Optimum number for a home cash game

PapaWheelie · May 19, 2026

As the title says. I've only gotten into Poker in the past few months and I've started having guys over for a home game. I got a big ass kitchen table that can hold 12, but I found that was way too many. I actually prefer six. Am I the only one? And what are the pros and cons of having such a small number of players. FWIW, I've played a total of 11 games of poker in my entire life so I'm a complete noob.

Dejana · May 19, 2026

5-6 people are enough...

Huntre · May 19, 2026

PapaWheelie said:
As the title says. I've only gotten into Poker in the past few months and I've started having guys over for a home game. I got a big ass kitchen table that can hold 12, but I found that was way too many. I actually prefer six. Am I the only one? And what are the pros and cons of having such a small number of players. FWIW, I've played a total of 11 games of poker in my entire life so I'm a complete noob.

More people mean a longer game, and those who drop out are just bored during the wait for the game to end.

veszmo · May 19, 2026

The six-player cash game is my favorite too. The game is faster, more dynamic, you have to watch fewer opponents, and it's easier to remember the cards you've lost.

ODRAGD3 · May 19, 2026

A good pot table has a maximum of 8 people! If there are too many people, set up 2 Sit & Go tables.

Andyreas · May 19, 2026

I haven't played many home games but online the largest tables are 9-handed.

So I wouldn't go larger than that, you can make 2 tables with 6 each, that'd probably be more enjoyable

BillyR23 · May 19, 2026

For a home game - 6 players cash game is my favorite too as like other members said it's faster, you are able to play more hands and (IMO) the experience for all the players involved is better/more fun... If you have the space and many friends wanting to play - I'd also say that splitting it to 2 tables of 6 is the way to go, maybe you can even do different formats for each table to keep it more interesting* for example, SNGs are pretty fun too...

SpanRmonka · May 19, 2026

I think 8 is a good number for any game.....the game progresses at a decent speed and you can always play decent poker.....the poeple who get KO'd deal, and when there is a few they can start there own cash game

fundiver199 · May 20, 2026

Especially for live games I think, a smaller number of players is vastly preferable, since it allow for faster action. In casinos there is a financial incentive to have larger tables, because the same amount of dealers and space can then serve more customers. But in a private home game this is obviously not a consideration, and then I would clearly prefer to go with no more than 6-7 players in a cash game.

Oxinthewater · May 20, 2026

Never understood why people go cash game over the fun of tournament, but in any case 6-7 has been experience of what works best.

PapaWheelie · May 20, 2026

Oxinthewater said:
Never understood why people go cash game over the fun of tournament, but in any case 6-7 has been experience of what works best.

We stared with tournaments, but since we're all beginners, a lot of folks were sitting around for an hour after they felted.
After a couple of nights we went to cash and the same people are now able to re-buy and continue playing.
That said, I would be interested in knowing your thoughts

Lodestone · Jun 1, 2026

4 to 8 people. Though Id be curious what a 12 handed game would look like. It would probably be super boring though.

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Optimum number for a home cash game

PapaWheelie

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Dejana

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Huntre

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veszmo

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ODRAGD3

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Andyreas

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BillyR23

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SpanRmonka

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fundiver199

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Oxinthewater

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PapaWheelie

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Lodestone

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