size and shape that fits your needs since there are many options. Before you shell out your hard earned money, I will discuss the main points you should consider.

1. Sizes and form: If you currently are playing on a kitchen or dining table that is either round or square, and around 48 inches plus/minus 8 inches, you would want to look at the octagon poker table tops. A rectangular or oval table top is used on non-circular or non-square tables. What manufacturing substance was used for the base and the size of the table top does count toward your decision. Foam tops should not extend over the sides of your table more than a couple of inches. For a wood based top it can extend over the edge four to six inches without issue. You do care because if a person rested their heavy arms on the edge of the top, all the poker chips would be knocked over. This gets old fast.

You shouldn't use a normal card table to put these on. The legs on a game table are really not robust enough for the heavy weight of the wooden tops.

Some people find they just don't have a table that will work so you might want to check out a table that comes with legs like an octagon poker table. Where you have the space you can even use a full size folding poker table.

2. Material Make up: There are 2 basic materials used to make poker table tops. The less costly, lower weight foam tops. If your game moves to other houses often, the storage case and the fact that they weigh much less make is a great benefit. These have easy portability due to their low weight and smaller folding size. Since the foam is not as durable as wood, you will need to replace these more often with wear and tear. They also make a great inexpensive gift for your significant other.

The wood tables will last longer than the foam base and generally are one half inch plywood. Padded felt and arm rests are also available on some of these just like on actual poker tables. Their heavier weight makes them much less vulnerable to being knocked over when you lean on it or leave the table.

I personally have one of each of these types of table tops, the foam for my traveling games, and a wooden top for my home games. I also have a folding poker table but that is another topic.

3. Designs: Once you have determined what size, shape, and material your table top should be, the most fun part is to select the colors and designs. Some tops are designed to be used for more than poker, like roulette and craps layouts included with them. The lower cost foam tops are much less to ship so will save you money, they also tend to be the most colorful when it comes to designs. The high end tops have poker table style features like wooden underbase, padding under the felt, and padded armrests. The felt is better so it is closer to the look of a casino table.

The padded felt on the premium wood tops tends to make them feel more authentic to the touch, but the best part is the sound. There is a soft "plink" sound when the chips hit each other and the table, and the chips don't bounce around as much. The cards slide better on the higher quality felt when you deal too. When your game seems to go on forever, the armrest becomes an important feature. If you can swing it you should look at the premium tops, even though they are not as portable as foam since they are much heavier.

Whether you are seeking a folding poker table top for a buddy, spouse, or yourself, you should now be able to choose one appropriately. After you have your first game on one, you will not be willing to ever play on the dining room table with a cloth thrown over it again. Now That's Poker!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Folding Poker Table - Features & Options Selection Guide

This guide will help you choose the right folding poker table for your situation and budget. There are always a lot of retailers online selling several versions of these products due to the large number of people searching for them. Which one you pick depends on what you need with regards to your space available, what you can spend, and your guests.

Essentially poker table fall into 4 types. Poker table tops, fold up poker tables, folding legs poker tables, and furniture poker tables. 3 of these are able to be folded, while the furniture tables are permanent like a billiard table, and cost much more.

Poker Table Tops are the least expensive of all since they do not have legs or a frame to add weight, shipping size, and cost. If you lack a large space for setting up a table, you can unfold one of these and use it right on top your kitchen or dining room table. Your current chairs will work fine. There are a wide variation in the size, shape, and quality of these tops depending on price. The best, or premium models, are made of solid wood with padding under a relatively high quality felt, giving them a more authentic "muffled" sound when the poker chips hit the pot. They usually also have padded armrests for player comfort during those long tournament games. While the premium table tops generally run in the low 100 dollar range with shipping, the lowest priced tops start in the 40 to 50 dollar range. Usually they consist of a type of foam, and no armrests. They do tend to have very colorful casino type designs including blackjack, craps, or roulette, in addition to poker. Their light weight also makes them ideal for bringing them to a traveling game. Trays for your poker chips with built in cupholders for your favorite beverage are also commonly seen on these.

The next price range are the Fold Up Poker Tables. These can be delivered for about the 160 to 250 dollars ranges. With the same top of the line features like padding under the felt, arm rests, and cupholders, and the wooden base, the top bi-folds to store them easily. The primary advantage of the bi-folding top is the reduced shipping cost since it folds into about half the size of the folding leg tables. Shipping dramatically increases with size and weight. They can also be shipped using UPS or Fedex eliminating the expense of using a trucking company. Another benefit is the storage space required is much less. The primary disadvantage is the place where the 2 halves come together when unfolded. When you deal you have to take care that the cards don't trip over the fold and flip up. While personally this does not bother me, some players have told me they do not like the fold and would rather pay the extra for a solid top.

Tables with folding legs resolve the issue. The wood top is one solid piece for a long, smooth playing surface with no obstructions. Since this causes the delivery cost to increase, they can price as much as 400 dollars. While the legs do fold up for storage, they are way to big to put in a closet.

Folding poker tables come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your need. An octagon table is great for people living in apartments or house where you don't have a very large area to play. Comfort can be factor though, since the players will be sitting knee to knee if trying to fit eight people. Six players would be about the most I would have. With room comfortably for 8 or 10 players, The oval tables are 6 to 7 feet long. Since they are about seven to eight feet, choose if you have the space to set one up. Also a chair is needed for each person.

Hopefully you now have the information you need for finding a folding poker table that fits your needs, space, and price. There is really nothing that compares to playing your hold'em game on one of these, except maybe going to the casino.